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- !SOURCE: LDS Archive Record. Submitted by Ray T. King. ARCHIVE RECORD SOU RCE: Letter from and conversation with Olive Irene Astleford Francis. Als o Death notice for ASTLEFORD, Thomas D. in O'Neil, Ne. weekly Newspaper f or week of March 20, 1945. SOURCE: From Sea to Shining Sea, The Story o f the Astleford Clan, Edited by J. R. Astleford, pg. 252
!Was lost in snow storm 27 Feb 1945. Body not found until March when sno w melted.
"Thomas Densomre Astelford was born February 24, 1860 in New York state a nd died near O'neill, Nebraska on February 28, 1945 at the age of 85 year s and 4 days. "At the age of eight he moved to Niobrara, Nebraska wit h his parents. As a young he drove the stage which carried mail as wel l as passengers between yankton, South Dakota and Niobrara. "On Augus t 16, 1887 he was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Reynolds at Paddo ck, Holt Co., Nebraska. To this union three children were born: Icle Rut h who Married Kent Crocket Rakes; Olive Irene who married George Francis ; and Walter Everett who married Jessie Bellinger. Shortly after his marr iage he became a member of the Free Methodist Church in Butte, Nebraska a nd was a loyal and devout member the rest of his life. "In 1894 the f amily moved to Boone, Iowa and for a time lived on his Rose Cutler's plac e. After three years they returned to north-eastern Nebraska. At one ti me he had a homestead east of Meek. In 1910 he homesteaded three miles n orth of Phoenix and made his home there until 1942. In 1938 his wife Car oline died, wo when he sold his farm in 1942 he made his home with his da ughter, Olive Francis in Boyd County, Nebr. The last year of his life h e lived with his son Walter, north of Phoenix." Excerpt taken from: SOURC E: From Sea to Shining Sea, The Story of the Astleford Clan, Edited by J . R. Astleford, pg. 252
OBITUARY: "Thomas Densmore Astleford was born February 24th, 1860 in Ne w York State, and died near O'neill, Nebraska on February 28th, 1945 a t the age of 85 years and 4 days. "At the age of eight he moved to Ni obrara, Nebr, with his parents. As a young man he drove the Stage betwee n Yankton, S. D. and Niobrara. "On August 16, 1887 he was united in M arriage with Miss Caroline Reynolds at Paddock. To this union three child ren were born: Icle Ruth, who became Mrs Kent Rakes; Olive Irene who is M rs Geo. Francis; and Walter Evert. His wife and aughter, Icle, precede d him in death. Shortley after his marriage he became a member of the Fr ee Methodist Church in Butte and was a loyal and devout member the rest o f his life. "In 1894 the family moved to Boone, Iowa. After three ye ars they returned to Northeastern Nebraska. At one time he had a homeste ad east of Meed. In 1910 he homesteaded three miles north of Phoenix an d made his home there until three years ago when he sold out and made hi s home with his daughter , Mrs. Geo. Frances in Boyd County. The past ye ar he has lived with his son, Walter, North of Phoenix. "He is surviv ed by his son, Walter E. Astleford, and daughter, Mrs Geo. Francis; one s ister, Mrs. Emma Kelley, in California; fourteen grandchildren, two of wh om are in the jService; Three were present at the funeral; Daniel Rakes , Joe Francis, and Claude Astleford. Twenty-two great grandchildren an d numerous nephews and nieces also survive. Funeral services were held a t the Butte Free Metthodist Church Tuesday afternoon, Marche 20, 1945. M inisters of the butte free Methodist and Spencer Wesleyan Methodist Churc hes were in charge of services. Music was furnished by a quarted . "CARD OF THANKS "We wish to extend our sincere appreciat ion and thanks to the many friends and neighbors who have helped so muc h in the search for our father and grandfather. We also extend our thand s to the men and boys who took part in the search last Saturday. "Mr. an d Mrs Walter E. Astleford and family. "Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Francis an d family. "Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Rakes and family." Extract taken from : From Sea to Shining Sea, The Story of the Astleford Clan, Edited by J . R. Astleford, pg. 251 - As taken from an Oneil, Nebraska Newspaper
The following is an article that appeared in the O'Neil Nebraska weekly n ewspaper and reprinted in 'From Sea to Shining Sea, The Story of the Astl eford Clan, Edited by J. R. Astleford, pg. 251.' "T. D. Astleford, 85, O f Northern Holt Co., Missing Since Feb 27" "Mr. T. D. Astleford, 85 , has been missing from his farm home north of Phoenix, since tuesday Feb ruary 27th, and although neighbors have scoured the country near there n o trace has been found of him since that date. He was last seen about 2: 00pm of that day on his way toward the mail box. "Mr. Astleford has l ived on his place there for a long time, but in recent years he lived wit h his daughter, Mrs. George Francis in Boyd County, but last year his son , Walter Astleford and wife returned from Michigan to take care of him . "He has been quite hard of hearing and is rather childish. Despit e of his age of 85 he had the appearance and strength of a much younger m an and walked several miles a day. When he stayed with his daughter in B oyd County, he would run away quite often and some times stay a week or m ore, consequently when he failed to come home Tuesday, no concern was fel t. "It is thought possible that he might have got a ride and gone in s earch of work, an idea he has had for some time. "Mr. Astleford is ab out 5 ft. 6 in. and was wearing a tan overcoat, overalls and 4-buckle ove rshoes at the time of his disappearanc. He is of a slight build.
The following is an article that appeared in the O'Neil Nebraska weekly n ewspaper and reprinted in 'From Sea to Shining Sea, The Story of the Astl eford Clan, Edited by J. R. Astleford, pg. 251.' "Body Of Missing Man Fou nd In A Ravine By John Obermire" March 1945 "The Body of T. D. Astle ford, 85, missing since February 27th, was found last Satruday afternoo n about six o'clock by John Obermire on his place which is west of Highwa y No. 11 running north atkinson. Mr. Obermire was out looking for a hors e which he was trying to break and had not returned home and in crossin g a small gulley on his place, discovered the body of the aged man in th e water. He notified Sheriff A. B. Hubbard who was out with a searchin g party that afternoon and was in the territory. The body was taken to B utte, Nebr. to a mortuary. "Searching parties had looked at differen t times for the man and on Saturday of last week Sheriff Hubbard gathere d about 100 men and Boy Scouts from O'Neill and Boyd County and neighbor s joined in thhe search. They ledt here about noon in a truck and did no t return until about 8:00 o'clock that enening. They covered a large ter ritory and some of the party were close to the place where the body was f ound, but had not gone far enough west. We understand that he was abou t four miles from his home. "When the body was found, Mr. Astleford h ad a large sum of money on his person, amounting to $642.77, which he ha d carried for the past five years, receiving the money from the sale of h is homestead at that time. Death was attributed to exposure and not inqu est was held.
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1860 - 1945 (85 years)
