William Strafford (1807-1903)

STRAFFORD

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 4/8/2009 at 22:43:11

Maquoketa Excelsior, Sept. 18, 1903

Died – William Strafford was born in the town of Holden, England on the 26th day of December 1807 and died at his home in Maquoketa on Thursday morning Sept. 14, 1903, at the advanced age of 95 years and some months. When eighteen years old he removed with his parents to Hull, England, where at the age of twenty he was married to his first wife, who died in 1836, leaving four children of whom Wm. Strafford of Chatfield, Minn., is the only one remaining. In 1837 he was married to Miss Holmes with whom, accompanied by his son Wm. he immigrated to Iowa arriving at Welton in the year 1851. Sometime during the same year he moved to Maquoketa and began working for John Goodenow. In the spring of 1853 he moved onto the farm east of town which was his home until he returned to Maquoketa in 1888. In 1891 his wife died at the advanced age of eighty-one years. Funeral services were held at his home on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 13, 1903, conducted by his pastor, Rev. Geo. B. Shoemaker in the presence of a large company of neighbors and friends. Father Strafford had strong faith in God and His word, was a regular attendant at the services of the church, cheerful in his testimonies, tender in prayer and hopeful in all his Christian life. He will be missed by his brethren, but they expect to meet him again.