[Fletcher, Olive Reneau]

Times-Republican

Thursday    April 25, 1929    p. 4

Mrs. C. Wesley Fletcher

Mrs. C. Wesley Fletcher [Olive Reneau], wife of Rev. Fletcher, former pastor of the First Baptist church, of Bedford, passed away at her home in Glenwood, Iowa, Sunday morning at 6 o'clock.  The funeral services were held in Glenwood Wednesday afternoon and interment was made at that place.  Mrs. Fletcher had a host of friends in Bedford.  She was one of those quiet, home loving mothers who always had a word of comfort or cheer for everyone.  The family have the sympathy of many friends here in their loss.

[Ferry, Edward L.]

Times-Republican

Thursday    January 9, 1902    p. 3

Died Suddenly

Edward Ferry Dies Suddenly of Heart Disease At The Home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry O'Dougherty South of This City

From Saturday's Daily Republican

Edward [L.] Ferry died suddenly last night at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry O'Dougherty, a mile and a quarter south of this city.

Mr. Ferry is the father of Mrs. O'Dougherty [Dora Ferry] and he and his wife [Angeline Russell] have been visiting here during the past few weeks.  He took sick suddenly at about 7 o'clock in the evening and died at about 9 p. m. Death resulted from heart disease.

Mr. Ferry was aged about 68 years.  Relatives are expected to arrive today from St. Joseph, Missouri, after which the funeral arrangements will be made.

Later

It has been arranged to hold a short funeral service at the O'Dougherty residence at 1 p. m. tomorrow.  The services will be conducted by Rev. E. N. Ware, and will be under the auspices of the Masonic fraternity, of which Mr. Ferry was a member.

The remains will be conveyed on the 3:40 p. m. train to his late home in St. Joseph, Missouri, where the principal funeral services will be held.  In the sorrow that came so suddenly to them the grief stricken relatives have the sympathy of all.

[FERRY, EDWARD L.]
Bedford Free Press (Bedford, Iowa), Thursday, January 9, 1902
A Victim of Heart Disease Death Came Suddenly to Mr. Ferry
Although in Seeming Good Health, Edward Ferry is called Quickly to Lay Down His Life
Death came very unexpectedly to Edward Ferry last Friday night at the home of his daughter, Mrs. H. O'Dougherty, a short distance south of Bedford. Mr. Ferry's home was in St. Joseph and he had come up to visit his daughter. The visit was being enjoyed by all and Mr. Ferry was about to return home when death came quickly and unexpectedly, the cause being heart disease. Short funeral services were conducted at the Dougherty home Sunday at 1 p. m. by Rev. T. J. Ream, assisted by the masonic fraternity, of which order Mr. Ferry was an active member. The remains were conveyed by train in the afternoon to his St. Joseph home. Tuesday of this week the funeral was conducted by the masons in that city, after which the body was placed in a vault in Mt. Mora cemetery. C. A. Ferry and wife and Mrs. G. W. Schwemley, St. Joseph and Silas Ferry, of Nebraska, arrived in Bedford and together with Mrs. O'Dougherty, accompanied the remains to St. Joseph. Mr. O'Dougherty went down Monday.
Obituary – Edward L. Ferry was born in New York, June 29, 1832. His parents moved to Burlington, Ia. when he was four years old where he grew to manhood and on April 20, 1851, he was united in marriage to Angeline Russell. In 1853 he united with the Methodist church. In 1855 they moved to Muscatine county, Iowa, where they reared a family of seven children. In 1881 they moved to Taylor county where they resided for six years, after which they made their home with their children. On Nov. 8, 1901, they came from St. Joseph, Mo., to visit their daughter, where he remained until his death. On Friday evening, January 3, at 6 p. m., he was taken violently ill with neuralgia of the heart. After suffering for three hours and cared for by loving hands, he passed away, leaving an aged widow and five children, three sons and two daughters, to mourn the loss of a loving and indulgent father.

