Mathew (Matt)H. DeFord Family

Mathew Hale DeFord
Born: March 17, 1855 in Clarno township, Green County, Wisconsin
Parents: John Wesley and Eliza Jane Layton DeFord (Deford)
Married (1): September 19, 1882 in Cresco, Howard County, Iowa to Elizabeth Ann McGrane
Married (2): June 30, 1905 in Cresco, Howard county, Iowa to Amelia Marie Johanna Milhan
Died: November 8, 1933 in a Nursing Home in Harvey, Wells County, North Dakota
Buried: Harvey, Wells County, North Dakota (unmarked grave)

Elizabeth Ann McGrane
Born: February 22, 1858 (or 1857) in Irish Grove, Winnebago County, Illinois
Parents: Richard and Bridget Kelley McGrane (Irish immigrants)
Died: May 13, 1903 in Elma, Howard County, Iowa (or New Haven, Mitchell County, Iowa)
Buried: in St. CeciliaÂ’s Catholic Church cemetery located 3 1/2 miles west and 1 1/2 mile south of Elma, Afton township, Howard county, Iowa (Note: this cemetery is also known as St. PatrickÂ’s Catholic cemetery)

Children:
1. Baby

born: abt 1883 in Douglas township, Mitchell County, Iowa

died: abt 1883 in Douglas township, Mitchell County, Iowa

buried: St. CeciliaÂ’s Catholic Church cemetery
2. Female (stillborn)

born: February 21, 1885 in Douglas township, Mitchell County, Iowa

died: February 21, 1885 in Douglas township, Mitchell County, Iowa

buried: St. CeciliaÂ’s Catholic Church cemetery
3. Female (stillborn)

born: October 13, 1885 in Douglas township, Mitchell County, Iowa

died: October 13, 1885 in Douglas township, Mitchell County, Iowa

buried: St. CeciliaÂ’s Catholic Church cemetery
4. Mary Elizabeth (Mamie or Marie)

born: August 12, 1886 in Douglas township, Mitchell County, Iowa

married: July 16, 1906 in Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa to Frank Weinberger

died: February 5, 1961 in Lemmon, Perkins County, South Dakota

buried: Mott, Hettinger County, North Dakota
5. Baby

born: April 15, 1888 in Douglas township, Mitchell County, Iowa

died: 1888 or 1889 in Douglas township, Mitchell County, Iowa

buried: St. CeciliaÂ’s Catholic Church cemetery
6. Rosa Ellen (Allene)

born: August 29, 1889 in Douglas township, Mitchell County, Iowa

married: March 22, 1915 (or 1916) in Mott, Hettinger County, North Dakota

died:
7. John (Johnny or Jack)

born: April 15, 1895 in Douglas township, Mitchell County, Iowa

died: September 18, 1924 in Dunseith, Rollette County, North Dakota at San Haven Tuberculosis Sanitarium

buried: St. Louis cemetery, Dunseith, Rollette County, North Dakota (unmarked grave)
8. Paul Matthew

born: July 5, 1900 in Elma, Howard County, Iowa

died: February 18, 1941 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois of pnuemonia

buried: unknown (possibly in Chicago, Illinois)



Mathew Hale DeFord (Deford) was born in Green County, Wisconsin to John and Eliza Jane Layton DeFord. He was the second eldest of eight children. He came to Mitchell county, Iowa with his parents and his older sister, settling on section 18, Douglas township. He received his schooling in the rural school house near his home. He grew up farming with his father and spent a year or two helping his younger sister and brother-in-law (Clara an C.H. Webster) farm in Vernon Springs township, Howard County, Iowa located a few miles south of Cresco. Mr. Webster worked primarily as a grocer in the small village of Vernon Springs.

On September 19, 1882, Mathew was joined in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Ann McGrane in Cresco, Howard County, Iowa. Some family accounts state they were married in Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa. Howard County records show their marriage application taking place in Howard County, Iowa. Their witness was Peter McGrane and Clerk of Court was C.F. Webster.

