Smith Cemetery ~ Marshall Scrafford ~ part of the Polk County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
Scrafford, Marshall
LAST: Scrafford FIRST: Marshall MID: 
GENDER: M MAIDEN NAME:  TITLE: 
BORN: 5 June 1845 DIED: 9 Mar 1929 BURIED: 11 Mar 1929 (Smith Cemetery)
OCCUPATION:  Teacher; Farmer
BIRTH PLACE:  Delavan, Walworth Co., Wisconsin
DEATH PLACE: Luckiamute, Polk Co, Oregon
NOTES: 
MARRIAGE - M. Scrafford & Miss E. Hilterbrand m 8 Nov 1868 at house of P. Hilterbrand; Isaac Staats, JP. Wit: N. Holman & P. Hilterbrand 1910 OR CENSUS - Marshall Scrafford, age 64, occupation farmer, b. Iowa, is enumerated with his wife of 41 years, Lizzie E., age 61, mother of 1, b. Oregon, along with son Kirk D., age 31, occupation farmer, b. Oregon.  Also enumerated with the family are Eveline Hiltibrand, identified as mother-in-law, age 82, widowed, mother of 4, b. Oregon, Dale Scrafford, identified as grandson, age 3, b. Oregon, and Johnny Williams, identified as a lodger, age 27, single, b. Oregon. BIOGRAPHY - As a prominent and successful agriculturist of Suver, and as a pioneer, and the son of a pioneer of Polk county, Marshall Scrafford is well worthy of representation in this biographical volume. He was born in Delavan, Walworth county, Wis, June 5, 1845, a son of John J. Scrafford, coming of German ancestry. His paternal grandfather, Adam Scrafford, was born in Schoharie county, NY, and there spent the greater part of his life. Born on the ancestral homestead, in Schoharie county, NY, August 3, 1817, John J. Scrafford lived there until after his marriage, and then, in 1845, emigrated with his family to Wisconsin. Locating in Walworth county, he took up land near Delavan, and was there engaged in general farming for many years. Removing to Cedar county, Iowa, in 1861, he there continued his independent occupation for about five years, when he again followed the tide of emigration westward. Joining Captain Bean’s company, he crossed the plains with horse teams, there being thirty armed men in the train. Arriving in Benton county, Ore, in the fall of 1860, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on Soap creek, and there improved a farm, on which he resided until after the death of his wife. Removing then to Corvallis, he still makes his home in that city. He married, in New York state, Martha Richardson, who was born in Schoharie county, February 22, 1918, and died in Benton county, Ore, January 2, 1873. Her father, James Richardson, a farmer by occupation, was born in the Empire state, of Irish ancestry. He was a private in the war of 1812, and took part in the engagement at Sackett’s Harbor. Seven children were born of the union of John J. and Martha (Richardson) Scrafford, four of whom are living, namely: James B. of Walla Walla, Wash; Marshall the subject of this sketch; Mary, wife of Ira A. Miller of Newport, Ore; and E.A., wife of J.K. Morrison of Monmouth, Ore. Obtaining his first knowledge of books in the district schools of his native state, Marshall Scrafford subsequently attended a public school in Iowa, and for seven months was a student at Cornell College, in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Leaving that institution, he enlisted, December 30, 1863, in Company D, Twenty-second Wisconsin Infantry, in the same company to which his brother, James B. Scrafford, belonged, being a sergeant. Joining his regiment at Murfreesboro, Tenn, he spent the winter in camp at Nashville, and in the spring of 1864 joined Sherman in his memorable march to the sea. Arriving in Savannah, Ga, he started with his comrades through the Carolinas in pursuit of General Johnston, whom the captured at Raleigh, NCC. Being mustered out of service at Louisville, Ky, July 8, 1865, with the rank of corporal, Mr Scrafford proceeded with his regiment to Madison, Wis, and a short time later returned to the home of his parents. Entering the academy at Tipton, Iowa, he continued his studies there until the spring of 1866, when he came with his parents to Oregon. While on the way the company to which he belonged was frequently troubled by men who attempted to steal their horses and cattle, and on one occasion Mr Scrafford distinguished himself by shooting one of three horse thieves that were disguised as Indians. Arriving in Benton county, Mr Scrafford spent the first winter there, in 1867 locating in Polk county, where he taught school in District Twenty-eight, for a term of five months. He subsequently taught three months in Benton county, then returned to Polk county, and the following year married, and set up housekeeping on a farm near the Luckiamute, where he resided two years. The following year he spent in eastern Oregon. Afterwards buying one hundred acres of land near Buena Vista, Polk county, he carried on general farming until 1881, when he was completely washed out by the overflowing of the Willamette. The next eleven years he was employed in farming on the Luckiamute, and then assumed possession of his present fine ranch, which contains