[Thompson, Ray]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    April 26, 1934    p. 7

Guss

Buried in Guss Cemetery

Ray Thompson, Auto Accident Victim, Dies From Injuries

Funeral services for Ray Thompson, 35, who died from injuries received in an automobile accident near Yorktown, were held in Clarinda Friday afternoon and burial was made in the Guss cemetery.

He was born in Taylor County, near Guss, May 14, 1898.  August 8, 1918, he was married to Miss Eva West.  To them were born six children, Lawrence, Edna, Earl, Carrie, Doris Jean, and Wayne, who, with the wife, survive.  Other relatives are a sister, Mrs. Laura Combs of Gravity; five brothers, Marian Thompson and Charlie Thompson of Sharpsburg, Ira Thompson of New Market, Ernest Thompson of Gravity and Roy Thompson, a twin brother, of Glenwood.

[Dunkin, Fredrick Robert]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    November 28, 1957    p. 7

Fred R. Dunkin Of Gravity Dies

Fred R. [obert] Dunkin, 77, of Gravity was taken to Municipal Hospital in Clarinda Saturday night and died a short time after his arrival there.

Funeral services were held at the Methodist church in Gravity Wednesday afternoon with Rev. Howard DeVore of Gravity and Rev. David S. Johnson of New Market officiating.  Burial was in Gravity cemetery.

Mr. Dunkin is survived by his wife; one son, Rowland "Jack" Dunkin and wife, and one granddaughter, Mrs. Phil Acampora of Burbank, California.

[Cooper, Mary Hargin]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    November 28, 1957    p. 7

Mrs. Mary Cooper Of Lenox Dies

Mrs. Mary Cooper of Lenox died Monday, Nov. 18 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Melvin Wurster, at Mount Ayr.  Funeral services were held at the Methodist church in Lenox Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 20, Rev. Burton Collier officiating.  Burial was in the Conway cemetery.

Mrs. Cooper is survived by her husband, Ed [Edwin]; one daughter, Mrs. Wurster; two sons, Dale of Conway and Donald of Minnesota; a brother, Ed Hargin of Lenox; and a number of grandchildren.

She was a member of the Lenox American Legion Auxiliary.

[Bix, Robert]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    November 28, 1957    p. 7

Robert Bix Buried Fairview Cemetery

Robert Bix, son of George [David] and Margaret Reynolds Bix, was born in Bodham, England, Dec. 27, 1873, and departed this life Nov. 21, 1957, at Bedford, where he spent the past seven years.  At the time of his passing he was 83 years, 10 months, 25 days of age.

At an early age he came with his parents to a new home in the United States and located on a farm near New Market, Iowa, where he spent most of his life.

Robert became an American citizen and enjoyed the respect and friendship of those who knew him.   He never married.  His parents, three sisters:  Mary [Agnes Martha], who was Mrs. Frank Dougherty, Anna, who was Mrs. William Johnson and Edith [Mary], who was Mrs. A. [bram] Oxley; and two brothers, William and James Bix, preceded him in death.

He leaves to mourn his death, one sister, Ella Blanche Bix of Clarinda; two brothers, George of Siam and Ernest of Ottumwa, Iowa.  Sixteen nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services were conducted from the Shum Funeral Home, Friday, Nov. 22 by Rev. Clarence M. Potter of New Market.  Burial in Fairview cemetery.

[Dougherty, Agnes Martha Bix Witt]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    July 14, 1955    [p. 1]

Mrs. F. Dougherty Died Here Sunday

Mrs. Frank Dougherty, a long-time resident of Taylor County, died July 10, after having been in failing health for several years.

Funeral services were held at the Wetmore Funeral Home Wednesday p. m. conducted by Rev. Fred H. Cowles.

Agnes Martha Bix, eldest daughter of G. [eorge] D. [avid] and Margaret [Reynolds] Bix, was born in Plumstead, England, Dec. 16, 1869, and died at the age of 85 years, six months and 24 days.

