"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 96, No 10, p 319, Mar. 10, 1924.
Clifford Gerald Bond, the son of Ira and Alma E. Bond, was born at Garwin, Ia., December 12, 1883, and died at the State Hospital, Topeka, Kan., February 20, 1924, aged 40 years, 2 months, and 8 days. [Note gravestone dates are 1882-1924.]
When he was about a year old, his parents moved to Humboldt, Neb., where they remained about three years. He then moved with his parents to western Kansas where he lived for eight years. With the exception of a few years spent in Milton Junction, Wis., and nine years in Gentry, Ark., where his mother died, Nortonville was his home for the rest of his life. Here his father died, and here he was married to Alena Bond, [Maxson] February 11, 1914.
He was converted at Rock River, Wis., in his young manhood, and was a faithful worker in the Christian Endeavor society and church the rest of his life. He was a very conscientious Christian man, supremely interested in the things of God, and always willing to do whatever duty came to him. Nevertheless, on January 30, 1924, while communing with his God in the small hours of the night, he discovered that he had always been reserving for himself a secret recess of his heart, which he then yielded, and he was filled with a most glorious peace and joy. Before he died he expressed to his wife a child-like trust and confidence in his Savior and a readiness to meet him face to face.
He leaves to mourn his loss three brothers: Robert L., of Farnum, Neb.; Dewey L., of Milton Junction, Wis.; and Leslie of Nortonville, Kan.; three sisters: Lenna Babcock and Ethel Greene, both of Nortonville, Kan., Iva Goodrich of Omaha, Neb.; a wife and four children, and many friends.
The funeral services, conducted by his pastor, H. L. Cottrell, were held at the Seventh Day Baptist church of Nortonville, Kan. Interment was made in the Nortonville Cemetery. H. L. C.

SSDI last res: Nortonville, KS

"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 182, No 10, p 13, Mar. 6, 1967.
Sarah Alena Maxson was born three miles west of Nortonville, Feb. 3, 1881, the ninth of eleven children of Russell and Hannah (Babcock) Maxson. Her father died when she was five years old, but her mother lived until 1932.
On June 7, 1890, at the age of nine, she made a public profession of her faith in Christ, was baptized, and joined the Nortonville Seventh Day Baptist Church, of which she remained a member until her death.
Her education began at the (Hickory Grove) Sugar Bowl School near her home. When a neighborhood Sunday School was organized in the school house she was one of the teachers.
Her high school education was interrupted by rural school teaching and by her mother's ill health. She and her mother moved into Nortonville in 1907 and she graduated from the High School in 1908.
Through Christian Endeavor work in her church she became acquainted with Clifford G. Bond and they were married on Feb. 11, 1914. Except for three and a half years that they lived in Milton Junction, Wis., she made her residence for the rest of her life in Nortonville.
Her husband died in 1924 and the succeeding years were busy ones caring for her young fatherless children. She received many kindnesses from friends and the church while the children grew up.
She was active in community work, especially in the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and the lid of her cookie jar was rattled by countless numbers of Loyal Temperance Legion children. She was ordained a deaconess Nov. 18, 1939. She helped out during the teacher shortage of the forty's, taking a refresher course and teaching for four years in Jefferson County schools.
During this time she became interested in the Rural Bible Crusade, which gives awards for memorization of Bible verses. She challenged the children with this and encouraged them by earning her own Bible (500 verses) and a week at Summer Bible Camp. It was at her request that at her death, rather than flowers, any money "be given to the work of the Rural Bible Crusade of Kansas, or other worthy missionary enterprise."
As she grew older Alena Bond continued to think of ways to be of service. She decided that when she was through with her "bodily garment" it should be used to help others. Thus, when she died on Jan. 24, following a period of failing health, her children sent her body to a school of medicine with the following note:
"This was our mother. The hands, once strong and active, wielded the rod of correction, yet held a Bible in daily family instruction. The arms held us when we were sick or had stubbed toes. The lips often prayed for us.
Death won the struggle for her body, but her spirit is secure with our Savior. (Your Savior too, if you are yielded to the Almighty's love.)
We, the children, in accordance with her wishes submit this body for the training of future physicians."
Memorial services were conducted in the Nortonville church on Sabbath afternoon, Jan. 28. She is survived by her four children, Gerald C. of Sulphur Springs, Ark., Mrs. Ronald (Alma) McClure and Ira E. of Nortonville, and W. Allen of Marion, Iowa, and one brother, Lyle Maxson of Denver, Colo. All of her children, and eleven of the twelve grandchildren and one great-grandchild were able to attend the memorial. The service concluded with an evangelistic message, brought at her request by her son, Allen. It was indeed a fitting climax for the memorial to her life of service and devotion to her Lord and Savior.