Stafford, Arthur T. 1873-1951 and Ada Cooper Family

STAFFORD, COOPER, PRENTICE, CURLESS

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 10/2/2023 at 06:29:14

Stafford, A. T. 1873-1951 and Ada Cooper

This story was taken from page 455 of the Ireton Centennial Book (1882-1982). Author unknown. The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added Wilma J. Vande Berg.

Mr. A.T. Stafford was born at Galena, Il. on June 8, 1873. He married Ada Cooper of Sac City, Ia. Apr. 12, 1896 and moved to Pierson, Ia. where he was railroad depot agent for 3 years. They moved to Ireton in 1899 and served as railroad agent for 28 years, 14 years in Alton, and one year at Ireton. Mrs. Stafford was a sister of Cecil C. Cooper, whom they raised from a child to manhood. Their parents were William and Julia Cooper who died when Cecil was very young. Mr. and Mrs. Stafford are both buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

RESEARCH NotES – Added by Wilma J. Vande Berg From a family report on ancestry.com public member trees done by other than this submitter.

Arthur Thomas Stafford was born June 8, 1873 Galesburg IL and died 1951 Hawarden IA. He was the son of Thomas Fitz Stafford 1845 and Ann Eliza Prentice 1852-1884. He married Ada Cooper 12 Ape 1896 at Sac City IA. The didn’t have children of their own.

Ada Lena Cooper was born 27 Dec 1878 near Sac City, IA and died May 17 1942 Hawarden IA. She was the daughter of William Cooper born 1 Jul 1845 Madison IL died 7 Nov 1927 Sac Co. IA and Rachel Ann Cirliss/Curless born 5 Feb 1848 Highland OH died 15 Feb 1892 Sac Co. IA . Ada’s father married Rachel’s sister Julia Curless after Rachel died. Julia died about 1899.

Arthur T. Stafford and Ada Cooper raised Ada’s half brother Cecil Cooper because his mother had died young. Cecil Cooper born Sep 23, 1895 was listed in his obit to be the son of William Cooper and Julia Ann died 1899. Cecil came to live with his half sister Ada Mrs. Stafford in 1900.

OBITUARY OF A.T. STAFFORD
Born June 8, 1873 Galena, Illinois
Died Before July 26, 1951 Hawarden, Iowa
A. T. Stafford 78, a resident of Hawarden eleven years died Saturday at Hawarden Hospital. He died as a result of an injury suffered the preceding Friday while working in his flower garden.
Mr. Stafford came to Hawarden from Alton in 1940 as agent for the North Western Railway Company, filling the vacancy caused by the sudden death of A. H. Kellerman. In October of 1941, Mr. Stafford retired.
Before coming to Hawarden he had served as agent at Alton for a number of years and prior to that for many years he had served in a similar capacity at Ireton.
Arthur T. Stafford was born June 8, 1873, at Galena, Illinois. He married Ada L. Cooper at Sac City in April of 1896. Mr and Mrs. Stafford had no children of their own but when her mother died they took her youngest brother, Cecil Cooper, a child at the time, in their home and raised him. When they lived at Alton they took Marie Bowman, now Mrs. Edmund Burton, into their home and she lived with them until she married.
His wife preceded him in death nine years.
Mr. Stafford was a member of the First Methodist Church in Hawarden, Dale Lodge No 456, A. F. and A. M. and Loyal Chapter, OES. He was a past worshipful master of the Masonic Lodge and past worthy patron of the Order of Eastern Star. He also held other offices in both organizations.
Burial was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Ireton under the direction of Frazier Funeral Home. A number of his friends of Ireton and Alton attended the services.
A large number of Masons attended the services in a body and the Masonic ritual was presented at the graveside by Eugene Lias of Akron.
Source: Hawarden Independent July 26, 1951

OBITUARY OF ADA COOPER
Source: Hawarden Independent (5-24-1942)
Born: December 27, 1878
Died: May 17, 1942
Mrs. A.T. Stafford, a resident of Sioux County for 43 years, passed away at the Hawarden Hospital at 10 o’clock Sunday evening after an illness of many months. Her condition was critical for many weeks and it was known that she would not recover from her illness. Funeral services were held Wednesday, at the Methodist Church in Hawarden with Rev. R.B. Budd, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Hospers, and Rev. Robert F. Chapler in charge. Interment was made in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Ireton. Rev. Budd was formerly of Alton and was pastor of the Presbyterian Church when Mrs. Stafford resided there.
Ada L. Cooper, daughter of William and Rachael Ann Cooper, was born near Sac City December 27, 1878, and passed away in Hawarden May 17, 1942, at the age of 63 years, 4 months and 21 days. She was united in marriage with Arthur T. Stafford at Sac City April 2, 1896. Immediately after her marriage, she moved to Pierson with her husband where she lived until 1899 when she came to Ireton for 28 years when she lived 4 years. In June, 1940, she came to Hawarden when Mr. Stafford became agent for the North Western Railway Company here.
Mr. and Mrs. Stafford had no children of their own but they raised a brother of Mrs. Stafford and also Mrs. Marie Bowman Burton. When Mrs. Stafford’s mother died, her brother Cecil was but five years old and he was cared for in their home. In later years Mrs. Burton was taken into their home when a young girl and was given tender care by both Mr. and Mrs. Stafford.
Mrs. Stafford was always busy in women’s organizations both in civic and church. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Alton. She was an active member in the Eastern Star, maintaining her membership in Ireton for many years. She transferred to the Hawarden chapter recently. She was the organizer of the Red Cross organization in Ireton at the beginning of World War I and was an active worker ever since until her health failed her.
Besides her husband she leaves to mourn her departure her foster daughter, Mrs. Marie Burton; four brothers, John of Sac City; Philander R. of Petaluma, California; Milo M. of Kelso, Washington; and Cecil C. of Ireton, and one sister, Nellie of Kelso, Washington.