| Notes |
From the Faribault Republican, May 31, 1871:
Died, at Faribault, Minn., May 26th, 1871, in the 42d year of his age. Born at Plattsburg, N. Y. , he lived at home until he was eighteen. About the year 1847, he went to Ogdensburg, where he engaged in business for a time, thence to Buffalo; returning to Plattsburg after an absence of about three years. At 22 he again left home for Galena, Ill., which place he called his residence for some four years. He then went into the employ of Coolsy, Farwell & Co., Chicago, and remained some 3 or 4 years with them, since which time, until about a year ago, he was connected with the firm of Anderson, Heath & Co., Boston. For a year past he had been a great sufferer. It was difficult to determine the exact nature of his disease, since he complained of pain in all parts of his frame. Gradually it became evident that the seat of his difficulty was in the head, and his mind, at times, lost its wonted vigor. It is now definitely known that an abscess had formed in the brain, and that softening of the brain had already commenced. The nature of his disease helps us to understand many things in connection with the late illness, which otherwise would appear strange. He was naturally a man of great energy. As a salesman he was pre-eminently successful. His general business capacity appears to have been unusual. He intended to succeed in whatever he undertook. Although, while at Galena, he united with the Presbyterian church, still he did not, as he himself admitted, live a Christian life, nor had he for years been in active fellowship with any church. During this illness, however, he seemed to realize his condition as a sinner before god. Within the past year he has often and frankly and with tears confessed that his life had been one of great sinfulness. In many ways and by many words, very comforting now to recall, he manifested a different spirit, looking back on the past with apparently deep petulance, and longing to be restored to health that he might enter on an active Christian life. Only the day before his death he said to a minister who was calling on him: "O, it will be so good it I get able to go to church and prayer meeting." it was suggested to him that he might find God without waiting for that. "Yes," he said, softly and with great earnestness, "I'll go to him." a little after, he remarked--"I've been a bad boy, father knows, a bad boy, but I've done with that, and now I'm going to lead a different life. O," he continued, "I've had more comfort, a hundred times more comfort, since I was sick, than in all my life before," these are some of John Stafford's last words, and they are most comforting to remember. It is true his friends could wish that his life might have been spared to give the more convincing evidence of actions. But these were words of penitential trust in God. They afford the reasonable hope that he found forgiveness and acceptance from one who said: "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."
Provided by DaveVangsness (#16959198)
Census:
23 Aug 1870. Listed as John C. Stafford Jr., a farmer, with John C. Stafford Sr. (his father).
Buried:
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1830 - 1871 (41 years)
