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[Bonsteel,
Ernest]
Taylor
County Republican
Thursday November 21,
1878 p. 3
—Diphtheria is quite prevalent in parts of the county, and
seems to be on the increase. Mr. Bonsteel, of Jackson Township, lost an interesting child, a boy [Ernest] of five years, by this disease last
week.
[Cannon,
Nathaniel H. “Nat”]
Bedford
Times-Press
Thursday June 14,
1951 [p.
1]
Nat
Canon, 88,
Died Here June 8
Nathaniel H. Canon, 88, longtime resident of Bedford, died June 8, after a short
illness. The funeral services were held at the Wetmore Funeral Home June 12,
conducted by Rev. Evan B. Routh. Burial was in the Bedford cemetery.
[Clevinger,
John Rosier Bailey]
Bedford
Free Press
Thursday January 19, 1905 [p. 1]
John R.
Clevinger Dead
Friday afternoon of last week John R [osier Bailey] Clevinger died at his home in the west part of
Bedford, having been sick a long time, aged 70 years and 1 day. He was one of
Bedford's old settlers, coming to Iowa from Indiana long years ago. The funeral
services [were] conducted at the home Monday afternoon by Rev. Thompson. He was
buried in the Bedford cemetery by the local post G. A. R. of which he was a
member.
[CLEVINGER, JOHN ROSIER BAILEY]
Bedford Times-Republican (Bedford, Iowa), Thursday, January 19, 1905
Another Old Veteran Passes Away
From Monday's Daily
John R. B. Clevinger died at his home in West Bedford yesterday evening at 4:50 o'clock of pneumonia, aged 70 years and 1 day.
Mr. Clevinger was born in Indiana but for many years has been a citizen of Iowa and has lived in Bedford for a long time.
The funeral will be held at the residence on Monday at 2 p. m.
The sermon will be delivered by Rev. Thompson and the G. A. R. Post will have charge of the exercises. Interment at Bedford cemetery.
[CLEVINGER, JOHN ROSIER BAILEY]
Bedford Times-Republican (Bedford, Iowa), Thursday, January 19, 1905
Funeral of John Clevinger
The funeral of John Clevinger who died Friday evening, was held at 2 o'clock this afternoon, at the residence in West Bedford, conducted by Rev. Thompson.
The attendance was quite large. In life the deceased was honored and respected, and his old friends turned out in large numbers to pay to him their last respects and show their sympathy for his bereaved family. Interment was at Bedford cemetery.
[Clevinger,
Nancy Jane Jennings]
Bedford
Times-Republican
Thursday January 16, 1923 p. 8
Nancy [Jane] Jennings was born in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, November 23rd, 1837. On
February 7th, 1858, she was united in marriage to John Clevinger. To this union were born eleven
children. Four of the children died in early childhood.
In 1882 she with the family moved to Taylor County and lived on a
farm until 1900 when they moved to Bedford.
As a young woman she accepted Christ as her savior and united with
the Baptist church, transferring her membership to the Bedford church of which she
was a member to the last, when she passed away on January 13th, 1923, at the
ripe age of 85 years, one month and twenty-one days.
She leaves to mourn their loss Mrs. Mary E. Long of Palisade, Nebr.; Mrs. Margaret
M. Witham,
Vermillion, Kans.; Mrs. Hattie L. [enora] Crow and Mrs. Lillie A. [gnes] Taylor of Bedford; Mrs. Nancy [Jane]
Carlson of Stanton,
Ia.; and W. [ilverton] R. [osier] Clevinger of Nevada, Mo.; 23 grandchildren, 9
great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren.
Dearest sister, thou hast left us,
We our loss do deeply feel;
But ' tis God that hath bereft us,
He can all our sorrows heal.
Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Fletcher, Monday afternoon
at 2:00 o'clock at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Crow.
[Clevinger,
Wilverton Rosier]
Bedford
Times-Press
Thursday February 18,
1943 p. 5
Former
Resident Dies At Lamar, Missouri
W. [ilverton] R. [osier] Clevinger, 67, a former resident of Bedford,
died at his home at Lamar, Missouri, Wednesday, February 10, following an illness
of several years. Burial was at his former home at Rockville, Missouri.
He is survived by his wife, four children and five grandchildren.
Also by four sisters, Mrs. Levi Taylor [Lillie] of Bedford, Mrs. Mary E. Long of Palisade, Nebraska; Mrs.
