Trafford, John 1840-1908

TRAFFORD

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 1/2/2015 at 16:58:45

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
March 10, 1908

DEATH OF JOHN TRAFFORD.
Old Resident Dies Suddenly from Heart Disease.

John Trafford, one of the pioneers and an old time resident of LeMars, died very suddenly at his home in this city Sunday morning from heart trouble. Mr. Trafford had not been feeling very well for the past few weeks as he had been suffering from stomach trouble but had not regarded the trouble as serious as he had been about his business and up town as usual and on Saturday was feeling in first rate health and was down town greeting his friends. He and his wife spent the evening at a neighbor’s returning home between ten and eleven o’clock and went to rest.

About twelve o’clock, Mrs. Trafford was awakened and heard her husband groaning and a peculiar gurgling in his throat. She arose hurriedly, lighted the lamp, and seeing her husband was ill ran for restoratives and called their sons, but their father died in a few minutes, before medical aid could arrive. The physician pronounced it a case of heart disease.

His sudden death while apparently in good health and spirits is a great blow to the wife and children and friends. The funeral will be held at St. George’s Episcopal church this afternoon at two o’clock.

John Trafford was born in Frampton, Lincolnshire, England on June 4, 1840, where he was reared and educated and was married in February, 1862. In 1870 he and his wife emigrated to America and lived in Illinois and Wisconsin, making their home for a number of years at White Oak Springs, near Galena. In 1883 they came to Plymouth county and lived on a farm three miles west of town for many years and then moved to LeMars, where they have since lived. Mr. Trafford was an expert nursery man and of recent years has been salesman for the Gateway Nursery company.

Besides the widow, he leaves ten children who are: Mrs. H. Symonds, Harry, Charles, Ernest, Frank Everett, and Mrs. Warren Lillie, of this city; Mrs. A. T. Lille, Mandan, N.D.; Herbert, who is in British Columbia, and Will, who is out west.

Mr. Trafford was a loving husband and affectionate father, a good citizen and neighbor, kindly hearted, of a jovial disposition and was widely acquainted throughout the county.