Elizabeth was born in Irish Springs, Winnebago County, Illinois to Richard and Bridget Kelley McGrane. She was the third of four children and the only daughter. Her brothers were Patrick, William, and Francis. She also had two half-brothers - James and Richard. Her parents were Irish immigrants. Her father immigrated from his home of Meath County, Ireland by way of Liverpool, England. He arrived in New York on October 17, 1848. He was joined by his mother, brothers and sisters in 1849 and 1850. Between the years 1854 and 1857, the McGraneÂ’s were farming in Winnebago County, Illinois near Irish Grove. Sometime in 1857, they began arriving in Afton township, Howard County, Iowa with their families. Elizabeth (or Lizzie as she was known) grew up on a farm a few miles west of Elma, Iowa in Afton township.

Mathew and Lizzie began their married life together on a 280 acre farm, section 20, Douglas township, Mitchell County, Iowa. This farm was located short of a mile west of the village of New Haven west of the New Haven bridge (known as DeFordÂ’s corner). Their early marriage was plagued with sorrow - loosing one infant child and three stillborn children. Because of the losses of his children, Matt began to drink heavily. LizzieÂ’s brothers began to dislike Matt because of his drinking and mistreatment of their sister. Matt was well known for his horse racing at the Mitchell and Howard County fairs and his natural ability with horses. In early 1900, Matt and Lizzie and three children: Mamie, Allene, and Jack moved to the village of Elma, Howard County, Iowa where they rented a house. Matt took up the call to become the veternary of the community. He was never schooled in medicine, but had a wonderful way with animals and was trusted by farmers within the New Haven and Elma area. In July 1900, Matt and Lizzie enjoyed the birth of their son, Matthew Paul.

Lizzie became ill with tuberculosis and passed away in May 13, 1903. She was buried in St. CeciliaÂ’s Catholic Church cemetery next to her four infant children.

Her obituary reads: “Elizabeth Ann McGrane was born in Mitchell County, Iowa on February 22, 1857 and died Wednesday, May 13, 1903 at the age of forty-six years, two months, and twenty-one days. She was married to Matthew H. DeFord September 19, 1882.

Mrs. DeFord had been sick but a short time and her death came unexpectedly. She was a good and faithful mother and left four children who will mourn the loss of a much needed mother, Mamie, Allene, John and Paul, four children having passed away before her.

The body was taken to Cecelia Cemetery, five miles west of Elma, for burial. She had five brothers all of whom attended the funeral.” (Taken from the Mitchell County Press News)

Her daughter, Mamie wrote a poem and reads as follows:

“IN MEMORY OF MAMA”

“Our mother was too good to live
In this great world of sin and pride;
There was a place in heaven to fill -
God softly called her to his side.
Tis sweet to remember her cares are no more
Though her place with us no one can fill,
Her sorrows and troubles on earth are all oÂ’er,
Though we seem to forget, we remember her still.

Mathew moved with his four children to Osage to be close to his mother - Eliza DeFord. His older daughters, Mayme and Allene attended to their younger brothers, however MattÂ’s drinking made a bad situation worse. Not able to properly care for the children, he place them in the care of the St. MaryÂ’s Academy (Catholic) in New Haven, Iowa.

Paul, the youngest was eventually adopted by John and Annie Welter, an childless immigrant family who lived on the west edge of Osage. Paul attended and graduated from Osage High School. He never married and was working in Chicago, Illinois when he passed away in 1941 from pnuemonia.
could not raise his children, so he took them St. MaryÂ’s Academy in New Haven, Iowa where they were well cared for.

John (Johnny or Jack) was an invalid. His left arm was deformed. He finished his schooling at St. MaryÂ’s Academy and lived with his father in Elma. He eventually moved to North Dakota sometime between 1918 and 1920. He passed away in September 1924 from tuberculosis at the San Haven Tuberculosis Sanatarium in Dunseith, Wells County, North Dakota. He is buried at St. Louis Cemetery in Dunseith in an unmarked grave.

Mary Elizabeth (also known as Mamie and Marie) attended St. MaryÂ’s Academy and became a school teacher. She was married to Frank Weinberger on July 16, 1906 in Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa.