Margaret Witham of
Burlington, Kansas; and Mrs. [Nancy] Jane Carlson of Stanton, Iowa.
[Minor,
Emma Chapman]
Bedford
Times-Press
Thursday May 3,
1956 [p. 1]
Mrs.
Emma Minor Died Here Thursday
Mrs. Emma Minor, a resident of Bedford for nearly a century, died at the Bedford
Rest Home, Thursday, April 26.
Funeral services were held at the Shum Funeral Home, Sunday
afternoon, conducted by Rev. Clement D. Loehr of the Bedford Presbyterian
church. The body was placed in the mausoleum in Fairview cemetery.
Emma Chapman, daughter of William and Sarah Chapman, was born in Elgin, Illinois, July
27, 1857 and lacked only three months and one day of being 99 years of age at
the time of her death. When only two years old she emigrated with her parents
in a covered wagon to Bedford and in that early day the Chapmans lived in a log house, located on or
near the present site of the Garland Hotel, together with the Charles Steele
family.
Here she grew to womanhood and in 1882 was married to Joseph A.
Minor, one time
Bedford postmaster. No children were born to them and in 1925, more than 30
years ago, Mr. Minor died.
All of Mrs. Minor's near relatives preceded her in death and those
surviving are relatives of Mr. Minor, Miss Hermia Rhoads and Miss Beryl Rhoads, grand nieces; and Hubert L.
Rhoads of Des Moines,
a grand nephew.
On Dec. 10, 1892, Mrs. Minor united with the Bedford Presbyterian Church and
maintained continuous membership until her death. She was a charter member of the
Fortnightly club in Bedford. Also a more than 50-year member of Bedford
chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, in which she served as Worthy Matron in
1905.
Mr. Minor was a Civil War veteran and Mrs.
Minor is probably the
last widow of a Civil War veteran in Taylor County.
[Moore,
Daisy Marguerite Hunter]
Clearfield
Chronicle
Wednesday September 20,
2000 p. 5We were saddened Saturday morning by
the loss of 2 residents, Daisy Moore entered Clearview on August 14,1997, and passed away
Saturday September 16, 2000. Daisy was born in 1906 in Norfolk, NE. In 1926 she married Merle
Moore in Corning and
they lived around Sharpsburg for over 47 years. Daisy is survived by her daughter Mary Kathryn
Klonglan and husband Paul of Des Moines; 2
grandsons, 5 great grandchildren, and one step great grandson. Daisy enjoyed coming to the activities of
the home especially the music. Daisy will be remembered for her toe tapping and clapping
during musical events, and especially her dancing with various guests. Daisy will be missed by all her family and
friends and we extend our sympathy.
[Moore,
Daisy Marguerite Hunter]
Clearfield
Chronicle
Wednesday September 20,
2000 p. 5
Daisy
Moore
Funeral services for Daisy Moore, age 93, of Lenox, were held Tuesday,
September 19, 2000, at 1:00 p.m. at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Lenox with
Pastor Tim Maxa officiating. Interment was held in the Prairie Rose Cemetery.
Memorials can be given in her name. Services were conducted by the Ritchie
Funeral Home of Lenox.
Daisy Marguerite Moore was born on December 30,1906, in Norfolk, Nebraska, the daughter
of Doud and Emma Hunter. When she was a child, her parents returned to Taylor County,
Iowa, where she spent most of her life. She was united in marriage on September
5,1926,to Merle Moore in Corning. To this union two children were born--a daughter, Mary
Kathryn and a son, Kenneth
Paul who died in
infancy.
Merle and Daisy farmed
together east of Sharpsburg for over forty-seven years. Merle passed away on October 14, 1973.
After leaving the farm, she moved to Lenox where she lived for many years until
her health made it necessary for her to enter the Clearview Nursing Home in
Clearfield. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, and crocheting. She was a member of
the United Methodist Church and will be greatly missed by her family and
friends.
Daisy is survived by her daughter, Mary Kathryn Klonglan and husband Paul of Des Moines; two grandsons, Kenneth
Werner and wife Roxanne of Clearfield; and Greg
Anderson and wife Josie of Des Moines; five
great- grandchildren, Kenny Werner, Cody Werner, Tabby Anderson, Tosha
Anderson, and Tamra
Anderson; and one
step great-grandson, Shane Sites.
