Davenport Democrat, 17 October 1881, Front Page
?DEATH OF STEPHEN BAWDEN?
Davenport, Iowa Monday
One of the good, solid farmers and excellent citizens of this county, passed away at 4:00 this morning - Stephen Bawden, of Rockingham township. His death was not unexpected, yet it came with a startling suddenness. He suffered from a sun-stroke last summer and has been feeble since though able to attend to his duties. Last Friday he was affected by a slight paralytic stroke, but was better on Saturday, on Sunday he suffered from another, but from this he did not recover, and death relieved him at the hour named this morning.
Mr. Bawden was born in England, in March 1812, and so was 69 years and 7 months old. He came to America in 1849, and settled in Norristown, Pa., where he lived until 1860, when he came to Davenport and soon purchased the farm on the river road, in Rockingham township, just on the Davenport line, on which he has lived ever since. He was quiet in his ways and talk, but of the firmest convictions. And he was a strong man in quiet argument based on intelligence. His neighbors had thorough respect for him- they elected him a member of the Board of Supervisors for two or three terms under the old organization when every township had its member, and he was called to fill the office of township trustee or school trustee many times. He was a successful farmer and one of the best of husbands and fathers. He leaves five children to mourn, with their mother, the sore bereavement - Stephen D., bookkeeper at the Davenport National Bank, Dr. H. L. Bawden, Mrs. John Iles, George W., a law student, and Thomas J., whose home is on the old farm.
The funeral will take place from the residence of S. D. Bawden, No. 1315 Fourth Avenue, tomorrow afternoon at 2 o?clock.