She came to Taylor County with her parents at the age of 14, and located in Mason Township.  In early youth she united with the Morning Star Presbyterian church of that vicinity.

She was married to Jess Witt on April 11, 1892.  To them one daughter was born, Mrs. Helen Cornell of Omaha.

On February 19, 1908, she was married to [William] Frank Dougherty and to them were born three children, Edna [May], who died in infancy, Marion Dougherty and Mrs. Margaret Burns of Bedford.

Mrs. Dougherty spent all her life after coming to the United States in and around Bedford, with the exception of the year 1901, when she returned to England for a visit.

She is survived by her husband, three children, nine grandchildren, four great grandchildren; also by four brothers, Robert Bix of Conway, James Bix of New Market, George Bix of Bedford, Ernest Bix of Ottumwa; one sister, Miss Ella Bix of Clarinda.

[Oxley, Abram Garfield]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    December 9, 1948    p. 5

Obituary - A. G. Oxley

Abram Garfield Oxley, youngest son of Ethan and Elnora Oxley, was born April 9, 1882, and passed away November 28, 1948, at his home two miles south of Siam at the age of 67 years, seven months and 19 days.

On February 22, 1908, he was united in marriage to Edith Mary Bix.  To them were born six children.  Besides his wife, he is survived by four sons, George, Siam; Frank of Bedford; Mahlon of Creston and Hobart of Ceres, Calif.  Preceding him in death were Ivan Kirk and Adaline.

There are nine grandchildren, Barbara Jean, Donald Richard, Norma Eileen, Beverly Ann, Dennis Dean, Jerry Leroy, Judith Ann, Linda Lou and Kenneth Allen Oxley.

[Oxley, Edith Mary Bix]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    January 15, 1953    [p. 1]

Mrs. Edith Oxley Died In Hospital

Mrs. Edith Oxley, 70, of the Siam community, died at St. Francis hospital, Maryville, Jan. 13.

She is survived by four sons: George Oxley of Siam, Frank Oxley of Bedford, Mahlon Oxley of Creston, Hobart Oxley of California.

Funeral services will be held at the Siam Methodist church at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon, Jan. 15.  Burial in Shearer cemetery.

[Oxley, Edith Mary Bix]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    January 29, 1953    p. 6

Obituary - Mrs. Edith Oxley

Funeral services for Mrs. Edith Oxley were held Thursday at the Methodist church in Siam.  The Rev. Earl Streyffeler conducted the services.  Burial was in the Shearer cemetery.

Edith Mary Bix, daughter of George [David] and Margaret [Reynolds] Bix was born in Norfolk, England, Sept. 29, 1882, and died at the St. Francis hospital in Maryville, Jan. 13, 1953, at the age of 70 years, three months and 14 days.

On Feb. 22, 1908 she was married to Abram G. [arfield] Oxley.  To them were born six children: George Oxley of Siam, Frank Oxley of Bedford, Mahlon Oxley of Orient, Hobart Oxley of Ceres, Calif.  Ivan and Adaline died in infancy.  Mr. Oxley died Nov. 28, 1948.

Her home was established around Siam from infancy until death.  She attended the Methodist church.

Besides her family she is survived by ten grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Agnes Dougherty of Bedford and Miss Ella Bix of Clarinda; four brothers, George and Jim Bix of Siam, Bob Bix of Clarinda and Ernest Bix of Ottumwa, Iowa.

[Kimpton, Ethel Clara Beery]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    November 25, 1937    p. 4

Obituary - Mrs. John Kimpton

Clara Ethel Kimpton [Ethel Clara], daughter of Daniel and Rachel [Heidlebaugh] Beery, was born near Shambaugh, Iowa, July 31, 1885, and passed away at her home near Gravity, Tuesday, at the age of 52 years, 3 months and 15 days.