Preceding Daisy in death were her husband, Merle in 1973; her son, Kenneth Paul at infancy; her parents, Doud and
Emma; two sisters, Pearl
Burns and Helen
Andrews; three
brothers, Dale Hunter, Doud Hunter, and Max Hunter.
[Moore,
Daisy Marguerite Hunter]
Clearfield
Chronicle
Wednesday September 27,
2000 p. 2
Clearview
Homes
We were saddened Saturday morning by the loss of 2 residents, Daisy
Moore entered
Clearview on August 14,1997, and passed away Saturday September 16, 2000. Daisy was born in 1906 in Norfolk, NE. In
1926 she married Merle Moore in Corning and they lived around Sharpsburg for over 47 years.
Daisy is survived by
her daughter Mary Kathryn Klonglan and husband Paul of Des Moines; 2 grandsons, 5 great grandchildren, and one step
great grandson. Daisy enjoyed coming to the activities of the home especially the music.
Daisy will be
remembered for her toe tapping and clapping during musical events, and
especially her dancing with various guests. Daisy will be missed by all her family and
friends and we extend our sympathy.
[Oxley, Llewellyn
Garland]
Taylor County
Republican
Thursday July 8,
1880 p. 3
—A
son of Mr. Eph Oxley [Llewellyn
Garland] aged 19 years, was
drowned in the river at Braddyville on the 29th ult. He and comrade were
bathing in the milldam when he jumped into deep water considerably over his
head, and being unable to swim, sank to the bottom before he could be rescued.
This is the third child Mr. Oxley has lost by accident. One was previously killed by a fall from a wagonload of
hay, and another was knocked down and trampled to death by a frightened team.
[Straight, Edward
George]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday May 29, 1941 [p. 1]
Edward G. Straight Dies Wednesday
Edward
G. [eorge] Straight of Bedford
died at 3 a. m. Wednesday morning, May 28. The funeral services will toe held
at the Walker & Shum Funeral Home at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon, May 30.
[Straight, Edward
George]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday June 5,
1941 p. 8
Edward
George Straight, youngest child
of Truman and Mary [Kemery] Straight, was born May 3, 1868 in Jackson Township, near Bedford, Iowa and
died Wednesday, May 28, 1941, aged 73 years and 25 days.
Mr.
Straight, who was a bachelor,
lived with his aged mother until her death. He continued to live on in the old
home for sometime, later moving to his own farm nearby, where he lived until he
retired and moved to Bedford about 1918.
Soon
after coming to Bedford, he became a member of the local Methodist Church and
remained a member until his death.
He
was a strong believer in clean living and upright manhood, and loved all
humanity. He was particularly kind to the aged and infirm, and adored little
children.
His
immediate survivors are his sister, Mrs. Alice [Caroline] Edmundson and his brother and wife, Mr. and Mrs. [Howard]
Seymour Straight, all of Bedford.
He also leaves many nieces and nephews and close friends.
The
funeral services were held at the Walker & Shum Funeral Home, Friday
afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. A. Douglass Steffenson Burial was in
the Fairview cemetery.
[Straight, Effa Lena
Wheat]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday July 16,
1959 p. 4
Mrs. Effa Straight Dies In Kansas
Mrs.
Effa Straight, 88, who had been
making her home with a daughter at Douglass, Kansas, the past few years died
Monday at a hospital in Winfield, Kans. The body was brought to Bedford and
funeral services will be held at the Christian church here at two o’clock,
Friday afternoon, July 17. Rev. Elmer Baker, pastor of the Church will officiate.
Burial will be in Fairview cemetery.
[Straight, Effa Lena
Wheat]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday July 23,
1959 p. 4
Mrs. Effa Straight Rites Held Friday
Mrs.
Effa Straight, long-time resident
of the Bedford community, died at a hospital in Winfield, Kans., Monday, July
13, 1959. She had been making her home the past year with her eldest daughter, Mrs.
Selma Clary, near Douglass,
Kansas.
The
body was returned to Bedford by plane and last rites were held Friday
afternoon, July 17 at the Christian church. Rev. Elmer Baker officiated. Burial
was in Fairview cemetery.
Effa
[Lena] Wheat, eldest daughter of Baskin
[Patterson] and Sarah [Mendenhall] Wheat, was born April 5, 1871 in Lee County, Iowa, and passed away at the
age of 88 years, three months, seven days.
When
three years of age she moved with her parents by covered wagon to Defiance,
Missouri, and settled near Sheridan. There she spent her girlhood,
characterized by an intense interest in reading, music and social subjects.
