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Chase County Kansas Obituaries
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Alford, Frank Vessey
Frank Alford died at his home in this city, Friday, July 8, 1927. This
statement will have to the new comer
in Chase county only the same mean
ing as the passing of any other man
who has almost reached the period
of his three score and ten years. But to those who have seen Chase county through her trials and have come closely and intimately in contact with the individual romances and tragedies, the passing of Frank Alford is a mile stone.
The span of life of Frank Alford is almost identical with the period of the white man's residence in Chase county. Coming here a baby in 1859 when the county was little older than he, they both, grew up together. Left fatherless at eight his experiences were typical of the experiences of the county. He knew its hardships and its sorrows, yet he also knew its hopes and its ambitions, and from the period of early manhood he has been a very active part of this developing county.
Ever clean in thought and action, sincere in his beliefs and courageous in all his actions, he was ever a leader in his community. He was not only a devout, professing christian, but he lived his christianity every day. No one had to inquire what position Frank Alford would take on any matter which affected the moral, religious or educational welfare of his community. He was not only for the better things but the was actively for them.
Besides the Masonic Order, his church was the outstanding interest of his life, He has been in it since boyhood nearly always in an active capacity. He has been Sunday school teacher, officer, steward and trustee, and in almost every other office in the church and, with it all, very modest. He gave so that his right hand often never knew what his left hand did. He loved to attend the sessions of the Annual Conference, has been on the official board of either the Bazaar circuit or our Cottonwood Falls church. since 1878, a period of approximately fifty years. He was the president of the Board of Trustees at the time the New Methodist church was erected and continued in that capacity until his death.
The curtain falls behind him and now we miss him, so much.
Frank Alford always took an active part in politics. He was a good worker but a poor candidate. Whatever he believed he expressed sincerely and forcefully, which always is a handicap if you ever become a candidate for office. Whatever cause or candidate he favored, he worked for the cause or candidate regardless of the effect on his own fortunes.
The writer first remembers Frank Alford when he was about, twenty. He was a young farmer and drove one of the finest road teams to one of the first top buggies owned in the county. He was a large, almost dashing young man, stood straight, had a shock of black hair, was always cheerfula thorough optimist. He was aristocratic in his bearing, and our early remembrances is the fact that he wore kid gloves when he drove that stepping team. People noticed Frank Alford wherever he went.
On account of his bearing and his short, positive manner of speech many people felt that Frank Alford held himself superior to the average run of people and some resented it. This feeling always disappeared as you came to know him well.
Like most men in the cattle business, Frank Alford met reverses. When he left the farm he had been hit so hard financially that he could not pay all of his obligations. He went into business here, worked hard and as fast as he could, paid off every cent of his indebtedness. He never advanced a rule of honesty or upright living that he did not himself follow.
Frank Alford contributed much toward the right developement of Ohase county. He will be missed. His influence will live for a long time.
Chase County Leader News, Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, Jul 08 1927.
Long Time Resident Dies In Cottonwood
F. V. Alford Had Lived in Chase
County Almost All of
His Life.
One of Chase County's longest residents, F. V. Alford of Cottonwood Falls, died Friday at his home in Cottonwood Falls after a short sickness. The funeral services were held in the Methodist church at Cottonwood Falls, Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. The Rev. Lynn H. Rupert, assisted by the Rev. F. E. Ryerson of Emporia, were in charge of the services. Interment was in the Prairie Grove Cemetery.
Mr. Alford was brought to Chase County by his parents in 1859 when he was less than a year old, and he has made this county his home since that time. He lived on a farm near Bazaar until 1897 when the family moved to Cottonwood Falls to make their home. Mr. Alford engaged in the grocery business and later in the hardware business after coming to Cottonwood Falls.
The Methodist church has lost one of there best supporters. He attended since he was a small boy. The Masonic Lodge of which he was a member also has lost a faithful worker.
Frank Vassey Alford was born November 25, 1858 in Muscatine, Ia.and received his promotion July 8, 1927, in Cottonwood Falls, Kans.
His father was one of the earliest settlers, bringing the deceased to Kansas when only a few months old, settling near Bazaar and the home has been in Chase County until his death.
It is very difficult to imagine what
the eldest boy among five children
must do when left fatherless, even at the early age of eight. At 17 he felt it his duty to make a separate home for himself, his sister and two brothers. On his birthday, November 25, 1880, he was married to Miss Mary Upton. To this union one child was born which died in infancy.
Surviving him, besides Mrs. Alford, there are two sister, Mrs. J. M. Morrison of Arvada, Colo., Mrs. P. W. Seip of Wichita and one brother, George, in Arvada. Besides these immediate relatives are others more distant and a church and county full of friends who will miss him much.
He has been engaged in business almost continuously since first coming to Cottonwood Falls in 1897. Seven years it was the grocery business and then for 17 in the hardware business from which he retired in 1923 on account of his health which has not been good since that time.
Besides the Masonic order his church was the outstanding interest of his life. He has been in it from boyhood, nearly always in an active capacity. He has been Sunday school teacher and officer, stewart and trustee and in almost every other office in the church and with it an, very modest. He gave up that his right hand often never knew what his left did. He loved to attend the sessions of our Annual Conferences and seldom missed them. In fact he has been on the official board of either the Bazaar circuit or of our Cottonwood Falls church since 1878 at least, a period of approximately 50 years. He was the president of the board of trustees at the time this structure was erected and continued in that capacity until his death.
The curtain falls behind him and now we miss him, so much.
Chase County Leader News, Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, Jul 08 1927.
by your Chase County Host, Lorna Marvin.
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