Francis (Frank) Joseph Weinberger was born on January 18, 1884 in Rock township, Mitchell County, Iowa to William and Barbara Karf Weinberger. He was one of nine children. FrankÂ’s grandparents and father immigrated from Austria in 1852, settling in Madison, Wisconsin. His father settled in Rock township, Mitchell County, Iowa in 1868. He grew to manhood on his fatherÂ’s farm in Rock township.

Frank and Marie farmed for a time near Osage, Iowa. In August 1909, they homesteaded in St. Croix township (section 12 and 13), Hettinger County, North Dakota. Their children: Freddie, Eileen, and Grace were born near Osage, and Francis, Neil and Neileen were born in St. Croix township.

Frank was a farmer and played his guitar at many barn dances. He also played first baseman and umpired many of the early ball games. Marie taught in the rural schools in Hettinger County and loved to paint. One of her paintings entitled “Last Buffalo Hunt” hangs in the Courthouse in Mott, North Dakota.

Frank passed away in November 1945 and Marie passed away in February 1961. They are buried in the Mott Cemetery.

Rose Ellen (Allene) attended St. MaryÂ’s Academy and also became a school teacher. She taught in Cedar township, Mitchell County, Iowa in the village of Meroa during 1907. In the spring of 1911, she moved to North Dakota to be near her sister - Marie (Mrs. Frank J. Weinberger). She filed on a homestead claim (section 14) near theirs in St. Croix township. She taught in the Green Schoolhouse located on the Tom Eveland homestead. She also taught 3rd and 4th grades in Mott, North Dakota. She also taught in Madison, Acme, and Alden townships, Hettinger County, North Dakota.

On March 22, 1915, Allene married Warren R. Gray. They had three children: Glen, Vern, and Nola. Warren and Allene moved to Oregon where they resided until their deaths. Warren passed away in April 1963 and Allen passed away in Nov 1985.

Mathew H. Deford eventually moved back to Elma, Howard County, Iowa (about 1905) where he continued his veternary practice.

On June 30, 1905, he was joined in marriage to Miss Amelia Milhan at the Arlington Hotel, Cresco, Howard County, Iowa by Justice of the Peace - D.L. Granvis. Witnesses were L.J. Long and Katie Griffith. AmeliaÂ’s parents did not approve of this marriage, however her father did like Matt and respected his abilities. They did not like the fact that Matt was nearly 20 years older than their daughter and they had heard accounts of MattÂ’s drinking and gambling.

Amelia was born on September 16, 1883 in Afton township, Howard County, Iowa to August and Amelia Arndt Milhan. Her parents were both German immigrants. Amelia had a twin sister, Anna, three older sisters - Augusta, Caroline, Wilhelmine, and seven younger brothers - John, Frederick, August, Benjamin & Joseph (twins), Leo, Arthur and a younger sister - Noretta. Amelia grew up on her fathers rented farm in Afton township and attended rural school near her home. She met Matt while shopping in Elma one day.

Matt and Amelia began their married life together in a rented house on Main Street in Elma. MattÂ’s son, Jack lived with them. Matt and Amelia were blessed with the birth of a daughter - Elizabeth Jane, on May 10, 1906 at their home in Elma.

Heartache again entered the home of Mathew H. DeFord, as his young wife, Amelia became sick with tuberculosis. She passed away on December 18, 1909 at her home. Matt was now faced with raising his 3 year old daughter, Elizabeth (Eliza) Jane and care for his son, Jack. Matt knew he could not care for his little girl, so he looked to his deceased wifeÂ’s parents for help. August and Amelia Milhan were happy to take their little granddaughter into their home where they watched her grow into a young lady. Amelia would even be fortunate enough to see her granddaughter graduate from Riceville High School on May 29, 1925. That same year, Eliza moved into Riceville (Mitchell County, Iowa) where she worked as a home maker for Louis and Grace Kehoe. Louis was a lawyer. They even sent Eliza to Nursing School in Rochester, Minnesota.