After
teaching in the public schools of Missouri and Kansas, she accepted a school in
Taylor County, Iowa, where she met and later married Howard Seymour Straight on September 6, 1891. They were soon settled on
the farm in Jackson Township, where they remained through their active years.
On
this farm they reared six sons and three daughters. Their 50th wedding
anniversary was celebrated at the parental home in 1941.
As
long as she was physically able she was active in her church, school and
community. They later affiliated with the Christian church in Bedford. He
preceded her in death, passing away December 30, 1948. A daughter Serena died in infancy.
She
is survived by six sons and three daughters: Sanford Straight, Sharpsburg; Mrs. Selma Clary, Douglass, Kans.; Mrs. Sola Stroburg, Blockton; Leonard Straight, Conway; Mrs. Iness Raffety, Grinnell; Col. Clio Straight, Washington, D.C.; Howard Straight, Bedford; Harlan Straight, Puyallup, Wash.; Vern Straight, Grand Junction, Colo.
There are 20
grandchildren: Oren, Leola, Marvin, Arlyn Clary; Harold, Eldon, Alena, Lavelle Stroburg;
Maynard, Seymour, Carolyn, Howard, Donald Raffety; Mary and William Seymour Straight; John and
Robert Straight; Linda Straight.
Also surviving are 19
great grandchildren, three great great grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs.
Delia Bradley of Bartlesville,
Okla., Sylvia R. Wheat of St.
Joseph, Mo.
ATTEND STRAIGHT FUNERAL
Those
from out of town attending the last rites in Bedford Friday afternoon for Mrs.
Effa Straight, included her six
sons and their wives, with one exception, Mrs. Clio Straight; her three daughters and their husbands, all but
seven of the grandchildren. There were several relatives from St. Joseph,
including her sister, Miss Sylvia Wheat; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Benjamin Wheat; two nephews, Floyd Wheat and Ferd Wheat.
[Straight, Howard
Arthur]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday November 8,
1984 p. 7
Last rites for Howard
Straight
Services
for Howard Arthur Straight,
73, were held October 30 at Shum-Novinger Funeral Home in Bedford officiated by
Rev. Emmanuel Tabelisma assisted by Rev. Jim Dale and Rev. Orlyn Clary. Burial
was at Fairview Cemetery, Bedford. Mr. Straight died October 27, 1984 at St. Francis Hospital, Maryville,
Mo.
Howard
Arthur Straight, son of Howard
Seymour and Effa (Wheat) Straight,
was born October 24, 1911 in Jackson Township, Taylor County Iowa and grew to
manhood in the Liberty school district, attending the Liberty one-room country
school for eight years. He later attended one year of high school at Bedford,
Iowa, two years at Brooklyn, Iowa, and graduated from high school in Grinnell,
Iowa. He engaged in farming with his father in Jackson Township, Taylor County
after high school, and from 1947 through 1970 he engaged in farming on his own
in Jackson Township.
On
February 17, 1939 Howard was
married to Ferne Reed of rural
Blockton, Iowa at the "Little Brown Church" near Nashua, Iowa.
They
became the parents of two sons, John Howard and Robert Arthur.
Howard was master of the "Grange" of the
Jackson-Jefferson Township area of Taylor County. Howard was later leader of the R.J. Producers 4-H Club
for eight years. He was very proud of being named an honorary member of the
Taylor County 4-H Clubs. Howard was a member of the Bedford Methodist Church and on the board of administration
of the Bedford Methodist Church, serving as vice-chairman at his death.
Howard is survived by his widow Ferne, of the home in Bedford, Iowa; John and Patricia and their children Kevin, Julie, Jacquie, Jared, and Joel of Independence, Missouri; Robert and Yong Sun
(Jenny) and their children Jim
and Selly of Bedford, Iowa.
Howard thoroughly enjoyed farming and
the out of doors. In 1970 he retired and moved into Bedford where he resided
with his wife until his death. After retirement he enjoyed working, meeting and
making new friends, and visiting with all his friends.
Howard is survived by four brothers and one sister; Sola
Stroburg and husband Clark of Blockton, Iowa; Leonard Straight of Bedford, Iowa; Clio Straight and wife Elizabeth of Cincinnati, Ohio; Harlan Straight and wife Dorothy of Kennewick, Washington; Vern Straight and wife Estella of Portland, Oregon. He is also survived by
twenty-six nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.
