John Franklin Bevington

John Franklin Bevington was born in Holmes County, Ohio, April 1, 1845.  He died at Mount Ayr, Iowa, January 30, 1919 at the age of 73 years, nine months and twenty-nine days.

In 1865 he came to Iowa, with his parents, being then 18 years of age.  They came directly to Ringgold County and from that time to the present Mr. Bevington was a citizen and a builder of this community.  On June 22, 1864, he married to Rebekah Chance at the old Chance homestead north of Mount Ayr.  They followed farming as a business except for a short time in the grocery business in town.  The wife died January 5, 1897.  Three children were born into this home, Anna B. White of Guildford, MO.; Corwin Bevington who was killed last summer in a railway accident; and a daughter Ethel, who died in infancy.  There are also eleven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

In the pastoral term of Rev. Vollmer, Mr. Bevington united with the Methodist Church on probation.  He was also affiliated with the Odd Fellows fraternity and the Workmen.  On February 23, 1899, he was married to Julia Slater.  In November, 1913 he suffered a stroke of paralysis, which malady laid firmer hold on him as time went on.  The devotion and sacrificial care of his wife in this time of helplessness made a profound impression upon all who entered the home.  All that loyal and loving children and grandchildren could do was added also, and this is the bright side of five long years of sickness.

Beside the widowed wife and one surviving daughter, there remains one sister of the deceased, Mrs. Perdue, of Diagonal, as well as a large number of sympathizing friends.

Funeral rites were performed at the Methodist Church by Frank Bean, the pastor, on February 1, at 10 a.m. Interment was at Rose Hill.