Elizabeth Jane was known as Eliza to her Milhan family. It was discovered in 1980, that she went by Betty most of her adult life. She met and married William Robinson on February 4, 1930. He was a Pharmacist. They lived for many years in Grand Junction, Colorado. They had one son, Robert. After WilliamÂ’s death, Betty moved to Pueblo, Colorado to live with her son. She passed away there in March 1986.


1880 Iowa Federal Census - Howard County
Vernon Springs township (near Cresco, Iowa)
Webster, C.H., age 33, born in Indiana, Retail Grocer
Webster, Clara, age 20, born in Iowa
Webster, Ruth, age 4/12 (January), born in Iowa
Oleson, Maria, age 22, servant, born in Norway
Deford, Mathew, age 24, brother-in-law, Farmer, born in Wisconsin

1885 Iowa State Census - Mitchell County
Douglas township
Deford, Mathew, age 30, farmer
Deford, Elizabeth, age 27

1895 Iowa State Census - Mitchell County
Douglas township
Deford, Mathew H., age 40, skinner (mule/horse skinner)
Deford, Elizabeth, age 38
Deford, Mary, age 8
Deford, Alleen, age 5

1900 Iowa Federal Census - Howard County
Afton township (City of Elma)
DeFord, Mathew H., age 45, born March 1855 in Wisconsin, married for 17 years, veternary, rents home
DeFord, Elizabeth A., age 43, born Feb 1857 in Illinois, married 17 years, 7 children/3 living
DeFord, Mary E., age 13, born Aug 1886 in Iowa
DeFord, Rose A., age 10, born Aug 1889 in Iowa
DeFord, John, age 5, born in Apr 1895 in Iowa
McGrane, James E., age 32, born in Sept 1867 in Iowa, single, brother-in-law, saloon keeper
McGrane, William H., age 44, born in Jul 1855 in Illinois, single, brother-in-law, carpenter

1910 Iowa Federal Census - Howard County
Afton township (City of Elma)
Main Street
DeFord, Matthew H., age 55, widowed, born in Wisconsin, veternary, rents home

1920 Iowa Federal Census - Howard County
Afton township
Milhan, August, age 27, single, farmer, born in Iowa, rents farm
Milhan, Arthur, age 22, single, brother, farmer, born in Iowa
Deford, Matthew, age 64, widowed, brother-in-law, born in Wisconsin

1910 Iowa Federal Census - Howard County
Afton township
Milhan, Aug., age 66, born Germany, married 2, farmer, married 32 years, immigrated 1870, rents farm
Milhan, Emelia, age 63, born Germany, married 1, married 32 years, 13 children/10 living
Milhan, John, age 24, single, born in Iowa, farmer
Milhan, Leo, age 16, born in Iowa
Milhan, Loretta, age 15, born in Iowa
Milhan, Arthur, age 13, born in Iowa
Deford, Eliza, age 3, born in Iowa, grand-daughter

1925 Iowa State Census - Howard County
Jamestown (City of Riceville)
Kehoe, Louis, age 29, Lawyer, (parents: James and Mary Kelley Kehoe)
Kehoe, Grace, age 27, (father: Henry Green mother: unknown)
Kehoe, Louis Joseph, age 5
Kehoe, Anna May, age 3
Kehoe, Helen Grace, age 1
DeFord, Elizabeth, age 18 (parents: Matthew and Amelia Milhan DeFord)

School Teachers in Mitchell County, Iowa

Cedar # 7 Walnut Grove School House, Meroa, Iowa

1907 - Allene DeFord

Rock # 8

1876 - Clara DeFord

Information on Mathew Hale DeFordÂ’s daughters:

Mary Elizabeth (Mamie or Marie) DeFord
Born: August 12, 1886 in Douglas township, Mitchell County, Iowa
Parents: Mathew Hale and Elizabeth Ann McGrane DeFord
Married: July 16, 1906 in Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa to Frank J. Weinberger
Died: February 5, 1961 in Mott, Hettinger County, North Dakota
Buried: Mott, Hettinger County, North Dakota

Francis (Frank) Joseph Weinberger
Born: January 8, 1884 in Rock township, Mitchell County, Iowa
Parents: William (Wilhelm) and Barbara Karf Weinberger
Died: November 1945 in Mott, Hettinger County, North Dakota
Buried: Mott, Hettinger County, North Dakota

