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ELFORD - John .jpg

John Elford  (1842 ~ 1900)

 

4.2.2. Second child of William Elford and Charlotte Merkley, John Elford, was born February 19, 1842, in Hampton, Darlington Twp., Durham Co., Ontario.

  He married Martha Bond “Fanny” Colton, daughter of James Colton and Vianna Stevens, October 22, 1862, in Hampton, Ontario, and had five children: 

 

 

  John Elford and Martha Colton Elford died September 8, 1900, aged 58 and 57 years, in Galveston, Texas and are interred at Walhalla Hillside Cemetery, Walhalla, North Dakota, U.S. 

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​----- MARRIAGE -----

 

Elford—Colton

At the residence of the Bride’s Mother, in Darlington, on October 22, 1862, by David Cantlon, Bible Christian Minister, John Elford, oldest son of William Elford, Esq., of the Township of Darlington, to Fanny, youngest daughter of widow Colton. Oshawa Vindicator, Oct. 29, 1862.

 

​----- OBITUARY -----

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JOHN ELFORD’S BURIAL

Bodies of Mrs. Elford and Grandson not Found

These particlars of the funeral ceremony and life of the late John Elford of Hampton, Ont., are taken from the Walhalla Mountaineer of October 10, 1900, and will be of special interest to the numerous relatives and acquaintances in West Durham:

 

OBITUARY.

ELFORD—At Galveston, Texas, September 8, 1900, John Elford, aged 58 years.

Fannie Colton, his wife, aged 57 years.

Dwight, son of George C. Elford, 

of Langdon, North Dakota, aged 6 years.

 

  All that was mortal of Mr. John Elford was brought home and buried on Sunday. The great number of friends whom the deceased and his respected wife had made during their residence in this part of the county attested their worth and showed their respect by attending the last obsequies and thus assisting in paying the last tribute to their old friend and his family.  The terrible story of the disaster which had caused the death of these beloved and respected people was told and the friends mourned afresh for those who had gone into the great beyond.

  The funeral cortege left the residence of the daughter, Mrs. J. S. Huffman, in Crown Center, at about half past one o’clock and took its sad and sorrowful way to the Methodist church in this place, where it arrived at about quarter before three. Rev. Hocking conducted  the services, assisted by Rev. Matheson, and the words that were said included the respect to those remains which were left behind at the scene of trouble as well as those that were incased in the beautiful metallic casket that occupied the space in front of the pulpit in the church. And they were loving, thoughtful words, recalling not only those who had reached the end of life’s journey, but were full of love and hope to those who remain behind.

The remains were then carried to the Protestant cemetery and interred, and though separated so far as the mortal bodies are concerned, the spirits are reunited never more to be torn asunder.

  John Elford was born in Durham County, Ontario, February 19, 1842, and was raised on a farm. He was married in 1862 and in 1885 moved to North Dakota.

  Mrs. Elford was born March 4, 1843, in Durham County, Ontario, and grew to young womanhood amongst her childish surroundings, having for her early playmate the husband she accepted to accompany her through the paths of life, and as they started on the path together, so, in the end they both “went home” together.

  Dwight, the son of Mr. George C. Elford, of Langdon, was born in 1895, and went with his grandparents on their trip through the south, meeting his death in the arms of his grandfather in the great storm which swept so many thousands to their death.

  Mr. and Mrs. Elford leave five children to mourn their death, and they have the sympathy of all, for the parents were known so well and loved by all who knew them.

  The family left here in March, 1899, and stopped a year with their son Milton in New Mexico. They then took a trip to Mineral Wells and Galveston, intending to make a round trip to California and return to North Dakota in the Spring, but the storm of September 8th stayed them in their journey. Mr. Elford’s body was not found for eighteen days after the storm—September 26. It is thought that the bodies of the other two loved ones were carried to sea and all hope of their recovery has been abandoned.

  The relatives present at the funeral were all the children and their families, Mr. Elford’s sister, Mrs. Charles Rogers and her daughter Mabel, from Taunton, Ontario, Mr. William Elford, his brother, and his wife from Carman, Manitoba, and Mr. A. S. Elford, a cousin, of Grand Forks. West Durham News, Oct. 25, 1900. 

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