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William Henry Elford  (1844 ~ 1934)

 

4.2.3. Third child of William Elford and Charlotte Merkley, William Henry Elford, was born April 13, 1844, in Hampton, Darlington Twp., Durham Co., Ontario.

  He married Mary Thorsby Webster, daughter of William Webster and Louisa Thorsby, October 22, 1868, in Hampton, Ontario and had eight children: 

 

 

  William H. Elford died August 4, 1934, aged 90 years, and Mary T. Webster Elford died August 29, 1930, aged 85 years in Carman, Manitoba and are interred at Carman Cemetery.

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----- MARRIAGE -----

 

Elford—Webster

At the residence of the Bride’s Mother, Hampton, on October 22, 1868, by the Rev. J. Hoidge, Mary Thoresby, fourth daughter of Mr. Webster, and niece of the Rev. T. E. Thoresby, London, England, to William Henry, second son of William Elford, Esq., of Darlington. Bowmanville Statesman, Oct. 29, 1868.

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DIAMOND WEDDING.

Mr. and Mrs. W. Elford, Carman, Man., Celebrate

Sixtieth Wedding Anniversary

For the third time this year Carman had the distinction on Monday of a diamond wedding anniversary, when Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Elford attained the sixtieth year of their marriage.  As some members of the family could not be present no celebration was held but those who are near enough visited their parents some time during the day.

  On October 22, 1868, William H. Elford and Mary Thorsby Webster were married at Hampton, Ont., and settled on the Elford homestead where they lived until 1883 when they moved to this district and have remained ever since. Of the eight children, fifteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, all are living except two, a daughter, Annie, who died in 1926 and a little granddaughter, many years ago. The daughters are: Mrs. T. G. Finn, Morden; Miss Ada of Salt Lake City; Mrs. M. L. Burbank and Miss Hilda at home; the sons: Frank of Winnipeg; Fred and Russell of Carman.

  Although the family have been such consistent residents of this district for so many years, chance decided the location in the first place. Mr. Elford came west with some neighbours in 1882 and took land near Darlingford, but while in Winnipeg, then at the height of its boom, had the misfortune to sustain a bad fracture of the leg, which not only lost him his land, but which caused him permanent lameness. Being unable to look for more land, Mr. Elford left the matter to his brother who selected a farm four miles southwest of Carman.

  Since moving into town in 1912 Mr. Elford, still very active, has become well known to Carman residents but Mrs. Elford’s extreme deafness has prevented her participation in social life and she is now in feeble health.

  Mr. Elford is a nephew of the late John Elford, Bowmanville.  Their numerous relatives in this district join in heartiest congratulations to this worthy couple. Bowmanville Statesman, Nov. 15, 1928.

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----- OBITUARIES -----

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William H. Elford

April 13, 1844 ~ August 4, 1934

Another of Carman district’s veterans of the old frontier received the final summons last week when William Henry Elford died Saturday evening, August 4, 1934, at his home in Carman. He was in his 91st year. A resident of this place since 1882, he was a successful farmer for many years and always could claim the high esteem of his neighbors and of the community in general. In 1912 he gave up farming, being succeeded in the work by his sons, and came to live in town. For many years here he was active in matters concerning the general good of the community, being particularly interested in the work of the local agricultural society. The society a few years ago made him an honorary member. While on the farm he had always been a fancier of good stock, and always had pure-bred animals, Clydesdale horses and Shorthorn cattle, on the place. He was a member of the Masonic order for many years also and was an honorary life member of Oakland Lodge No. 9.

  Mr. Elford was born at Hampton, Ont., April 13, 1844, the second son of William Elford and his wife, Charlotte Merkely. He married in 1868 to Mary Webster of Hampton, eight children being born to them, of whom all attained maturity, seven still surviving. Mr. Elford came west in ‘82 to seek a new location and bought a farm near Carman, half of section 2, 6-5, which is now the farm of Thomas Graham. He brought his family out in the spring of 1883 and they lived in a large tent all summer and until freeze-up, by which time their new house was completed. The first year’s crop was damaged by front so badly that only one load could be sold, and the proceeds of that, at 45 cents a bushel, was all the family had to go on until next year. Later years were more favorable, however, and subsequently Mr. Elford purchased the west half of section 2, and in the time acquired other land in the district also.

  Surviving him are four daughters and three sons, Mrs. T. G. Finn of Morden, Frank of Winnipeg, Mrs. M. L. Burbank, Ottawa; Ada of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Mrs. Walter Shuttleworth of Carman. His daughter Annie died in 1926 and his wife in August of 1930. Of those living at a distance, Frank and Mrs. Finn were the only ones able to attend the funeral. Fifteen grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren also survive.

  The funeral took place Monday afternoon, with a service at Wesley United Church, followed by interment in Carman cemetery. A large number of friends, including members of the Masonic fraternity, assembled at the church to pay their last respects. An impressive funeral address was made by Rev. Wm. Keall, pastor of Wesley Church. Pallbearers were N. A. Love, D. H. Pritchard, Wm. Garnett, Fred Hobbs, Gavin McClure and A. W. Miller. Relatives attending from outside points were: Mrs. T. G. Finn of Morden, and her daughter, Mrs. D. Borthwick of Kamloops, B.C.; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Elford of Winnipeg, and Mr. and Mrs. George Holmes, Mrs. John Huffman of Walhalla, N.D., and Mr. Wm. Joness of Los Angeles, Calif.

At the cemetery, following the last rites of the church, the Masonic funeral service was conducted in very impressive manner by N. R. Pickell, master of Carman Lodge No. 155, and assisted by local members of the order and representatives of Shiloh Lodge No. 70, Roland. Carman Dufferin Leader, Sept. 9, 1934.

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Mary T. Webster Elford

September 6, 1845 ~ August 29, 1930

Mrs. W. H. Elford passed from this life Friday, August 29, 1930, to join the ranks of the pioneers of this district who in the last few years have been removed by death. Mrs. Elford, who had been an invalid for many months, died at her home, in her 84th year. Had she lived until September 6, she would have entertained her 85th year. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon, service being conducted at Wesley church by Rev. R. A. Swyers, and burial following in Carman cemetery. Many sympathizing friends joined with the family and relatives in paying their last respects at the church and at the grave. The pallbearers were Wm. Garnett, N. A. Love, A. F. MacKenzie, D. H. Pritchard, James Swanton and D. M. McIver.

  Mrs. Elford was before her marriage Mary Webster of Bowmanville, Ont., where she was born in 1845. She lived her early life in that place and in 1868 married Mr. Elford. They continued to reside in Ontario until the year 1883, removing then to Manitoba, with their family, and locating on a farm four and one-half miles south-west of Carman. She had lived in Carman since 1912, in which year they retired from the farm.

  Surviving Mrs. Elford are, in addition to her husband, four daughters and three sons. The former are Mrs. T. O. Finn of Morden, Mrs. M. L. Burbank of Vancouver, Ada of Salt Lake City and Hilda at home. The sons are Frank C. of Winnipeg and Fred and Russell of Carman. Another daughter, Annie, died in 1926. She also is survived by a sister, Mrs. T. F. Stonehouse of Hampton, Ont. Carman Dufferin Leader, Sept. 4, 1930.

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