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The Story of His Eventful Life - Rev. Dana Bigelow's Remarks - Long Life but a Point Compared With Eternity - His Coffin Enveloped in His Country's Flag.
Aaron Stafford of this village, was born March 18, 1787, and died the 6th of September, 1885. He was born and died on a Sunday; and was five months and twenty-nine days older than the federal constitution. He had resided in the town of Sanger field
Mr. Stafford's funeral was attended from his late residence last Tuesday, and the services were performed by Rev. R.C. Nelson, Rector of Grace Church, and Rev. Dana W. Bigelow, pastor of the Memorial Presbyterian Church, of Utica. Mr. Bigelow ever
But a few months since, a beloved grand-daughter, beautiful in youth, was borne from this house. Today, in the providence of God, we meet to bear to his last resting place the aged grandfather.
We had thought that Mr. Stafford might live to complete one hundred full years; and while he was enjoying a comfortable old age, in his own home, infirm but bright in mind, surrounded by those who ministered to his every want, we had earnestly hope. Can we speak of such life as a shadow? Yes, if we compare it with the life to come. We speak of this as long life, but a century has beginning and end, and the hereafter is eternity, the forever and ever. This measure of time is in truth but a point.
When the last century closed, a boy of thirteen years enjoyed a pleasant home across the street from this house where we meet this afternoon. All this part of the village was then the Stafford farm, a place for work, and the field for many sports,
When 1812 came Aaron Stafford was no longer a boy, but a young man, twenty-five years of age, and ardent lover of his nation, which was of his own age, nearly, not quite. He enlisted for war at the time of his country's need, and proved his valor.
But in his own home he was best known. He had a worthy wife, who became a dearly loved mother. Children were born, grew to manhood and womanhood, went forth to take their places in the world, with fond memories of the old home, to which they love o
The pall bearers were J. A. Berrill, W.J. Bissell, G.H. Church, M.L. Conger, J.W. Hubbard, E.H. Lamb, A.O. Osborn, Geo. Putnam, F.H. Terry and Charlemagne Tower.
The remains were interred in the Waterville Cemetery, near the center of the grounds; he is the oldest person ever buried there. The stone over the grave of his father, Ichabod Stafford, whose grave is in the southwest corner is the oldest stone in
The following interesting sketch was prepared by Aaron Stafford's grandson, Martin H. Stafford of New York:Aaron Stafford, born March 18, 1787 at Cheshire, Mass., and died at Waterville, N.Y., Sept. 6, at the advanced age of 98 years, 5 months and 18 days, was the second son of Ichabod Stafford by his wife Humility, daughter of James Green, Jr., of Cove
At the close of the Revolution, in which he with four of his brothers had served their country, Ichabod Stafford, with his brother William, and their families, moved from Coventry, R.I., to Lanesboro, Mass., in 1783, and they were soon followed by Ichabod Stafford removed to Duanesburgh, N.Y., in 1788, where he resided until the summer of 1793, when with Joseph and Abraham Forbes, with their families, removed to what is now August, Oneida Co., N.Y., being the first white settlers of that tow In 1801 his mother and the other children, of which Aaron Stafford was the third and then in his eighteenth year. Mr. Stafford left his family in comfortable circumstances and the farm was managed for several years by his widow, in which she was as
The early years of Aaron Stafford's life were passed much as the life of any boy in his station of life may be supposed to have been passed, without any particular event to distinguish it from those of his companions. The son of a pioneer the other
Mr. Stafford was engaged in farming when the war of 1812 called the country to arms. He was the first to enlist and call upon the young men of the vicinity to join him. He raised a small company of men, of which he was appointed ensign, and in May, Immediately on his return home he was visited by Major Maynard who, appreciating his ability and courage, offered him the position of adjutant of the 16th Reg. N.Y. Detached Militia commanded by Lieut. Col. Farrand Stranahan. He accepted and at once
At sunrise on the morning of October 13, 1812, the main body of the army, under the command of Gen. Winfield Scott, commenced to cross the river, and Stafford was left in command of a detachment to cross after the main body had landed. He followed Stafford, with other officers and men, were paroled after a week's imprisonment, and Dec. 8 he hired a boat to take him across the Niagara River to Black Rock, but nearly lost his life through the blundering of the men who rowed the boat. After a l
This terminated his military career, and though promoted to the rank of Major he did not recover from his wounds sufficiently to permit him to again enter the service until the war was over, much to his sorrow, as the martial spirit ran high in his
June 26, 1814, he married Harriet, daughter of Zeno Terry, who moved from Enfield, Conn., to Sangerfield, N.Y., being one of the first settlers of that town. He commenced his married life in the house which he had previously purchased from his brother.
Mr. Stafford was an active man in the community in which he lived, interesting himself in all measures for the advancement and improvement of the town, and though an active member of his political party, labored for its success from principles and
Mr. Stafford was a farmer, his whole active life being devoted to the cultivation of the soil, in which occupation he was successful, and his farm was one of the largest and best conducted in this section of the country. He and his brothers and sisters.
In person Mr. Stafford was five feet ten inches in height, of commanding figure, and like his father's family, possessed of great physical strength. In his younger days he carried himself erect, with dignified bearing, and was regarded as a man of
Born:
Another source has him born in Cheshire, Berkshire Co., MA.
Census:
- Listed as a widowed farmer.
Obituary:
- As published in the Freeborn County Standard, Albert Lea, Minnesota on September 16, 1885
Maj. Stafford was the last living officer of the War of 1812. Much of his service was along the New York/Canada border, around the Niagara River and Buffalo. In one battle, October 13, 1812, while fighting British and Indians, he was shot in the shoulder, then in the thigh before falling from his horse. The American forces fell, and the Major and many men were taken prisoner. He suffered greatly from his wounds, but the British surgeon overseeing care of the Americans was impressed with Maj. Stafford's good character. In fact, this Dr. Sumner and Stafford became warm friends, a state the ended only with the eventual passing of the good doctor.
Stafford was married to Harriet Terry for 61 years. They had a large family and were active in the community. He was a very successful farmer and very popular. When he died, he was buried near the grave of his father, one of the earliest settlers in the area.
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1787 - 1885 (98 years)
