Died at Presbyterian Hospital, Chicago, at 1 o'clock, Saturday morning, Feb. 23, 1890, JOHN R. STAFFORD, aged 53 years and 4 months.Mr. Stafford had been ailing about three months, and died one week after an operation had been performed upon him by Dr. Park, of the Presbyterian hospital.
The remains, accompanied by a brother-in-law of the deceased, Mr. J. S. Straight, of Chicago, were immediately conveyed to this city, arriving on Monday evening's train. The funeral services were held at the M. E. church at 10 o'clock Wednesday, conducted by Rev. W. E. Woodward and the I. O. O. F. lodge of which he was an honored member.
John R. Stafford was born in Green county, Indiana, Nov. 2, 1836. He moved from Indiana with his parents to Iowa, and from Iowa to Montana, where he married Jan. 11, 1865, to Miss Edna E. Smith. From Montana he returned to Iowa, but in 1873, he moved with his family to Sedgwick county, Kansas, and has been a resident of the state ever since with the exception of a year in New Mexico. In the fall of 1884 he moved to Comanche county, and for the past five years, has resided most of the time in Coldwater. He had been a member of the Christian church for 11 years.
He was one of our earliest settlers, and one of our most active citizens. He was always ready for every public enterprise that look to the welfare of our people. Ever willing to bear his part of society's burdens, that the general good might be served. He was quiet, yet determined, unostentatious, but an energetic man. Comanche county had no more gentile, kindly mannered and honorable soul than he. It was always a pleasure to meet him and hear his cheerful greeting and see his pleasant face. J. R. Stafford was a man who never betrayed trust, nor proved traitor to a friend. His nature was trustful and confiding. He loved his family with a husband and father's strongest affection. His home was to him his paradise on earth. Where his loved one were, there he longed to always be. He cared for earthly possessions only to the degree, that they ministered to the needs and comforts of his family. He has passed from them. He has been called hence. No more in this life can they see him again. The mysterious beyond has received him. To him, death had no terrors, he fully believed in the after life of the spirit and the redemption of the body. Can we not say, "He is not dead, he only sleepth?" The mortal is past, the immortal has begun. We bid him only a short adieu. A few more years, at best, and we shall follow him. Let us imitate his virtues, and as we think of his death, let us remember, "To this complexion must we all come at last."
Also see:
List of Pioneer Settlers Buried in Crown Hill Cemetery Published in The Western Star, 16 June 1933.
Edna E. (Smith) STAFFORD
Surnames: Cash, Fairman, Maxey & Stafford.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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