Miami Union

June 15, 1911 

MAXWELL, SPAFFORD WOODHULL - Miami county lost one of her most useful and highly esteemed citizens when Spafford Woodhull Maxwell, a Staunton township farmer, died at his home just north of Raper Chapel at 6 o'clock last Saturday night after a long illness.  Four years ago Dec. 23, Mr. Maxwell suffered a stroke of paralysis, but he apparently recovered and was able to do light work about the farm.  Two years ago in May, a second illness came over him, and he gradually declined, until an attack of uremic poisoning on Monday of last week hastened the end.  Mr. Maxwell was a son of Thomas and Susanna (Jones) Maxwell and was born on his father's farm near Franklin, Ohio, Oct. 20, 1836.  His paternal grandfather came to America from Scotland, settled first in New Jersey but later removed with his family to Franklin.  His son, Thomas, Spafford's father after farming for some years in Warren county bought the farm which Spafford owned at the time of his death.  Spafford W. Maxwell was too young to remember the overland journey from Warren to Miami county, but he had very vivid recollections of his boyhood, which was spent in assisting his father to clear the farm, and in attending school in the log structure provided for that purpose.  He continued to live at home until 1864, when he entered the Federal army as a member of Company K, 147th Pennsylvania Infantry, under Capt. J. E. Counts.  When the regiment reached Washington City, he was promoted to be corporal of his company, and served in that rank until the close of the war.  Upon his return to private life, Mr. Maxwell resumed farming with his father, and in 1872 he purchased the place and for many years continued agricultural pursuits.  On January 8, 1868 Mr. Maxwell was married to Miss Rachel Davol, a daughter of Harrison Devol, an old pioneer, and they had had seven children, namely: Minnie, who died in 1905, was the wife of Edwin Foster; Walter who resides at Troy, O., married Carrie Millhouse; Sallie, who married Frank Kendall, resides at the old homestead; Anna, who resides at Troy, married James Grunder; Bertha and Merta, twins, the former of whom is the wife of Harley Morrow, of Piqua, and the latter of whom died when aged eighteen years; and Wilber D. who resides on a farm near Casstown, and married Gertrude McDowell.  The faithful wife of the deceased is still living and tenderly cared for her husband during his long illness.  Mr. Maxwell was a member of the First Presbyterian church of Troy, and was an elder for about twenty years.  In his younger days he was a great Sunday school worker, and served for a long time as superintendent of the school.  In politics he was a Republican and always took much interest in public matters and at various times acceptably served in township offices.  He was justice of peace in Staunton and was known by many friends as "Squire" Maxwell.  He was a member of the fair board of many years and was a member of Coleman Post Grand Army Republic at Troy, Ohio.  Mr. Maxwell was a man of excellent character, and was admired by many acquaintances for his devotion to high ideals.  He carried his convictions of Christian trust in all relations of life, and the community is much better for his living in it so many years.  The influence of such a life for good can never be estimated.  The funeral services were held at the home Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock and were conducted by Dr. J. W. Clokey, assisted by Dr. Montgomery and Rev. D. S. Ferguson.  Interment was made in the Raper Chapel cemetery.

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