Obituary for Martha Alford, Alamo Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan Copyright © 1998 by Kathy Linderholm. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. _____________________________________________________________________ DEATH COMES TO AGED RESIDENT OF ALAMO MRS. MARTHA ALFORD STEWART WAS 93 YEARS OLD WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY Mrs. Martha Alford Stewart died April 19th at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. C. C. Gunn, of Mattawan. Mrs. Stewart was born in Ireland, April 16, 1816, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Patrick McCullough. She came to Canada with her parents in 1828. Two years later she was married to William Alford an American soldier and in 1838 with her husband she came west, locating in Alamo where they underwent all the hardships of pioneer life. To them were born fourteen children, seven of whom reached their majority. In 1849 her husband died her husband died and three years later she was married to John W. Stewart, a man of strong religious character and well known throughout Kalamazoo county whom the she survived twenty-one years. A daughter living only a few months blessed this union. Mrs. Stewart lived on the farm which was bought from the government until 1860 when she sold it and bought a farm in Oshtemo. She was the last of the old pioneers of Alamo. She began to lose her eyesight as well as her hearing three years ago. And as she had not been able to walk without aid for eight years life was only enjoyed by knowing that she was with her loved ones and tenderly cared for. Her mind was clear and she could repeat many poems, some of which she learned in childhood days. She is survived by four children, Mrs. Abbe Lewis, Fife Lake, Mich.; Mrs. Anna Phillips and William Alford of Texas, and Mrs. C. C. Gunn of Mattawan. The funeral services were held at West Oshtemo church and were conducted by Rev. I. Bates of Paw Paw and Rev. Henry Boynton of Oshtemo. The pallbearers were six of her grandchildren, William Lewis of Oshtemo; William Gunn of Watervliet; George Gunn of Oshtemo; Wallace Lewis of Grand Rapids; Clyde Alford of Texas, and Irwin Gunn of Mattawan. The interment was in the Northeast Alamo cemetery, beside the husband of her youth and close to all of her children with the exception of one, George Alford, who has slept in a soldier's grave in the sunny south for more than 40 years. Mrs. Stewart is survived by ninety-six descendants, four children, twenty-two grandchildren, fifty-eight great grandchildren and twelve great-great- grandchildren, making five generations. There were several beautiful floral offerings. The music was by Miss Elsie Abbott, Mrs. Ella Wright and Messrs. Van Auken and Anson. *** OBITUARY MARTHA ALFORD STEWART Martha Alford Stewart was born in Tallenanus, Monahan county, Providence of Ulster, Ireland, April 16, 1816 and died April 19,1909, aged 93 years and 3 days. Deceased had become nearly blind and was very deaf but otherwise retained her faculties to a remarkable degree. Only the evening before she was taken ill she entertained her great-grandson who was spending his vacation at his grandparents with stories of her voyage across the Atlantic in 1828. When scarcely 14 years of age she was united in marriage to William Alford, a soldier of the war of 1812, and a member of a New York regiment. To them were born fourteen children. In 1838 they came to Michigan and settled in Alamo, where they endured all the privations of pioneer life. In 1849 her husband died and three years later she was married to John W. Stewart, a man well known to older residents here, and to them was born one child which only lived a few months. Deceased in survived by one son and three daughter, William Alford, Mrs. Abbie Lewis, Mrs. Annie Phillips, and Mrs. Helen Gunn; 22 grandchildren, 50 great grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren, a total of 96 living descendants. Deceased had always lived a strenuous life until about eight years ago and enforced idleness grew monotonous, but being fond of reading, she spent her time in that way until her sight failed; then she lived in the past. Her greatest pleasure was in knowing she was with her children and a hope of soon meeting with loved ones on the other side. She was a faithful wife and loving mother and will be sadly missed by those she loved. The family gave a lovely pillow of flowers, and one family of great- grandchildren in Oshtemo sent a bouquet of roses and one of carnations. Dr. Gunn and Mrs. Gunn of Westervliet sent a beautiful casket piece of roses, while other friends of long ago sent floral offerings. *** DEATH BREAKS FIVE GENERATIONS (A family photo showing five generations inserted here) At the time of her death, April 19, Mrs. Martha Alford Stewart was one of the oldest pioneers of Kalamazoo county. She was 93 years when she passed away and had lived in Alamo, her old home, for many years. Through she had been failing in health, her mind even at the time of her death was very clear and nothing delighted her more than to recite some of the poems she had learned in childhhood. She was born in Ireland and came to America when she was eight years old. She had lived the greater part of her life in the west. Ninety-six descendants survive her, among which are four children, Mrs. Abbie Lewis, Fife Lake, Mich.; Mrs. Anna Phillips and William Alford of Texas, and Mrs. C. C. Gunn of Mattawan, twenty grandchildren, fifty-eight great grand children, and twelve great great grand grandchildren. dz