Mrs. Orpha Whitford, daughter of Horace and Mary Baumbaur Crandall, was born near Milton Junction, Wis., April 14, 1857, being at the age of sixty-two years and twenty-eight days.
When but a child of eight years she went with her parents to make her home at Farina, Ill., where the greater part of her life was spent. Eighteen years ago she and her husband moved to Gentry, Ark., where they spent four years, returning to Farina in 1905. In 1913 they came back to Milton Junction, where the remainder of Mrs. Whitford's life was spent.
Early in life Mrs. Whitford made a profession of Christianity and was baptized by Elder C. M. Lewis, into the fellowship of the Farina Seventh Day Baptist church. When they took up their residence at Gentry, she became a member of the church there. Later, on their coming to Milton Junction, she became a member of the Milton Seventh Day Baptist church, where she held her membership until the time of her death.
In September 1876 she was married to Clarence M. Whitford who died in January 1880. To this union were born three children, two of whom died in infancy. The one surviving is now Mrs. Theodore G. Davis of this place. In 1889 Mrs. Whitford was married to Adelbert Whitford [brother to her first husband] and became a mother to his two children, Mrs. H. E. Todd of Milton and Arthur Whitford of Farina. She leaves to mourn her loss her husband, children, one brother, Alpha Crandall of North Loup, Neb., and a host of friends, especially at Farina, Ill., where she lived for so many years and was so well known.
Mrs. Whitford was quiet and retiring in her disposition and devoted herself to her home, where her interests centered. She was a faithful wife, a good mother and a kind neighbor and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Funeral services were conducted from her late home by Rev. Edgar D. Van Horn, pastor of the Milton Junction Seventh Day Baptist church and the body was laid to rest in the Milton Junction cemetery. Music was furnished by a mixed quartet from Milton consisting of Mrs. Metta Babcock, Mrs. Nelson Inglis, Jesse Lippincott and Prof. A. E. Whitford.