two hundred and ten acres of land, one hundred and twenty-eight acres of it being adapted to the raising of grain and fruits, while the remainder is used for grazing purposes. He carries on general farming, devoting eleven acres of his land to hops, and in his various undertakings is meeting with well merited success. In 1868, on the farm which he now occupies, Mr Scrafford married Elizabeth Hiltibrand, who was born in Polk county, Ore, October 11, 1848. Her father, Paul Hiltibrand, born near Maysville, Ky, crossed the plains in 1845, and located on the present homestead of Mr Scrafford, and was here engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death in 1896. Mr and Mrs Scrafford have one child, Kirk Scrafford, who was born April 30, 1878, and is now living with his parents, assisting in the management of the ranch. Politically Mr Scrafford is a strong Republican, and has never shirked the responsibilities of public office. He has served as road supervisor, and for twenty-eight years served as school clerk. In 1898 he was elected representative to the state legislature. The court house being burned at that time, and all of the ballots destroyed, his election could not be contested, and the legislature decided that his election was legal. Fraternally Mr Scrafford is a member and a trustee of Gibson Post No 64, GAR, of Independence. Portrait and Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley (Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1903), p 860-61
OBITUARY: 
Marshall Scrafford, 83, Civil war veteran and resident of Oregon for 63 years, died at the family home in the Luckiamute section March 9. He was critically ill but a few days, but it was indomitable will power which made it possible for him to be around his home and make occasional visits to Independence for months with an incurable malady hastening the end.
Mr. Scrafford was with Sherman on his march from Atlanta to the sea – one of the big closing chapters of the Civil war. 
He was born in Delavan, Wis, June 5, 1845, his father being John J. Scrafford, who owned a farm in the Soap creek district of Benton county for many years. When Marshall, or Mark as he was commonly known, was 16 years old, the family moved from Wisconsin to Cedar county, Iowa, where he continued his education, and was a student of Cornell college, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, when he enlisted December 30, 1863, in company D, 22nd Wisconsin infantry. His brother, James B. Scrafford, was a sergeant in this company. He joined his regiment at Murfreesboro, Tenn, and spent the winter in camp at Nashville. In the spring of 1864 his regiment was made a unit in the army which started at Savannah, Georgia, in pursuit of General Johnson, capturing him at Raleigh, N.C. Mr. Scrafford was mustered out of the service at Louisville, Ky, July 8, 1865, with the rank of corporal, and returned to Iowa, where he continued his studies until the following spring, when the Scrafford family started upon the long trek to Oregon, under the guidance of Captain Bean with 30 armed men in the overland horse-drawn train.
Arriving in Benton county, Mr. Scrafford spent the first winter there. In 1867 he was teacher for five months in district 28 of Polk county. He subsequently taught school for a few months in Benton county, then returned to Polk county, and in 1868, on the farm which later became the Scrafford home, he was married to Elizabeth Hiltibrand. Mr. Scrafford spent the next couple of years farming on the Luckiamute, spent a year in Eastern Oregon, and subsequently bought 100 acres of land near Buena Vista, where he resided until 1881, when high warter stripped him of his possessions. He returned to the Luckiamute section and farmed it for 11 years, then taking possession of the present farm.
In 1898 Mr. Scrafford was elected representative in the state legislature. He served for many years as a school clerk and road supervisor, and retained a membership in General Gibson post, GAR, Independence, until the end.
Mr. Scrafford is survived by his widow; one son, Kirk D. Scrafford, who has made his home with his parents for many years; three grandchildren, Dale and Delmer Scrafford, who lived with him, and Dorris Scrafford of Portland. There are two sisters, Mrs J.K. Morrison of Corvallis and Mrs Ira Miller of Yaquina, Oregon.
Funeral services were held at the Walter Smith chapel, Monmouth, Monday afternoon. Dr. H. Charles Dunsmore officiated. There were selections by a male quartet composed of Ed, Gus and Leonard Fleischman and Theodore Boyer. Pall bearers were Floyd Good, M.J. Lehman, Arthur Black, Otto Schlack, Ross Chamberlin, D.E. McIntosh. 
Independence Enterprise, Friday, March 15, 1929, 1:1
INSCRIPTION: 
Scrafford Marshell Scrafford 1845-1929 [shares marker with Elizabeth Scrafford]
SOURCES: 
OSBH DC (Polk County 1929) #34 
Polk Co, Oregon, Marriage Records, 1849-1888, page 44 1910 OR CENSUS (Polk Co., Luckiamute, ED 244, sheet 3A)
IE 15 Mar 1929, 1:1 PBRWV, pages 860-861
CONTACTS: 
ROW: 26-3