The Late John Stafford Port
Norfolk, Oct. 25, 1898 To
the Editor of the Star: In looking over my Star last night I saw the death
notice of Mr. John Stafford, Esq., of South Street
extended. You will allow me space to say a word concerning the walk in life of
this honorable and pious old gentleman. In the by gone days of long ago this
good old man, in the prime of life then, moved from his native land to Norfolk
county near Hodges' Ferry, Western Branch, in the ssame neighborhood of my
father, John B. Haynes. This was somewhere in the latter part of the 40s. At
that time there were but six families between Bowers Hill and Portsmouth,
on the Western Branch. The name of these old and far back families were W. B.
Taylor, John Stokes, Nathaniel Bidgood, John B. Haynes, John Stafford, and
David Beaton. These people are well-known by some of your city folk today, and
it seems strange to say, as he was the oldest of them all, that he was the last
one to be called to his last resting place. He was looked upon in our
neighborhood as a guide both in our everyday walk and in our Christian life. He
was always sober and just in all of his dealings with his fellow man, kind and
loving to the young, and faithful and true to his maker. When he settled down
in our neighborhood it so happened that he was the man that was needed, as he
was a wheelwright. At that time he did his work himself, and it was always
delivered in first-class order. Our families were very intimate. We had a small
schoolhouse and a little church in the same yard, where the children were
taught, both on weekdays and Sundays, by experienced teachers. Many of the
children grew up to be men and women before any of the older heads died or
moved away, and many of us at this day are glad to say that we are thankful to
the older heads for the way we were taught to go. Mrs. Stafford lived in our
neighborhood for many years, when he moved down to your city limits on South
street, where he went into the merchantile and wheelwright business with his
sons and worked on until old age laid hin aside, and now in his ripe old age
his maker has called him home to join hands with those that have gone before.