St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-04-24
RECENT DEATHS.
PuffeP,
Forgive our grief for one removed,
Thy creature, whom we found so fair; ;
We trust she lives in thee, and there
We find her worthier TO he loved -

comparatively short but very painful
illness, of acute peritonitis, Mrs. Fanny
K. Puffer, wife OF John +. Puffer, entered
into rest, leaving in profound sorrow a
wide circle of friends and acquaintance.
Mrs. Puffer was the daughter Of John
and Harriet E. Knapp; was born in
Brattleboro in November, 1872, and
was consequently in the 29th year of her
age. She graduated from the Normal
school in Randolph when not quite eigh-
teen years old, and for two years after
graduation taught schoolin Brattleboro
and surrounding towns. At twenty she
was married, in Brattleboro, to Marshal,
son of Hon. Cassius Peck of Brookfeld,
herhu band dying about three years later.
Mrs. Peck subsequently, taught in Brook
field until 1896, when she came to st.
Johnsbury to take charge of the Summer
vile schools and teach in the highest
grade, a position she held until the sum-
mer of 1898. AS teacher she won the
esteem of her pupils and the friendship of
their parents, and did excellent educa.
tional work. In September, 1899, she
was married to John F. Puffer, book
keeper in the First National Bank, and
her early demise makes sad break in
home life that was exceptionally happy.
Mrs. Puffer was young lady of win
some character, and sought to make the
best of life as she found it, not refusing
helpful deeds for others as the need for
them presented itself She made friends
easily, and they found in her a genial as
sociate, with kindly word and feeling for
all. To the circle of her immediate fam
lily her death comes with crushing force,
bv reason OF the fact that, as an only
child, she had taken strong hold upon
them ALL AS a member of the North
church and teacher in its Sunday school
our friend gave ready and effective SER
vice.
The funeral ceremonies occurred on
Sunday afternoon under the direction of
c. A. Stanley at the home of E. L.
Spencer, where MIR. and Mrs. Puffer have
lodged for some time-a home wherein
they found, in their hour of need, most
tender and helpful minstrations. Rev.
Edward M. Chapman officiated and a
mixed quartette from che North church
choir sang. A large number of beautiful
floral tributes bore silent and fragrant
testimony to the sympathy of friends
here and elsewhere. Her pastor spoke of
the funess with which Mrs. Puffer had
entered, yonng as she was, into the ex-
periences of life, in school and in the
home; referred appreciatively to her
work here as he knew of it, and men
toned the anxious interest of the COM
munity during her illness. The out'of-
town relatives present were her mother,
Mrs. Knight of West Brattleboro; Mr..
and Mrs. F. B. Puffer, Mrs. Esther
Puffer, and D. A. Grant of Richtord;
Hon. Cassius Peck of Burlington; Mr..
and Mrs. H. G. Eveleth and son of Put
ney; Mrs. Annie Evans of Brattleboro;
and Mr. and Mrs. w. r. Phillips Of
Townshend. Mrs. Knight and Mr..
EveIeth had been here for some time to
assist in caring for Mrs. Puffer.
The remains were taken on Monday to
Dummerston, for interment, c. A. For
rest, L. P. Slack, A. c. Cummings and
J. H. Brooks acting as bearers in the re-
moval of the body from the house to the
depot.
Stafford.
Frank Stafford died early Monday
morning at the Clark Sanitarium at Bur
lington, where he had been for about two
weeks. He had recovered from an eight
weeks attack of bronchitis and his death
was due to exhaustion.
Mr.. Stafford was born in Haverhill, N.
H., June 6, 1927, and was IA years old.
He married in October, 1851, Sarah A.
Noyes at Barre and they went to Cum
mington, Mass, to live. His father
was the pioneer abolitionist OF
that town and his home was WIS.,
tied by Wendell Phillips, Garrison,
Pillsbury, Lucy Stone and the other
leaders of the abolition movement. The
young man became greatly interested in
this great movement and his reminis-
cences of those stirring times were always
OF great interest. Returning to Barre he
was for some time partner in the firm
of Stafford & Holden, manufacturers OF
agricultural tools. In 1869 he went to
Chicago and established branch house
which was destroyed in the great fire in
1871. In 1872 he returned to Barre and
lived there until 1879, when he engaged
as salesman with the Auburn Manufac
turing Company Of Auburn, N. Y, anC
remained with them for twelve years
For the last ten years Mr.. Stafford ha
been acting as clerk and bookkeeper ii
his sons Office.
Mr.. Stafford kept abreast of the time
in his wide reading and was a man O
marked intellectual abilities. He was
staunch republican and firm advocat
of the principles of the party. He is SUI
vived by widow, one son, Judge Wen
dell P, and one daughter, Mrs. Arthu
Wilder. The funeral was held at his lat
residence on Summer street Thursda
afternoon and was conducted by Rev
Edward T. Fairbanks. The latter knev
Mr.. Stafford intimately and spoke beat
tifully of the man and hislife work. Tt
remains will be taken to Barre today t