Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-04
JEFF W. BEDFORD, JR., is DEAD
Philippine Soldier and SON of Omaha
Councilman Meets Sudden and
Sad Death in Montana.

jeff w. Bedford, jr., Of Hyscham, Mont,
q years old and son Of Jeff w. Bedford,
councilman from the Twelfth ward and
county commissioneP-elect from the Fifth
district, died suddenly of acute quinsy at
Forsythe. Mont. New Years evening. He
had written home to his young wife, whom
he married last August, and to his father
and brothers in Omaha, the letters being
dated Monday, December q. saying that
ne was In the best of health and expected
a happy New Year and a winter visit in
this city. The next heard in Omaha was
the news OF his sudden death.
Nj. Bedford had lived in Montana for
about two years in order to secure and
care for q valuable claim about to be irri-
gated. He was we'll liked and we'll spoken
of by all who knew him. Thursday he ar
rived at Forsythe from Hyscham, where
he had been living. to make final proof on
his claim, and he died the next morning.
This is the only death that has occurred
in the family Of Councilman Bedford, who
has had seven children, all Of whom are
now grown men and women. The others
are Mrs. Jennie B. Chuck. Cambridge, Neb,
Mrs. r. w Montague. Mexico. Mo-; LeSeur
and Edwin Bedford and Mrs. Stella Wilson,
Omaha; Mrs. J. Lenoir White, Holdrege,
Neb. The body OF Jeff w. Bedford, jr.,
will be brought to Omaha for burial, prob
ably arriving on "wednesday.
He was a graduate OF the Lake grade
school and had also attended the Farnam
school. He belonged to Calvary Baptist
church, Twenty-fifth and Hamilton streets.
Miss Geneva Woodruff, daughter of an
employe of a local railroad, was married to
him last summer and had recently been
living in this city, where her husband in
tended to spend the winter. He saw one
and a half years OF active service In
Company L, First Nebraska, during the
Spanish-American war, being on the firing
line in the Philippines most of the time
and distinguished himself for bravery and
efficiency. He was the only known Ne
braska Son of the American Revolution who
fought in the late war, and was entitled to
special medal from the government, but
he never claimed It. While serving in the
Philippines he was shot once through the
hand.
Death of Fred Armstead.
Frederick simonds Armstead, son OF Mr..
and Mrs. George w. Armstead, died at the
home of his parents in North Bend on
Tuesday, December %. He was born in
Columbus. o., September 20, 1872. and came
with his parents TO Nebraska while yet a
small boy. FREQ was one OF a ladnly Oh
twelve children. and is the third to pass
away. Father. mother. six brothers and
three sisters survive him. He leaves a wife
and one child. a daughter. The cause OF Mr..
Armstead's death was tuberculosis. from
which he was a patient sufferer for many
months.
Mr.. Armstead was a jeweler and watch
maker by trade and. worked in North
Bend until the ravages of the disease COM
PEELED him to cease all labor.
One Of the incidents of the funeral. and
one seldom seen. was the spectacle of six
stalwart brothers officiating as pallbearers
for the seventh brother. A male quartet
rendered several selections at the church,
and the service at the cemetery consisted
of a single prayer.
Mr.. Armstesd was for four years a mem
Der OF the Woodward Stock company
while they were here and later went to
Lincoln with the Fulton Stock company. He
was also on the road with several COM
panies.