RIP: Clara J. Bedford

Last summer I published a post about Clara’s post-Civil War trip to Philadelphia, based on a letter she wrote to her aunt, Abigail (Bedford) Jenkins, in May 1865. What I did not relate to you at the time was that Clara had a rather brief life. Clara was born in 1845 in Springboro, Ohio, where she lived most of her life. She had only one sibling, a younger sister, Florence. Clara died in 1872, age 26, in Dayton, Ohio, where she worked for the school district. She never married, nor had children. The following is her obituary, which I obtained from the Dayton Metropolitan Library. It only gives her cause of death as a 5-day illness, which may have been typhoid, but that is just speculation. I believe the article tells as much about her character as we can ever know. My great-grandmother, Clara Ransom (daughter of Clara’s cousin, Emma Jenkins Ransom, born in 1877) was probably named after Clara J. Bedford. — Eilene

Dayton Daily Journal

April 8, 1872

In Memoriam.

The length of our earthly existence should not be measured so much by circles of time as by deeds. Many years may silver the hair and wrinkle the brow without witnessing the effects of earnest endeavor or noble purpose. On the other hand, few years of energetic activity, directed by the highest christian [sic] principle, and controlled by a vigorous will, may accomplish the work of an average lifetime.

Miss Clara J. Bedford was born in Springborough, Ohio, the 8^th month, 26^th day, 1845. In her youth she developed traits of character that won the kindest consideration of relatives and friends. Ambitious to excel in whatever she engaged, encouragement was never wanting to aid in the accomplishment of worthy objects.

She was educated at the place of her birth, and at the early age of sixteen assumed the responsibility of a teacher. For several years she had charge of schools near her native village, and received the highest testimonials of success from different Boards School Directors. For sometime afterwards she had charge of the village school, which she managed and taught to the entire satisfaction of directors and patrons. In April, 1866, she united with the Methodist church, and was most faithful in the discharge of all duties which this union imposed.

In the summer of 1871 she was appointed, by the Board of Education of this city, to the position of First Assistant in District No. 7, which position she held until her death, which occurred in Dayton on the morning of 5^th of April, 1872, after a sickness of five days. On Sunday, the 7^th instant, her remains were taken to Springborough, where the funeral took place in the Methodist Church, at two o’clock in the afternoon. Two members of the Board of Education, a number of the teachers and several friends of the deceased, from Dayton, attended the services. The funeral was the largest ever known in Springborough. The church was packed and hundreds were unable to find standing room within the doors. This fact illustrates the high estimation in which she was held by a large circle of friends and acquaintances in that vicinity.

Miss Bedford’s character was beautiful in honest simplicity, fruits of that hearty sympathy and true friendship. Her humanity reached out to the unfortunate as well as to the prosperous and the good, and all found in her a wise counselor and a loving friend. These traits of a noble womanhood, won hosts of admiring friends, and proved powerful auxiliaries for good in the chosen work of her life.

Faithful in the discharge of every duty—whether secular or religious—conscientious to the minutest degree. She never faltered in her appointed work until she saw the end of it, nor slighted anything entrusted to her care.

Her heart was too sensitive to suffering of every kind to permit her to rule except by love. When pupils were disobedient, she seldom lost faith in [t]he power to eventually love them into obedience, and to inspire them with her own enthusiasm.

She was ambitious to advance the profession she loved and lost no opportunity afforded to improve her mind and broaden her culture. Not content with the several first-grade certificates she had won from County Examiners, the summer of 1869 she presented herself before the State Board of Examiners, passed through the trying ordeal and was awarded a State certificate—a testimonial which comparatively few of the profession have received. Although but twenty-six years of age when the Lord called her from this life, she had accomplished much for which her memory will be cherished through years to come. Her life was full of good deeds, a living epistle of a noble Christian charity.