BIO: Mrs. Lavina TELFORD, Clearfield County, PA
 
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/

NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm
_____________________________________________________________

From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 695 & 696.
_____________________________________________________________ 

  MRS. LAVINA TELFORD, a well known and highly esteemed resident of Westover, 
Chest Township, was born November 9, 1850, in Indiana County, Pa., and is a 
member of one of the old and substantial families of that county.  She is a 
daughter of John and Sarah (DeArmy) Telford, and the widow of John W. Telford, 
who was one of the most respected citizens of Westover.
  John Stake, father of Mrs. Telford, was born in 1812, in Franklin County, 
Pa., and in early life accompanied his parents, Frederick and Elizabeth (Read) 
Stake, to Indiana County.  John Stake was a farmer and during his entire life 
from the age of twelve years, he lived in Indiana County.  He was a member of 
the Evangelical church.  He married Sarah De Army, who was born in 1813, in 
Indiana County, and was a daughter of William and Betsey (Bowers) De Army, 
early residents of Brush Valley.  The mother of Mrs. Telford died July 16, 
1895, the father having passed away March 20, 1886.  They had eight children, 
three of whom survive:  Lavina; Elizabeth, who is the widow of James Moos, of 
Groveton, Pa.; and Jeremiah, who is a farmer near Cherry Hill.  The maternal 
grandfather of Mrs. Telford was a transporting agent in the early days before 
railroads had been built in Indiana County and carried both individuals and 
merchandise from both east and west.
  Lavina Stake grew up under the careful and judicious training of a wise and 
tender mother and from the age of nine years until her marriage, was the 
mother's main assistant in the duties of the household.  In 1873 she was 
married to John W. Telford, who was born in Indiana County, Pa., May 3, 1841, 
and died in 1884.  His parents were Alexander and Elizabeth (Wareham) Telford, 
of Black Lick, Pa.  One sister and one brother of Mr. Telford survive:  Mary, 
who is the wife of Joseph Westover, residing at Mahaffey; and James, living in 
Indiana County.
  John W. Telford was a veteran of the Civil War, in which he served with 
efficiency and was honorably discharged.  His burial was the first soldier's 
interment in the Westover Cemetery.  He was a successful business man and was 
engaged both in farming and stock dealing.  A part of Westover bears the name 
of Telford, in his honor.  He was never interested to any great degree in 
politics, but he was a consistent member of the Baptist church and a liberal 
supporter of the same.  Mrs. Telford has passed almost all of her married life 
at Westover and has a wide circle of friends here.  She is interested in church 
and social affairs and to some degree is a business woman, very capably taking 
care of her own interests.