This post was contributed to the Crawford County Chapter of OGS by Kristina Stearley as part of the Florence Siefert Scrapbook in 2010.
The scrapbook is compiled from undated, unidentified newspaper clippings involving events in the lives of Crawford County citizens living in or having connections to New Washington, Tiro, Shelby, Sulphur Springs, Chatfield, Bucyrus, Ashland, Mansfield, and other areas. Only minimal spelling or punctuation corrections were made. Unreadable areas are shown by underlines, dots &/or question marks. This collection has been scanned, “optical character recognized” (OCR’d), proofed, then coded for HTML by volunteers of the Crawford County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. Since the copies are not of the best quality errors may have been made. Please contact us if you find corrections needing to be made or can verify any missing dates which could be added.
A FATAL ACCIDENT
It was last Monday morning when the sad news that Amos Willford, residing three miles east of here, son of J. R. Willford had accidently shot himself, was circulated among the people on our streets. The news was brought to town by the person who summoned Dr. J. S. Hershiser to the scene of the accident. But long before the doctor had arrived the spirit had taken its departure and nothing but what was mortal of Mr Willford remained. It appeared that Amos had been in the woods in pursuit of squirrels in the morning with the intention of giving than to his father, who was then, and is yet dangerously ill of Lung fever, and was successful in securing one. He went home and sent the game to his father’s house. He, however, went to his house approaching the stairway, evidently intending to put the gun away, he in some manner must have struck the hammer of the gun against the stairs discharging the contents with dreadful result. Nobody witnessed the accident except his little daughter and only child aged about 8 years, who at once gave the alarm by her shrieks of grief. When first discovered it was thought that there were signs of life and a doctor was accordingly summoned. But it is not thought that life remained over three minutes after the accident occured. The shot entered the left side of his neck and literally severed all connections on that side. The funeral was conducted from the Goodwill church last Wednesday. Deceased was about 44 years of age.
OBITUARY
Amos Willford, whose sad demise was given in last week’s issue of the HERALD, was born in Green Township, Wayne county; Ohio, January 14, 1844, and died March 19,1888, and was consequently aged, 44 yrs., 2 mo., 5 da. In the fall of 1845 he came with his parents to this county where he has since resided. On May 25, 1876, he was married to Nancy Seydel, who, together with her 9 year old daughter survive him and mourn his departure. The funeral services were conducted from the Goodwill M. E. church on Wednesday, March 21st, Revs. Tussing and Dunbar officiating, choosing for the foundation of their remarks for the occasion the 44th verse of the 24th chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew. The bereaved family has the sympathy of the entire community.
