William Jennings Bryan VanDorn, 1899-1974, and Lora D. Mitchell VanDorn, 1900-1930

The Seymour Herald - 5 Sepember 1974

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WILLIAM BRYAN VAN DORN

  William Bryan Van Dorn, son of Douglas and Jennie Stewart Van Dorn, was born Dec. 8, 1899, in Appanoose county, Iowa, and died Aug. 29, 1974, at University hospital in Iowa City, Iowa, at the age of 74 years, eight months and 21 days.

  He was united in marriage to Lora Mitchell in 1918. To this union were born five sons and three daughters, Marshall Neil Van Dorn and Mrs. Pauline Wells of Des Moines, Mrs. Virginia Hyle (deceased), Robert Van Dorn of Longview, Texas, William Van Dorn of Cedar Rapids, Lloyd Van Dorn of Monouth, and twin boy and girl who died at birth.

  On Feb. 13, 1947, he was united in marriage to Goldie Sharp of Seymour. He became the father of Marvin Sharp whom he loved as his own.

  He spent all of his life farming in and around Wayne county. In 1947 he moved to Seymour and was employed at Godfrey's Pool Hall for many years and enjoyed working with the public and especially the young people.

  On April 6, 1974, he joined the Methodist church in Seymour and attended church as long as he health permitted. He was a good neighbor and always willing to help others. He was preceded in death by his father, mother, wife Lora, daughter Virginia, the twin babies, two brothers, one sister and three grandchildren.

  He is survived by his loving wife, Goldie, his six children, two sisters, Rachel Bone of Seymour and Ethel McClintick of Long Beach, Calif., five daughters-in-law, one son-in-law, 27 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren who he loved and enjoyed dearly and a host of friends and relatives.

  He will be sadly missed by all.

CARD OF THANKS

  We would like to thank all of the friends, neighbors and relatives for the kindness and sympathy shown in our time of sorrow. We would like to thank everyone for the food, flowers and cards. A special thanks to the women of the church for the lovely lunch served the day of the funeral. We would also like to say a special thanks to Rev. Ricks and his wife for their trips to the hospital for the wonderful service. Also thank you to Rev. Hickman for his visit to the hospital. Thanks to Mr. Randolph for the kind services shown to us.

    Mrs. W. B. VanDorn

    Mr. and Mrs. Neil VanDorn and family

    Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Wells and family

    Mr. and Mrs. Bill VanDorn and family

    Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd VanDorn and family

    Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Sharp and family

    Mrs. Rachel Bone

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William Bryan & Lora D. (Mitchell) VanDorn Gravestone 

in Block 5, Lot 8 of New Section of the Jerome Cemetery, 

Lincoln Township, Appanoose County, Iowa
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Children of William Bryan VanDorn & Lora D. Mitchell
Gravestone of Twin Boy and Girl Who Died At Birth

in Block 5, Lot 8 of New Section of the Jerome Cemetery, 

Lincoln Township, Appanoose County, Iowa
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The Seymour Herald - 16 January 1930
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LORA MITCHELL VANDORN

  Mrs. W. J. B. VanDorn passed away Sunday, January 5 at the St. Joseph Hospital in Centerville following an illness of several days. She underwent an operation several days ago.

  Mrs. VanDorn resided on a farm south of this city with her husband and family, and her death is a severe loss to her family. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. P. Mitchell of this city adn had resided in this community practically all of her life, being at the time of her death 29 years, 8 months and 18 days of age.

  She is survived by her husband, six children, her parents and several brothers and sisters. The family has the sympathy of the entire community in their loss.

  Lora Mitchell VanDorn, daughter of L. P. and Retta Mitchell was born at Cincinnati, Appanoose County, Iowa, May 17, 1900, and passed away in St. Josephs Hospital, Centerville, January 5, 1930, at the age of 29 years, 7 months and 19 days. The major part of her life was spent in Seymour.

  February 10, 1919 she became the bride of Bryan VanDorn of Jerome. To them 6 children were born, Neal, Pauline, Virginia, Robert, William and Lloyd.

  When Mrs. VanDorn was 16 years of age, she united with the Baptist Church, and took an active part in the Sunday School and Church work until the care of a young family prevented her from doing so.

  Besides her husband and 6 children, who will miss her sorely she is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. P. Mitchell, five brothers adn two sisters, also many friends whom she made during her short life.

  Funeral service was held at the home of her parents, at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, January 8. The remains were laid to rest in Jerome cemetery. Service at the home and grave were conducted by Elder G. A. Jeffrey.

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CARD OF THANKS

  We wish to thank all those who in any way helped us at this time of the sad loss of our wife, daughter and sister. We thank all those who furnished cars.

      A precious one from us is gone

      A voice we loved is stilled

      A place is vacant in our home

      Which never can be filled.

      Mr. and Mrs. L. P. Mitchell and family.

      Mr. Bryan VanDorn and family.

Death of Peter Sidles Removes Staunch Patriot

Centerville Newspaper Clipping - December 1905

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Was Public Spirited Citizen--His Demise Sudden on Friday

  A. Root, Robert Wright and Isaac Lane, representing John L. Bashore Post, G.A.R., of this city, attended at Jerome on Saturday the funeral of Peter Sidles who died suddenly last Friday [1 December 1905] morning at his home a mile north of Jerome. On the morning of his death, it is said that Mr. Sidles seemed to be feeling as usual. He ate his breakfast in the basement kitchen and retired to the sitting room above where members of the household found him a few hours later in a sinking condition in his armed chair. They immediately carried him to the bed and summoned a physician but death ensued before the doctor arrived. His wife, his stepdaughter, Miss Anna Sharp, and his son-in-law, William Laumer [Larimer], were present.

  The funeral was held Saturday afternoon at 1:00 o'clock conducted by Rev. George Blagg of the M.E. church at Mystic and interment was made in the Jerome cemetery.

  Peter Sidles, Jr., was born in Chariton [Clinton] county, Ohio, in 1823 and was therefore 82 years of age. His great grandfather, a native German, served in the War of the Revolution, and the patriotic spirit of this ancestor seems to have been inherited by the subject of this sketch who in his life served his country well in war and in peace, and was withal a kind husband and father. He was a lifelong member of the M.E. church in which he was class leader. He was a Mason of many years standing and also a voter and worker in the Republican party. At various times he was honored by election to civil offices including those of township trustee and assessor.

  Mr. Sidles was one of the survivors of Company D [B], Sixth Kansas Cavalry and had an excellent record in the War of the Rebellion. He enlisted in August 1861 in the Fifth Kansas Cavalry but was transferred to the Sixth. He was taken prisoner at Mazzard Prairie and held at Tyler, Texas, for seven months until he made his escape and succeeded in reaching the company of Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry under command of Captain Gedney, which he accompanied to Cairo, Ill., being mustered out at Leavenworth, Kansas, April 18, 1865. During his incarceration in the rebel prison he was sick for five weeks with fever, but was fortunate in having one of his comrades, James Asher, to care for him.

  Mr. Sidles married Miss Susan Crossman [Crosson] in Clinton county, Ohio, in 1824, and soon after bought 100 acres of wild land in that vicinity which he farmed for seven years, but finding the labor of clearing too severe for his health, he sold out and came to Appanoose county in 1850, settling where he resided until the time of his death. Mrs. Sidles died several years ago, being the mother of six children of whom four are now living. They are Mrs. Pendergast, Mrs. Larimer and George and John Sidles. Mr. Sidles later was married to a Mrs. Sharp who survives him.