Howard was preceded in death by one brother Sanford
Straight of Sharpsburg, Iowa; and
three sisters Serena Straight of Bedford, Iowa; Selma Clary of Douglass, Kansas; Iness Raffety of Grinnell, Iowa.
Howard will always be remembered and missed by his
family and friends.
[Straight, Howard
Arthur]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday November 8,
1984 p. 6
Attend funeral
services
Those
from a distance attending the services for Howard Straight were Mr. and Mrs. John Straight and family,
Independence, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Oren Clary, Mrs. Amy Wolf, South Haven, Ks.;
Mr. and Mrs. Don Hawk, Ravenwood, Mo.; Grace Wilson, Blockton; Mrs. Mabel Shay,
Weldon, Ia.; Mr. and Mrs. Richard Jones, Hopkins, Mo.; Mrs. Robert Beggs and
family, Wellington, Ks.; Mr. and Mrs. George Clary, Wichita, Ks.; Mr. and Mrs.
George Cornish, Conway Springs, Ks.; Mrs. Linda Whisler, Creston.
Also
Mrs. Jennie King, Maryville, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Smith West, Blockton; Mr. and
Mrs. Dale Hennegin, Sheridan, Mo.; Mrs. Doris Coleman, Hopkins, Mo.; Mrs. Nan
Ernst, Maryville, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Wheat, St. Joseph, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs.
Floyd Albert Wheat, St. Joseph, Mo.; Mrs. Phyllis Clary, New Market; Leonard
Bosch, Maryville, Mo.; Thelma Koesley, Ravenwood, Mo.; Audrey Bosch, Ravenwood,
Mo.
Also Mr. and Mrs. Jim
Dale, Shenandoah; Mr. and Mrs. Ed King, Blockton; Mr. and Mrs. Herman O'Dell,
New Market; Mrs. Inez Huntsman, Gravity; Noble Straight, Sheridan, Mo.; Mr. and
Mrs. Wilbur Johnson, Gravity; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Brown, Omaha, Ne.; Mr. and
Mrs. Eldon Stroburg, Blockton; Mr. and Mrs. Clark Stroburg, Blockton; Monica
Konecne, Blockton; Mike Shay, Des Moines.
[Straight, Howard
Seymour]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday January
6, 1949 [p. 1]
Seymour Straight Dies Thursday, Dec. 30
Howard
Seymour Straight, son of Truman
and Mary [Kemery] Straight, was
born October 3, 1866, in Jackson Township, Taylor County, Iowa, and died at the
home of his son, Leonard, near
Sharpsburg, Iowa, December 30, 1948, at the age of 82 years, 2 months and 27
days.
His
father died during his infancy. Consequently his mother and the surviving family of five sons and three
daughters were cast upon their own resources for survival under frontier
conditions. This was not long after Iowa was admitted to statehood and while
southern Iowa and northern Missouri were suffering from the ravages of a most
severe recent civil conflict.
After
receiving a basic education it became necessary for him to forego further
formal study and devote his entire energy to the family livelihood. In line
with his experiences and in response to the inducements of his environment
during these early years, he chose farming as a career.
In
his early twenties he went into business for himself near the family home. Soon
thereafter, he married Effa L. Wheat, September 6, 1891, at Sheridan, Missouri. They became members of
the church about 1920.
The
customary difficulties encountered in agricultural pursuits during the last
half of the century was considerable. The area was a frontier. Developed
communities did not exist. The only means of communication were primitive.
Despite these circumstances his efforts were rewarded with marked success from
the start. At all times he manifested keen discernment and unusual capabilities
in meeting and solving the many extremely difficult problems inherent in his
chosen field.
Unaided
from outside sources and due in no small measure to his constant and remitting
efforts, he eventually became the owner and operator of considerable real estate
holdings in Iowa and Kansas.
Notwithstanding
the inordinate demands of this operation upon his time and energy, he was at
all times a leader in his community. Assisted by a most sincere and able wife
he made outstanding contributions to the solving of pressing community
problems, such as the development and the improvement of local schools, taking
charge of the Liberty Bond drive during World War I, etc. His sincere counsel
was highly esteemed.