Children:

1. Paul Frederick (Freddie or Fred)

born: April 13, 1907 near Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa

married: April 4, 1934 to Mabel Highbe

died:

buried:
2. Eileen Elizabeth

born: August 5, 1908 near Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa

married: October 8, 1928 to Donald Paranto

died: June 21, 1980 in a car accident

buried:
3. Grace Adeline

born: September 4, 1909 near Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa

married: 1949 to William Hately

died:

buried:
4. Francis Ambrose

born: October 8, 1910 near Regent, Hettinger County, North Dakota

died: January 21, 1952

buried:

single
5. Leo Neil de Ford (Neil)

born: August 30, 1923 near Regent, Hettinger County, North Dakota

married: August 4, 1962 to Marie Abell

died: December 18, 1996 in Dickinson, North Dakota

buried: December 28, 1996 at Sunnyslope Cemetery, Mott, North Dakota
6. Angela Neileen (Neileen)

born: September 2, 1927 near Regent, Hettinger County, North Dakota

married: September 14, 1948 to Godfrey K. Greff

died:

buried:





Rose Ellen (Allene) DeFord
Born: August 29, 1889 in Douglas township, Mitchell County, Iowa
Parents: Mathew Hale and Elizabeth Ann McGrane DeFord
Married: March 22, 1915 in Dickinson, North Dakota to Warren R. Gray
Died: November 1985 in Hillsboro, Oregon
Buried: Oregon

Warren R. Gray
Born: March 3, 1875
Parents: unknown
Died: May 10, 1972
Buried: Oregon

Children:
1. Glen Warren

born: January 20, 1916

married: April 28, 1945 to Mildred Harris

died: October 31, 1973

buried:
2. Vernon Arnold

born: December 20, 1920

married: April 23, 1949 to Mary Linville

died:

buried:
3. Ganola Marie

born: March 5, 1918

married: February 2, 1942 to Andrew B. Jackson

died:

buried:
4. Lorraine

born: 1923

died: 1923 (shortly after birth)

buried:

Elizabeth (Eliza) Jane (Betty)
Born: May 10, 1906 in Elma, Howard County, Iowa
Parents: Mathew Hale and Amelia Marie Johanna Milhan DeFord
Married: February 4, 1930
Died: March 1986 in Pueblo, Colorado
Buried: Grand Junction, Colorado

William Henry Robinson
Born: in Alliance, Nebraska
Parents:
Died: December 24, 1959 in Grand Junction, Colorado
Buried: Grand Junction, Colorado

Child:
1. Robert William

born: April 8, 1934

died:

buried:

single

The last bit of information I neglected to mention in Mathew Hale Deford's story was that when his second wife - Amelia Milhan Deford passed away in 1909. There was a huge arguement between her father - August Milhan, Sr. and the St. Peter's German Evangelical Lutheran Church pastor. August wanted his daughter buried in the St. Peter's Lutheran Church cemetery. Well, the pastor refused to allow it because she was married to a Catholic. It appears that Mathew H. Deford converted to the Catholic faith when he married his first wife, Elizabeth Ann McGrane. Mathew's father, John Wesley DeFord, was Methodist by faith. In any case, Amelia's father was furious that he was not allowed to bury his daughter in the church cemetery - a church which he was a charter member and had been attending since 1873. The pastor refused to budge. So August's father-in-law, Fred W. Arndt, (and Amelia's grandfather) told August to bury Amelia in the family plot he had owned in the same cemetery. They had the ceremony, without the Lutheran minister! Amelia was buried at St. Peter's German Evangelical Lutheran Church cemetery on December 20, 1909 by a Rev. Smith, pastor of the Congregational Church in Riceville, Iowa. August Milhan, Sr. quit going to the St. Peter's German Evangelical Lutheran Church which he help establish in 1873. His funeral service in 1916 was held at the Congregational Church, Riceville, Iowa and he and his wife were buried at Riverside Cemetery, north of Riceville.