News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1895-08-08

man Colonel Stafford has so patiently
passed through, came to an end on
Monday night, at a few minutes past
midnight, when the long anticipated
elimination of his illness was realized
and he passed peacefully away.
No one who, in the past few weeks
has gone to the sick-room Of Colonel
Stafford, has been otherwise impressed
than with the fact that they had
grasped the hand of a strong man
in his feebleness making a strong bat
tie for life-and yet calmly and cheer
fully facing the inevitable end. His
last days were days of intense suffer
ing, and he longed for the deliverance
that has finally come. The long his
tory of his illness from Minneapolis
through, needs no repetition.
Colonel Stafford was born in Fair
field, Franklin County, VT, Sept. 8,
1885. Following a short period of
school life there, he came to Morris
vile to live in April, 1857, having the
previous day married Miss Susan E.
Harvey of Cambridge, who died here
several years since. Until his APP
pointment to the position of Special
Examiner of the Pension Department
he had lived here, with the exception
of the years of the war.
As a citizen, among his fellow
townsmen, he had lived life above
reproach, winning the esteem and re-
spect of all who knew him, having
that hearty, cordial open-handed ma
ture that drew about him a large
circle of friends, at home and abroad,
friends who recognized in him an
honest, upright Christian gentleman.
He had long been a member Of the
Congregational church and generous
in its support; had identified himself
with all the best interests of this
community.
OF Col. Safford's military record
and service, not much need be said
beyond the plain facts of his patriotic
part in the War of the Rebellion, a
record of service to his country, of
which no better words can be used
than to simply say that he was in
every spot and place an ideal type of
the American citizen soldier, doing
his duty with an unfinching courage
and resolute purpose.
He first enlisted in the service in
the old MorrisVille House, in this
village, July ~, 1862, as a private in
Company D, Eleventh Vermont Ia
iantry; was elected First Lieutenant
upon the organization of the COM
pany, August II following; was trans
ferred to Company L, being elected
Captain of that company July 7, 1863,
and afterwards to field and staff duty,
being appointed Major May %, 1855,
and Lieutenant Colonel July 10, 1865.
He was mustered out August Is,
1865, and discharged from the service
with the rank Of Lieutenant Colonel
September 81 following. He partici-
pated in the battles of Spottsylvania,
Cold Harbor, Weldon Railroad, Ber-
ryville Reconnaissance, Winchester,
Fishers Hill, Cedar Creek, Sailors
Creek, and in many skirmishes. He
was wounded slightly in the left side
at Winchester; was taken prisoner at
Weldon Railroad, Va, June %, 1864,
and confined in Libby Prison, max
ing his escape by bold dash while
being transferred to DanviIle, Va,
passed through many hardships in at
tempting to reach the Union lines,
and came out of a tramp of $50 miles
through hostile country barely a
shadow of his former self.
The boys who touched shoulders
with him in the ranks-the rank and
file of troops-who, from his occas-
ional outward appearance of stern
ness might have at first considered
him an unfeeling comrade or officer,
found in him a warm friend-a rough
exterior covering the heart of a
woman in tenderness.
His practical knowledge of the mill
ing business served him we'll in time
of need in the army, when he righted
up an abandoned mill and set it to
grinding corn for the Northern troops.
Col. Stafford joined Mount Vernon
Lodge No. 8, F. & A. NJ, in 1887,
and was one of the charter members
of Tucker Chapter No. IS, r. A. NJ.
of this place, and had always con-
tinued his connection with both. He
was also a Knight Templar, joining
the St. Johnsbury Commandery in
1884, and a member of the Maine
Commandery Loyal Legion.
He was charter member of James
M. Warner Post No. a, G. A. R., both
in its original body and after re-
organization, and held the various
offices of that order.
With the exception of an intermis-
sion of two years or so, he had for
the past twelve years been much of
the time away from here, engaged in
his special pension work for the Unit
ed States government, having been
stationed in Maine, New Hampshire,
Washington, Iowa and Minnesota.
The funeral services will be held
at I o'clock tomorrow Thursday
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