Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-01-31
OBITUAR Y.

SPAFFORD.-Att tho residence of her son,
Jas. A. Spa ford, on Hull Prairie, Satur-
day evening, Jan. 18th, 1879, Mrs. Mary
X. SpaffOrd, relict Of Judge Spafford, in
the SSth year Of her age.
And thus another estimable and well
known pioneer citizen OF the Muumee Val
ley has been gathered home, having spent
about bS years of her life in Pcrrysburg
and vicinity; and which made her not only
acquainted with a large portion of the
events in the annals OF the Maumee Val
ley, but also familiar with many occurren-
ces and incidents which were very interest-
ing not found on history'r page.
The deceased, whose maiden name was
Ralph, was born in Princeton, Mass, Sept
29th, 1921. Her parents cmigrat,d from
: princeton, W., while she was yet a little
giHh> where she lived till united in mar
riNge wftlt- Elijah Jones, Dee. oath, 1899,
her father, Rev. T7twurd fRTtpt, perform.
ing the marriage ceremonies, he Icing
Baptist minister.
About two Years after their marriage
Capt. +. Jones and wife with their little
daughter Mrs. j. l.. Crane of Perrysburg
deceased ) moved 10 Jay, n. Y, and thence
to the Maumee Valley, just previous to the
war of 1912. There were then only 60
white families residing Mt the foot Of the
rapids OF the Maumec.
After IIull's surrender at Detroit. nearly
all the families at the loot Of the rapids
6cd Immediately; but Maj Spafford, (then
acting MS Collector and Deputy 2. NJ. at
the port of Miami for the L s. the jones'
and some others, remained till a man by
the name Of Gordon informed Maj. Spaf-
ford that about 30 Pottawatomies would
be at the foot of the rapids in less than two
hours, OH their way to Maiden. The Ma
ior and his friends that had remained on
the river, now hurrelly put in sailing con-
dition all old barge, and took SiIch of their
effects as they could quickly gather up,
| and sailed down the river and like to Mi
| Ian, Il Quaker settlement on Huron river,
where they remained until the close Of The
| war.
After the war, Mi. Spafford's family and
the Jones' returned and lived together.
Not long after they returned, Capt. Jones
died, and his widow continued to live in
the Spaffurd family ill she married Anro.
IA SpalIord, son Of the Major, February
20th, 1917. This was The first marriage
suemnized in the Maumee Valley under
the laws Of the State oi Ohio, Charles Gunn,
j. p, officiating.
Judge Spatford and family lived for
many years on the old homestead, known
Ms the SmfIord farm, just above The pres.
ent site of Fort Megs. Subsequently,
Judge Spaford moved into Perrysburg
aud since his death Mrs Spaffurd has re-
mnnedhis widow, living part oil the lime
with her son, JAS. A. Spaflord, oil Hull
| Prairie, where she died.
Previous to her first marriage she joined
the Baptist Church, her father, Rev. Ed
ward Ralph, being the pastor. After her
marriage to Judge Spaiford She united
with the NJ. f. Church, Of Perrysburg,
which relation she held until her death.
She was the mother nt six children, only
two OF whom are living-ome son and one
daughter, two sons and two daughters hav-
ing preceded her into the spirit land.
The funeral services were conducted by
Rev. 4. J. Pope and his son. Rev I. j.
Pope, OF Haskins, at the residence Of Jas.
a. SpafFnrd on Hull Prairie, at half past
ten o'clock, Monday, Jan. 20th, after which
the remains were taken past the old farm
aud homestead aud over Fort Meigs-such
familiar scenes to her in years gone by-Io
the Perrysburg cemetery aud laid away af-
ter so long life OF usefulness and activity.