John S Shackford the son of Amasa W and Clara (Lougee) Shackford was born on April 10, 1875 in Barnstead, New Hampshire. John studied for a short time in New Hampton, New Hampshire and then married Lena Frances Whitehouse, the daughter of Warren and Emma A (York) Whitehouse on November 24, 1897. The newly married couple lived with John’s parents at 11 Tappan St in Farmington as he began to work for his father who was a well known photographer. Sadly, John died of tuberculosis on June 28, 1900 and was buried at the young age of 25 in the Farmington Village Cemetery.
John’s wife remained with the Shackford family for some time before marrying Adrian Elmer Hall in 1905.
Fortunately we can learn a bit more about this young man who died early from his obituary which was published by The Farmington News on July 6, 1900.
In Memorium.
In the passing onward of friends,
whose years have been many, whatever
be our grief in the loss of their com-
panionship and affectionate considera-
tion, we feel that they are happy in the
going forth from present or approaching
feebleness and probable pain, to become
strong and active again in good works
and to experiences which shall compen-
sate for the discomforts and sorrows of
the phase of existence with which they
have been acquainted; that they “have
live their life,” and have gone to a
world of sweetness and light to be a
part of the new Jerusalem, and to be
judged with the omniscient mercy. And
with such a faith we are consoled.
But when the young are called hense,
we are conscious of a disappointment
in connection with our sorrow of be-
reavement, and while the conditions
that await the aged may be equally
ready for those who are in the flush of
youth, we are slow to accept their con-
solation, for we are overwhelmed with
the sea of anguish of personal loss. We
are robbed, it seems to us, of all that
youth holds as promise of the joy and
comfort of advancing years, and we
feel ourselves desolate indeed.
Few sorrows are greater than is the
parting of parents from their only child,
or than in the giving up of her husband
by a wife.
Such an extreme affliction has been
laid upon Mr. and Mrs. Amasa W.
Shackford and their young daughter-in-
law Mrs. Lena Whitehouse Shackford,
in the decease of John S. Shackford
Thursday evening of last week.
Mr. Shackford was out of health
some time ago, but seemed to improve,
and it was hoped that a long life lay
before one so useful and so dear, bu the
became more and more feeble until at
last the supreme hour drew near and
the Golden Gates were opened for him.
“He could not stay his feet, that led thereto;
It yielded to his touch, and passing through,
He came into a world all bright and fair,
Free from the mists of age, of care, and strife,
Above whose portal shone the Gate of Life.”
Mr Shackford was the only child of
his parents, and had lived always with
them save for time spent in a course of
study at New Hampton, where he be-
came acquainted with the Rev. Frank
Pearson, now pastor of the Free Bap-
tist church in this town, whose minis-
trations to his friend, during the sad
season of illness, have been peculiarly
tender and welcome.
The association of the son in the
business of his father was exceedingly
helpful to the later, and everyone feels
deep sympathy for him who has been
deprived of not only a beloved child
but also of a stay and partner in busi-
ness at a period of life when he looked
reasonably toward a relinquishing of
care to the younger man.
A, like sympathy goes out to the
mother who has been made “to drink
of the Lord’s cup,” whose faith, which
has long been a worthy example to her
associates, has to endure this bitter
trial; and to the young wife, in this
sorrow and loss which charge the bright
promise of the past to this sad certainty
of present loneliness To these who
have laid away the body of their be-
loved, the skies seem dark with clouds
and joy is indeed far off. Yet there
shall be a gleam of blessed sunlight in
the memory of the years that were made
happy to him whom they mourn, by
their devoted love, years which were
gladdened by his kindly presence and
cheery companionship; and the prom-
ises of the watchful Father of all endure
from everlasting to everlasting, to save
his children from despair.
The funeral of Mr. Shackford took
place Sunday afternoon in charge of B.
F. Perkins, with the Free Baptist pas-
tor as the officiating clergyman. In
the performing of his sad duty Mr.
Pearson was both the pastor and the
friend. He has known the upright and
useful life of this young townsman, and
the happy relatinoship of which he was
a part, and he could speak with loving
sympathy, as well as with priestly au-
thority in directing the sticken family
to the true and unfailing source of con-
solation, and of courage to bear even
this exceeding anguish.
Among friends from out of town
who attended the service were Mrs.
Dow and her son, Mr William Dow,
of Barnstead; Mrs. Varney and Mr.
and Mrs. Dow of Laconia; Mr and
Mrs. Varney of Alton; Mrs. Leighton
of Haverhill, Mass; Mr. and Mrs
Warren Whitehouse, the parents of the
widow, with their daughter Mrs. Ed-
win Wallace and Mr. Wallace of San-
bornville, and their sons Albert and
Charles Whitehouse, and also from
Middleton, Mr. and Mrs. George
Stevens, with many friends and real-
tives from the nearer vicinity of Farm-
ington. Members of the Montauk
club were present, and a beautiful
floral pillow was received from the or-
ganization. Beautiful flowers were
received from many other friends,
among which were those from Mrs. U.
S Knox, a sister of the young widow;
bouquets from Mrs. George of Middle-
ton and Lewis Gilson of Alton; a cross
from Laconia friends, and a harp from
Mrs. Walter L. Chelsey and Mrs
Charles Crosby.
Internment was made in the Farming-
ton cemetery.
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SOURCES:
“In Memorium,” The Farmington News (Farmington, New Hampshire), 6 July 1900; digital images, Farmington Preservation(http://farmington.advantage-preservation.com : accessed 8 August 2014).
New Hampshire, New Hampshire Birth Records, Early to 1900, , John S Shackford, 10 April 1875; digital images, FamilySearch(http://familysearch.org : accessed 17 August 2015).
New Hampshire, New Hampshire, Death Records, 1654-1947, , John S Shackford, 28 June 1900; digital images, FamilySearch, New Hampshire, Death Records, 1654-1947(http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 30 May 2014).
New Hampshire, New Hampshire Marriages, 1720-1920, , John S. Shackford and Lena F. Whitehouse, 24 November 1897; database, FamilySearch(http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 23 August 2015).
“,” The Farmington News (Farmington, New Hampshire), 22 June 1900; digital images, Farmington Preservation(http://farmington.advantage-preservation.com : accessed 8 Aug
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SHACKFORD Family History 