She came to Taylor County at the age of 8 years and resided on a farm in the vicinity of her late home until her marriage to John A. Kimpton on Dec. 26, 1906.  To this union 7 children were born: Homer, Edith, Wilbur, Iva and Lois of Gravity, Mrs. Vida Snyder of Bedford and Paul, who passed away Nov. 29, 1923, at the age of 10 years and 10 months.

She had been in ill health for several months but her passing was a shock to her family and friends.

Besides her husband and children, she leaves to mourn her loss, an aged mother; two sisters, Mrs. Maybelle Argetsinger of Mason City, Iowa, and Mrs. Iva Hicks of Richey, Mont.; two brothers, A. C. Beery of Gravity and Lawrence Beery of Salt Lake City, Utah; two grandchildren, Doris Kimpton and Johnny Snyder.  Her father and two sisters, Mrs. Mary Hixon and Mrs. Zena Westfall, preceded her in death.

Mrs. Kimpton was a wonderful mother and a good neighbor.

The funeral services were conducted Friday afternoon, Nov. 19, at the Guss Methodist church, by the Pastor, Rev. E. B. Stewart.  Burial was in the Guss cemetery.

[Meyers, Frederick "Fred"]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    June 24, 1937    p. 7

Gravity

Fred Myers Succumbs

Funeral Services Were Saturday---Mrs. Myers Very Ill

Fred Myers [Frederick Meyers], 82, passed away at his home in northeast Gravity Thursday June 17 at 9:00 p. m.  The funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at the Gravity Methodist church, conducted by a former pastor, Rev. W. H. Warrior of Blockton, assisted by Rev. A. J. Bissinger.

A special service was held in the home before going to the church, on account of the serious illness of Mrs. Myers [Meyers].

Mr. and Mrs. Myers [Meyers] have both been very ill in the home the past three weeks.  Mrs. Myers is no better at the present time.

[Meyers, Frederick "Fred"]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    June 24, 1937    p. 7

Attend Myers Funeral

Mr. and Mrs. R. Morey, Mr. and Mrs. Billy Costen, Mrs. Len Oxley, Jud Sturm and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Hamblin, Mr. and Mrs. Lou Cundy and son Orin Jessie, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Hamblin, Mary Ann and Mary Louise Cundy, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Reed, Mr. and Mrs. Billy Cochran and mother, Mrs. Henry Cochran, Mrs. Albert Beck, Mrs. Ted Selders, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Hamblin, Lloyd and Esther, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Damewood, attended the funeral of Fred Myers [Meyers] at Gravity Saturday afternoon.

[Meyers, Esther McNerney Riggle]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    November 18, 1937     [p. 1]

Mrs. Fred Myers Dies

Mrs. Fred Myers [Meyers] of Gravity, who had been ill for several months, died at her home Wednesday night, Nov. 17.  The funeral services will be held at the Methodist church in Gravity at one o'clock Friday afternoon.  Mrs. Myers [Meyers] is the mother of Mrs. Amasa Hamblin [Bertha Jane] of Sharpsburg.

[Meyers, Esther McNerney Riggle]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    November 25, 1937    p. 4

Obituary

Mrs. Fred Meyers

Esther McNerney Riggle, daughter of Joseph and Jane McNerney Riggle, was born near Muncy, Penn., Dec. 22, 1858 and died at her home in Gravity, Iowa, Nov. 17, 1937, aged 78 years, 10 months, and 25 days.

Esther was the oldest in a family of 8 children.  When 13 years of age she moved with her parents to Page County, near College Springs, Iowa, where a few years later she joined the Methodist Episcopal church.

On Feb. 9, 1880, she was married to Frederick Meyers who passed away June 17^th, 1937.

To this union five children were born:  Hattie Faye, who died in infancy, Arthur Meyers of Gravity, Bertha Hamblin of Sharpsburg, Burton F. Meyers of Northboro and Semina [Semma May] Webb of Gravity.

Besides the four children, who were all with their mother the last days of her illness, she leaves ten grandchildren, two great grandchildren and one brother, J. C. Riggle of Shenandoah, Iowa.

