| Notes |
- Of Clio, MI.
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1900 census: Military and Naval, Philippine Islands, Pvt. Co. C., 30 Reg., Infantry
WWI Draft Registration
Robert Lawrence Stafford
resides: 613 4th, Saginaw, Michigan
age 38
born 19 May 1880
occupation: street car motorman
employer: Saginaw Bay City Railway Co., Saginaw, Michigan
next of kin: Kathryn Stafford, same address
registered 12 Sep 1918 at Saginaw County, Michigan
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From Saginaw News Courier article dated Friday February 14, 1919:
VETERAN CAR MAN IS ELECTROCUTED
BERT STAFFORD IS KILLED WHILE TRYING TO HOLD LIGHT WIRE ASIDE
DEATH IS INSTANTANEOUS
LINE SLIPS DOWN BROOM HANDLE AND STRIKES HAND AND ARM
Bert Stafford, 38 year old, veteran street car motorman, was electrocuted Thursday night while trying to hold aside a broken electric light wire near Washington and Hoyt avenues so that his conductor could drive their Washington avenue car safely past the broken wire. He died instantly. He leaves a widow and four small children.
Stafford was a veteran employee of the Saginaw-Bay City Railway Co. having worked here as motorman and conductor for a number of years and returning to service with the street railway lines about eight months ago after seven years spent on a farm near Clio. Thusday he was driving a Washington avenue car and was heading south about 9:55 o'clock in the evening when he discovered the broken electric light wire hanging down across the steeet car tracks. He called the conductor to drive the car, stood on a stool beside the track and attempted to hold the live wire aside so the car could pass. The wire, which carried 2,300 volts, slipped down the broom handle, striking his hand and arm. Death was instantaneous, according to Coroner J. Henri Riopelie, who made the first examination of the body.
Coroner Riopelie has ordered Dr. M. D. Ryan to make an autopsy, and has called the inquiry for 8 o'clock Saturday evening in the Deisler undertaking rooms.
Stafford was a veteran of the Spanish-American War. He was born May 19, 1880 at Montrose and was married August 11, 1910 to Miss Katherine Spring. They have four children, Lawrence, Clarence, Harold, and Lola, who survive him. He also leaves four brothers and five sisters: Clarence Stafford of Flint; Walter and Ernest C. Stafford of Bridgeport; Arthur Stafford of Montrose; Mrs. Elizabeth Blackstone of Flint; Mrs. Ida Guylet of Chicago; Mrs. Charles
Watson of Paines; Mrs. William Falkenhagen of Birch Run; and Miss Beatrice Stafford of Bridgeport.
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1890 - 1919 (28 years)
