Stafford, John (Rev) - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

At ten minutes past one this afternoon Rev. Dr. John Safford died at his home on South Washington Street of uremic poisoning. Dr. Safford had been ill for some time and his death while a surprise was not unlooked for. The funeral will occur from the residence next Monday afternoon at two o’clock.

Rev. John Safford was born in Perry, Lake County, Ohio, sixty years ago last August, and graduated from Oberlin College, Ohio, in ’59 and from the Theological Department in ’62. He entered the congregational ministry where he remained all his life save the term he occupied as pastor of Center Presbyterian Church in this city. Dr. Safford removed here from Bellevue, Ohio, in 1867 and was pastor of Center Church for nine years when he accepted the pastorate of the Congregational church at Ashtabula, Ohio. He later went to Grinnell, Iowa and removed from that place to Crawfordsville a little over two years ago. Dr. Safford was a man of great ability and force of character. He leaves a wife and their only son, Philo Safford, of Brooklyn, N. Y. The community extends its sympathy to the family in their bereavement. Upon the day of the funeral the casket will not be opened and friends desiring to view the remains may do so upon calling at the house between two and five o’clock on any intervening afternoon.

Buried Oak Hill Cemetery 1845-1899 - the dates and all this info is very odd so not guaranteeing it is all the same fellow or all correct - very very strange

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Saturday, 4 April 1891 Edition

The will of the late Rev. John Stafford has been admitted to probate. It names his wife, Cornelia M. Safford as sole executrix, and asks that she be not compelled to file an inventory. It bequeaths to Mrs. Safford the brick house and lot on Washington Street in this city, and all the effects including all the books and manuscripts she desires, also all money on deposit, all notes, bonds and accounts, twenty shares in the Crawfordsville Coffin Company and life insurance amounting to $2,000. To the son, Philo Perry Safford, it bequeaths life insurance amounting to $3,000, a gold watch and chain, a gold headed cane and two guns, also such books as Mrs. Safford does not care for. One item in the will reads as follows:

I most earnestly desire and direct that no conspicuous or costly grave stone or monument be placed at my grave—nothing but the simplest stone to mark the place.

The will is dated January 18, 1888, and was made at Grinnell, Iowa.