In 1900 Mr. and Mrs. Meyers and their family moved from Page Center to their farm north of Gravity, where they lived until they moved to town in 1910.

The church was always on the minds of these staunch pioneers and when Fred was no longer able to hear the sermon, Mrs. Meyers would attend the services and on returning home would give not only the text but the sermon word for word for his benefit.

At the time of Mr. Meyer's passing, both Mr. and Mrs. Meyers faced death together and not only at that time but since, the children have lovingly "stood by" knowing that "all is well."

The funeral services were held at the Methodist church in Gravity Friday afternoon, conducted by Rev. A. J. Bissinger.  Burial was in the Gravity cemetery.

[Hamblin, Amasa Lewis]

Clearfield Chronicle

December 1957

Amasa Hamblin

Funeral services for Amasa Lewis Hamblin, 78, well known farmer of Gravity, were held last Wednesday afternoon at the Presbyterian Church in Bedford.  Rev. Kenneth Miller conducted the service.

Mr. Hamblin suffered a fatal heart attack on December 1 and died at his home.

Survivors include his wife [Bertha Jane Meyers] and three children, Mrs. Lorna Bowman of Bedford, Mrs. Gladys Brown of Grundy Center and Lloyd Hamblin of Lenox; also two brothers, Ray of St. Joseph and Frank of Modesto, California, and Mrs. Olive Nickell, a sister.

Interment was in the Washington cemetery.

[Hamblin, Bertha Jane Meyers]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    February 17, 1966    p. 8

Final Rites Are Held For Mrs. Hamblin

Funeral services for Mrs. Amasa L. (Bertha) Hamblin, 82, long time Taylor County resident, held February 10 at the Bedford Presbyterian Church, were conducted by Rev. John D. Kerr.  Mrs. Hamblin died at the Municipal Hospital in Clarinda, Iowa, February 8, 1966.  Interment was at Washington Cemetery, Gravity, Iowa.

Bertha Jane Meyers, daughter of Fred and Esther [McNerney Riggle] Meyers, was born in Page Center, Page County, Iowa, Jan. 24, 1884.

Bertha moved with her parents to a farm north of Gravity where she grew to young womanhood.

On September 26, 1906, she was married to Amasa L. [ewis] Hamblin at her parents’ home, Gravity, Iowa.   They made their home on farms near Gravity and Sharpsburg and after the death of her husband she moved to Bedford.  Bertha and Amasa were faithful workers in the Presbyterian Church.

To this union were born four children:  Lorna, Gladys, Lloyd and Esther.

Preceding her in death were her husband and daughter, Esther, her parents, brother Arthur, twin brother, Burton and sister, Semma.

Left with memories are two daughters, Mrs. Clifford Bowman [Lorna], Bedford, Mrs. Glenn Brown [Gladys], Grundy Center, Iowa; one son, Lloyd Hamblin, Lenox, Iowa; five grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.

Relatives and friends from a distance at the Feb. 10 services for Mrs. Bertha Hamblin were:  Mr. and Mrs. Glenn R. Brown, Grundy Center, Ia.; Mr. and Mrs. Carrol Austin, Mabel, Minn.; Mrs. Larry Eslinger, Ames, Ia.; Mr. and Mrs. Gary Hamblin, Oakland, Ia.; Mrs. Bert Meyers, Northboro, Ia.; John Tieman, Fort Hood, Texas; Dr. Ray Hamblin, St. Joseph, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stearns, Arapahoe, Nebr.; Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Klakken and Mrs. Jessie Beery, Coin, Iowa.

