Updated: 16 July 2009
If you have information on the Alford, Musselman and related families please contact Jim Adams (adamsmckain at gmail.com) for inclusion on these pages.
Eliza Jane Alford Obituary
ELIZA JANE ALFORD'S obituary, found in a scrapbook at the Otsego Library,
newspaper it was published in was not indicated.
Mrs. John MUSSELMAN died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Horace ROOT, of Alamo, February 25, [1901] after an illness of nearly two years, aged 70 years, 3 months and 14 days. Jane E. ALFORD was born in Eromosa Twp, Halton Co, Ontario, November 11, 1830, and came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. ALFORD, to Alamo in 1838, and, with the exception of ten years that she resided in Dowagiac she has resided in Kalamazoo Co. March 29, 1850 she was married to John MUSSELMAN, who survives her. To them were born five sons and 3 daughters. The three oldest boys died in infancy. One daughter, Flora CALDWELL, died 15 years ago [circa 1886]. There are four children living, Daniel of Tato [Toto, Starke Co], Ind., William of Otsego, Mrs. Josephine ROOT of Alamo, and Mrs. Marion ULAM of Paw Paw. She also leaves eleven grand children, an aged mother, one brother and three sisters. She was the oldest of a large family of children [14] and, coming here in an early day could tell many interesting stories of her pioneer life. Her father who was a patriot soldier (and son of a Revolutionary soldier) in the war of 1812, died in 1849 leaving his wife alone to bear the burden of
rearing their children. The funeral services were held at her late home last week Wednesday at 2:00 conducted by Rev C.E. Deal of Parma.
There were flowers from Mrs. J. CARPENTER and Mrs. J. WHEELER who were friends of her girlhood. Burial was made in Alamo cemetery [Greenbaur] nearher old home. The bearers were three grandsons and a nephew.
It seems a matter of interest to many that a person as old as Mrs. MUSSELMAN at her death should have a mother living. Mrs. MUSSELMAN'S mother was born in Ireland of Scotch parents, her father, Patrick McCULLOUGH, being a physician. They came to America when she was 12 years old and two years later she was married to Wm. ALFORD, twice her age, and until his death 20 years later they lived happily. Several years after his death she married John STEWART, who died 12 years ago. She now resides with her son, Wm. ALFORD.