Family:Unknown and Bessie Stephens (2)

Sycamore True Republican
Friday, July 01, 1949
Page: 6

Neighborhood News ... Cortland
Received by a former pupil Marilyn Jenkins in Sawyer School Dist. 54, on Monday, was this announcement; Mrs. Bessie E. Valentine and Mr. Everett P. Maitland announce their marriage on Saturday, June 18, in Wesley Chapel, Minerva, Ia. At home at La Plata, Mo. Mrs. Valentine was a very successful and much loved teacher in Sawyer School for three years, before leaving to accept a grade school job in Central School, Sycamore. Before that she had taught in Five Points school for seven years. All this time she was rural critic teacher for N.I.S.T.C. DeKalb Her many friends wish her much happiness in her new home.

Sycamore True Republican
Wednesday, March 17, 1965
(Joiner History Room Obituary DB)

Bessie Maitland Dies Saturday In DeKalb Hospital

Impressive final rites were accorded Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Van Natta Funeral Home for Mrs. Bessie Valentine Maitland, 79, very well known and highly esteemed resident of Sycamore, where she lived all of her life, with the exception of a few years, passed away Saturday at the DeKalb Public Hospital. She had been in frail health for sometime (sic.)

Dr. C. Wesley Israel officiated and interment was in the Elmwood cemetery. During visitation hours Monday afternoon and evening at the local funeral home many friends called to pay their final respects.

She was born in Sycamore February 5, 1886, daughter of Attorney Joseph B. Stephens and Martha Cook Stephens. Growing up here, she attended and graduated from the Sycamore Public Schools, later taking a two-year graduating course at DeKalb normal, now the Northern Illinois University. She then taught in the Waukegan Schools, also the Sycamore Schools, following which, she returned to Northern Illinois University and completed her year course there, and also attended Columbia University.

She was married to John S. Valentine in 1910, and they first farmed northwest of Sycamore later moving to Montana for a area (sic - possibly "year") making their home in the while (sic) and then returned to this Oaklands addition between DeKalb and Sycamore, where Mr. Valentine passed away.

Her second marriage was to Dr. E. P. Maitland and they lived in La Plata, Mo., until his death, when Mrs. Maitland returned to Sycamore. Due to her frail health, she has resided at the Driscoll Home for the past three years.

Mrs. Maitland was a faithful member of the Methodist Church and a former member of General john Stark Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Surviving her demise are one son, Merle S. Valentine of Phoenix, Ariz, a brother, Attorney Samuel J. Stephens of Aurora; a sister, Mrs. Marian S. Brown of Sycamore; two grandsons and one great grandson; also a stepson, Howard Maitland of La Plata; and a stepdaughter, Mrs. Adah Ator of Des Moines, Iowa.