 [Hamblin, Oma Vesta]

Times-Republican

Thursday    January 14, 1909    p. 8

Obituary

Oma Vesta Hamblin, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. [ranklin] L. [ee] Hamblin [Mary Catherine Mathers] was born at F. [ranklin] L. [ee] Hamblin's home just west of Sharpsburg, January 14^th, 1891, where she spent most of her life attending the Sharpsburg schools, until she had completed her work there.  She attended the summer school, held in Bedford two terms.  Last August she went up to Howard Lake, Minn., where her sister, Mrs. Lou Cundy [Jessie Pearl Hamblin], lives and enrolled in the high school there.  Her progress in her studies there was brilliant from the very beginning, and she soon stood at the head of her classes.  Miss Oma had a very winning personality, and soon won her way to the hearts of her schoolmates and the teachers there, as was eloquently attested to, by their kindness during her illness, and after her demise.  In November, she and her sister, Mrs. Cundy, both took down with typhoid fever.  The Doctors expressed doubt as to Miss Oma's recovery after the eighth day, when there was a decided change for the worse.  Mrs. Hamblin was there on a visit when they took down, and shortly after Mr. Hamblin went up.  There was some indication of improvement, and it seemed to all of the friends, that she was on the road to recovery, and Mr. Hamblin having business interests that demanded his attention, came home, but receiving a telegram shortly afterwards that she had taken a relapse, and could not live, returned to her bedside at once.  All that human skill could do was done for her recovery, but the poisons of the typhoid did its work, due to inability to take proper nourishment, and because of the weakness of the heart, and on the morning of January the fifth, she quietly passed out of this into the life beyond, being 17 years, 11 months, and 21 days old.  She had grown up in the service of the Master, through the Presbyterian Church at Sharpsburg, filling various places in the work of the church.  She had united with the church at the age of 14 years, and was ever after a willing worker for the Master, wherever duty called.  She was Sunday school organist, and assistant Organist for church services, and a member of the choir, when she left here to go to Howard Lake.

She had a host of warm friends among the schoolmates and neighbors.   She was a very efficient worker in the Christian Endeavor Society of the church.

The remains were brought here last Thursday evening, and appropriate services were held from the Presbyterian Church.  Flowers were presented by the members of the High School, and also by the teachers of the Howard Lake school, and a service was held at the Cundy home over the remains, Miss Oma's classmates furnishing the music, and acting as pallbearers.  The Christian Endeavor Society here presented a very beautiful crescent of white carnations, the Aid Society a bouquet of the same, the choir a bouquet of pink carnations, while the school here presented a bouquet of white roses, while other flowers were brought by others.  The front of the church was banked with house plants, while the corner of the organ, upon which she had played so often, in the church services of the church, held a rosette with long streamers of white and black ribbon; all of which attested to the sorrow and high esteem of her many friends and friends of the family.  As the remains were brought into the church, Miss Bessie Sweigard, the church organist, played a funeral march, and the choir sang three selections during the service appropriate to the occasion.  Mrs. A. P. Walton sang a solo entitled "We Shall cross Mystic River, one by one," the chorus of which was sung as a mixed quartette by Rev. and Mrs. A.P. Walton, Mrs. Bessie Gorfrey and S. R. Henderson.  An immense congregation gathered, not over two thirds of which could get into the building.  The service was in charge of Rev. A. P. Walton, who preached the sermon from James 4:14 and Rev. 22:14.  Interment was made in Gravity cemetery.

[Hamblin, Franklin Lee]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday   November 15, 1945    [p. 1], 4

F. L. Hamblin, 88, Sharpsburg, Dies

Frank [lin] L. [ee] Hamblin, youngest son of Daniel W. [oodard] and Anna [Sarah Kenyon] Hamblin, was born March 1, 1857, in Lee County, Illinois, the parents and his two older brothers, Horace K. and Arthur A. [llen] stopping there for the winter while enroute to Iowa from their old home in Cayuga County, New York.  He died at the home of his son and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Hamblin, west of Sharpsburg, Saturday, November 10, 1945, following a long and useful life, at the age of 88 years, 8 months and 9 days.

