Person:Alfred Whitford (1)

Census: 1880 Milton, Rock Co., Wisconsin: age 4 GRAD: 4 JUL 1896 Milton College - Classical, Milton, Rock Co., Wisconsin

Note: Deacon Milton S.D.B. Church 1922-32 Vocal musician, formed Milton College Glee Club Professor and President at Milton College Professor of Mathematics and Dean at Alfred University 1932-46 Retired 1946

"SDB Yearbook", 1957, p 35. Whitford, Deacon Alfred Edward, son of Albert and Chloe Eliza Curtis Whitford, was born September 21, 1875, in Milton, Wis., and passed away April 14, 1957, in Fort Pierce, Fla.

"The History of Rock County, Wis."(c)1879, p.830 ALFRED WHITFORD, Professor of mathematics, Milton College; born in Plainfield, Otsego Co., N.Y., May 28, 1832; son of Samuel and Sophia C.; they had four sons - Walter C., Hamilton D., Alfred and Herman D. Alfred attended Brookfield Academy and De Ruyter Institute, Madison Co., N.Y., and Alfred Academy, Allegany Co., N.Y.; graduated at Union College, Schenectady, N.Y., in the Class of '57; then returned to Milton, where he had taught as assistant to his brother Prof. William WHITFORD, from 1854 to 1856. He also was Professor of Mathematics at Alfred Academy, from 1868 to 1872. Married, in 1857, Miss Chloe, daughter of George and Maria CURTIS, of East Troy, N.Y. Had five children- Anna S., Albert C., William H., Alfred E., and a baby.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} The Milton and Milton Junction Courier
   April 18, 1957.

   Memorial services for Dr. Alfred E. Whitford, 81, former Milton College president, who died Sunday in Florida, will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Milton Seventh Day Baptist Church. The Rev. Elmo Randolph will officiate. Burial will be in Milton Cemetery.
   Dr. Whitford died in the choir vestibule of a Fort Pierce, Fla., church where he was choir director, after donning his robe for the processional march into the church sanctuary.
   Dr. Whitford was president of Milton College from 1921 to 1930, and taught mathematics at the school for 30 years. He was a prime mover in the organization of the Choral Union in 1911 and was its first director. He also helped organize the Milton College glee club and sang in it until he became college president.
   Dr. Whitford was nominated in 1947 to be a 'Pillar of Milton,' the second alumnus to receive that award.
   He was born in Milton in 1875, the son of Prof. and Mrs. Albert Whitford. His father taught at the college. He attended local schools and received his degree from Milton College in 1896. He received his master's degree from the University of Chicago.
   After his 30 years on the Milton Faculty, he joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin for two years. From the Madison post, he went to Alfred University, Alfred, N. Y., where for 20 years he taught mathematics and was dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
   He married his first wife, classmate Mary Whitford, in 1900. She died in 1936. In 1938, he married Ruth Rogers of Alfred, N. Y., who survives him.
   Other survivors are a son, Albert E. Whitford, director of Washburn Observatory, University of Wisconsin; a daughter, Mrs. Nels Lerdahl, Madison; and seven grandchildren.

2.   The Sabbath Recorder . (New York City, New York; later Plainfield, N. J.)
   162:19:277, May 6, 1957.

   By Albert N. Rogers
   Alfred Edward Whitford was one of the finest Christians and churchmen it has been my privilege to know.
   As a college professor and administrator at Milton College and at Alfred University his life touched many young men and women, of whom I am proud to have been one. Education was to him a holy calling whether it was in mathematics, in the forming of educational policies, or in what is more specifically known as Christian education. His deep interest in the cause of Christ was expressed through the Milton and Alfred churches, through the Seventh Day Baptist denomination which he served sacrificially in many capacities, by vigorous participation in the Seventh Day Baptist Board of Christian Education, and as a tireless member of the Advisory Council of the Alfred University School of Theology.
   Sacred music was a lifelong avocation of the man who served Milton as president and Alfred as dean. Singing early in the evangelistic quartets, he directed several church choirs. He was one of the organizers of the Milton College Glee Club and the Choral Union which interprets the great oratories in Milton. He was donning his choir robe in the church he attended at Fort Pierce, Fla., when his time came to join 'the choir invisible.'
   Those of us who were privileged to be in his home in several places knew the sincerity of his faith, the eagerness of his mind, and the warmth of his genuine interest and fellowship. At the time of his death he was re-reading a book on contemporary religious thought which we had loaned him. He constantly disciplined his life by the lordship of Christ, and showed no bitterness at the limitations that came to him. We loved 'A. E.' God grant him rest.