He
is survived by his wife, Effa Straight and children, Sanford Straight of Sharpsburg, Selma Clary of South Haven, Kansas, Sola [Alice] Stroburg of Blockton, Leonard Straight of Conway, Iness [Effa] Raffety [Rafferty] of Grinnell, Clio Straight of Washington, D. C.; Howard Straight of Bedford, Harlan Straight of Streator, Illinois, Vern [Arlyn] Straight of Port Angeles, Washington. A daughter, Serena, died in infancy. Also by 18 grandchildren: Orlen,
Leola, Marvin, Arlyn Clary; Harold, Alena, Eldon, Lavelle Stroburg; Maynard,
Carolyn, Seymour, Howard, Donald Raffety [Rafferty]; Mary and Bill Straight; John and Robert Straight, Stephen Straight. And by 8 great grandchildren.
The
funeral services were held at the Christian church Friday afternoon, conducted
by Rev. George W. Swan of Blockton. Burial was in the Fairview cemetery.
[Straight, Howard
Seymour]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday January
6, 1949 p. 5
Attend Straight Rites
Among
those from out of town who attended the last rites for [Howard] Seymour Straight in Bedford Friday, included the following:
Roy
Wheat and family, Benjamin
Wheat and family, Floyd Wheat and family, and Miss Sylvia Wheat, all of St. Joseph, Mo.; Col. Clio E. Straight of Washington, D. C.; Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Clary and family of South Haven, Kansas; Mr. and
Mrs. L. E. Raffety and family of
Grinnell, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Harlan Straight of Streator, Illinois; Vern Straight and son Stephen of Port Angeles, Washington.
[Straight, Lee]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday February 2,
1967 p. 3
CLEARFIELD NEWS
Mrs.
Roy Nickle of Clearfield received
word of the sudden death of her son-in-law, Lee Straight at Denver, Colo., on Wednesday. Mr. and Mrs.
Vernon Straight left to attend
last rites there. His wife, the former Lois Nickle and children survive.
[Straight, Lee]
Bedford Times-Press
Thursday February 2,
1967 p. 4
Lee Straight, 54 Dies in Denver
Lee
Straight, 54, a long time Taylor
county resident died January 25, 1967 in Denver, Colo.
Mr.
Straight had lived near Conway,
Blockton and Bedford for many years. He went to Denver in 1949.
He
is survived by his wife, Lois [Nickle]; two sons, Marvin and
wife and two daughters and Gary of the home; a daughter, Mrs. Jennie Drumm, husband, and son, Jimmie; two brothers, Marion of New Market and Vernon of
Conway; three sisters, Hazel Bishoff of Baltimore, Md., Edna Straight of Kansas City, Mo. and Helen Hunter of Hattiesburg, Miss.
[Straight, Serena]
Bedford Free Press
Thursday March 12,
1896 p. 4
DEATH BY CrEMATION
An Infant Child of Seymour
Straight Burned to Death
in a Dwelling
The
details of an awful accident comes from Jackson Township, this county, the
death by cremation of an infant child [Serena] of Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Straight.
On
last Saturday Mr. Straight made preparation for butchering hogs, heating the water used in scalding on the
kitchen stove. After heating the water, Mr. and Mrs. Straight and the hired man completed other arrangements and
began the work of butchering, leaving their baby in the house in charge of two
little boys.
The
work of butchering was carried on behind an outbuilding, several rods from the
house. In ten or fifteen minutes after beginning work Mrs. Straight heard the two older children calling her. Going
up to the house she discovered that the older boys hair had been scorched by
fire. She raised the alarm and soon the men were on the scene and began an
investigation. Opening one of the doors they was horrified at finding the
interior of the house on fire. A suffocating cloud of smoke poured out of the
door. Running around to the door on the opposite side of the house, Mr.
Straight threw it open and made a
brave, but unsuccessful attempt to rescue his little child from the flames.
Again he was driven back by the flames, the heat being so intense that no one
could withstand it. In the mean time Mrs. Straight and the hired man were doing all within their
power to quench the flames by throwing water from buckets through the open
doors. All in vain; nothing could be done, and the distracted parents had the
inexpressible grief of witnessing the rapid progress of the flames, knowing
that the life of their dear little daughter was being destroyed in the fiery
furnace.
The
funeral services, conducted by Elder Cobb, were held at the Forest Grove school
house, at 3 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, March 8, and interment was made in the
Forest Grove cemetery. The funeral was one of the largest ever held in that
community.
The
heart grows weak with tenderest compassion when contemplating the awful
experience through which Mr. and Mrs. Straight have gone, and the only consolation that can be
offered them is the sympathy that all extend to them.
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