Of a family of pioneer settlers in Taylor County, the first home was established for the D. [aniel] W. [oodard] Hamblin family in Washington Township, where Frank L. [ee] grew to manhood, attended grade school, many years in a school maintained in his own home, with his mother as teacher.  This, like home maintained rural schools of that day, was the forerunner of the public school system of Taylor County.  Finishing his grade school education, he attended Academy School at New London, Iowa, one of the first academies established west of the Mississippi River, and the forerunner of high schools in Iowa.  Obtaining a teacher's certificate after his studies in the academy, he contracted to teach his first rural school at the age of 17, teaching a few weeks in the winter, and another short period in the spring, allowing time for pupils and teacher to engage in the strenuous work on the newly established farms of the district.

In the fall of 1880 he was married to Mary C. [atherine] Mathers of Bedford, taught school nearby, and in the spring of 1881, established their home on the farm located three quarters of a mile west of Sharpsburg where he resided until retiring from active management of the farm 36 years ago.  To them were born three children, Chester, Jessie, and Oma.  Oma died in 1908 [1909] and Jessie, Mrs. F. [rancis] L. [lewellyn] Cundy, died in 1943.  Mrs. Mary C. [atherine] Hamblin died May 6, 1929.

Mr. Hamblin married Mrs. Hester C. [hilcote] Mattice of Conway in the fall of 1932, and they resided in Sharpsburg until the time of her death, in the fall of 1939.  Since that time Mr. Hamblin made his home with his children, Mrs. F. [rancis] L. [lewellyn] Cundy [Jessie Pearl], and Chester Hamblin and their families.

Outstanding characteristics of Mr. Hamblin were his strict attention to whatever business claimed his attention, his deep religious convictions backed by his energetic work in the Presbyterian Church at Sharpsburg, and his cheerful disposition.

He served as a clerk of the session of the Sharpsburg Presbyterian church for 45 years, served in the church organization for a half-century or more as deacon and then as elder and was an active charter member in establishing the church at Sharpsburg.  That church had its first beginning in homes of families of the community, then affiliated with the Presbyterian Church at Bedford, then Conway, and then established its own home at Sharpsburg.  Thoughts for the welfare of his home and of his church were always uppermost in his mind.

In civic affairs Mr. Hamblin was always active, serving his township for years as a trustee, the town of Sharpsburg as clerk, and the school of Sharpsburg as secretary.  He served as vice-president of the State Savings Bank of Sharpsburg for more than 25 years.

Surviving are one son, Chester F. Hamblin and his wife; a son-in-law, F. [rancis] L. [lewellyn] Cundy, seven grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.

The funeral services were held at the Presbyterian Church in Sharpsburg, Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 1:30 P. M., Rev. J. W. Chase, pastor of the church, in charge.  Burial was in the Gravity cemetery.

[Hamblin, Hester Sophia Chilcote Mattice]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    September 28, 1939    p. 3

Mrs. F. L. Hamblin

Hester [Sophia] Chilcote, daughter of Israel and Susan [Coleman] Chilcote, was born in Perry County, Ohio, on May 15, 1860.  She moved to Taylor County with her parents in 1864, where she grew to maturity.  She went with her sister to the Black Hills in South Dakota, where she met and married A. E. [Ernest A.] Mattice in 1887.  They located on a cattle ranch there, where she resided until he passed away in 1916.  She then returned to Conway.  She united with the M. E. church and was a faithful worker for her Master   She was also a member of the Eastern Star.

In 1931 she was married to F. [ranklin] L. [ee] Hamblin and moved her church membership to the Presbyterian Church at Sharpsburg.  She passed away at her home in Sharpsburg, Sept. 22, 1939, at the age of 79 years, 4 month and 7 days.

She is survived by her husband, the Chester Hamblin and F. [rancis] L.[lewellyn] Cundy families; one sister, Mrs. Eva Litteer of Conway; and two brothers, John H. [enry] Chilcote and E. [mery] H. Chilcote of Bedford.  Also, [by] a large number of nieces and nephews.

The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Paul McCleave at the Presbyterian Church in Sharpsburg Sunday afternoon.  Burial was in the Lexington cemetery.