33. John Austin⁹ Vanderford (Austin Comer⁸, William⁷, John⁶, Richard⁵, Charles⁴, George Paul³, Michael Paul², Paul¹) was born in Indiana September 28, 1853. John died October 8, 1928 in Elgin, IL, at 75 years of age. His body was interred October 10, 1928 in Conrad, Grundy County, IA, Conrad Cemetery.

He married Samantha Wilmina (Mattie) Bruner in Noble County, Indiana, June 28, 1874. Samantha was born in Albion, Noble, IN October 30, 1852. Samantha was the daughter of Jacob J. (JJ) Bruner and Catherine Luce. Samantha died July 28, 1905 in Conrad, Grundy County, IA, at 52 years of age. Her body was interred July 30, 1905 in Conrad, Grundy County, IA, Conrad Cemetery.

According to his death certificate, John Austin Vanderford was born in Noble County, Indiana on September 28, 1853. The Noble County marriage records also list John's birth date as September 28, 1853. Pictures of his grave headstone show he was born in 1845, but Grundy County Iowa (Conrad, IA) Internet tombstone records list his birth year as 1850, so there is some question about exactly when he was born. Since he is not listed in the 1850 census, the September 28, 1853 birth date on his marriage and death certificates is probably correct.

John Austin Vanderford was not listed in the Noble County, Indiana 1850 census with his father (Austin Comer Vanderford), mother (Dorothy Heltzell), and siblings, Emily (age 4), William (age 2), and Sarah (age 6 months). All children are listed as born in Indiana. Ten years later in the 1860 Noble County census John Vanderford is listed as a 7 year old boy along with half brother George Heffner (age 20), half sister Mary Heffner (age 18), half sister Charlotte Heffner (age 6 months), sister Emily Vanderford (age 14), sister Jane Vanderford (age 8), sister Lucretia Vanderford (age 3), and brother Homer Vanderford (age 2). All children are listed as born in Indiana. John is living with his mother Dorothy Heffner, and her husband Joshua Heffner. In the 1860 census William and Sarah (from the 1850 census) are missing along with the father, Austin Comer Vanderford. Apparently all three died and Dorothy remarried although the marriage is not listed in the Noble County marriage records. Judging by the ages and last names of the children in the census, John Vanderford's father (Austin Comer Vanderford) would have died between 1857 and 1859. The Indiana 1870 census shows John Vanderford living in the city of Elkhart, county of Elkhart, Indiana. His occupation was a blacksmith. According to the Noble County, IN marriage records, John Vanderford married Mattie Bruner June 28, 1874. In about 1880, John and Mattie moved to Marshalltown, Iowa where they lived for about 10 years. Then they moved to Conrad, Grundy County, Iowa where they lived for many years.

From John Austin Vanderford's obituary write up in an Iowa newspaper, "Mr. Vanderford owned and operated a blacksmith shop on the sight now occupied by the Alexander Funeral Parlor. This was swept out during the fire that destroyed the town. He later built the building now occupied by Mrs. O. H. Thorsrud. He retired from the blacksmith business a few years ago."

An article in the October 6, 1928 edition of the Elgin Courier newspaper states John Austin Vanderford, a retired blacksmith, was visiting his son (William) who lived at 513 Hendee Street, Elgin, IL. He often walked along the nearby railroad tracks with which he was familiar. Approximately 2:00 PM on the afternoon of October 6th he was walking between the double tracks of the Milwaukee Railroad about 400 feet south of the Walnut Avenue crossing in Elgin. He had been very hard of hearing and did not hear the west-bound passenger train approaching until too late. When the engine whistle sounded, he sprang directly into the path of the locomotive, no doubt under the belief that he was safe. Another newspaper account states "He was walking on a double track and evidently thought the train coming from behind him was on the other track and made no effort to get out of the way according to reports of the accident." He was taken to St. Joseph's hospital in Elgin where he died of a skull fracture at 3:20 PM that same day. He was buried in Conrad, Iowa a few days later. The newspaper article states John Austin Vanderford's wife died several years earlier.

John Austin Vanderford and Samantha Wilmina (Mattie) Bruner had the following children:

36 i. Lucy¹⁰ Vanderford was born in Iowa 1875. Lucy died February 1895 in Iowa, at 19 years of age. Her body was interred February 1895 in Conrad, Grundy County, IA. Notes from John Austin Vanderford's obituary state that Lucy Vanderford was his oldest daughter and died at age 20 during childbirth. Reportedly, the baby did not survive either.

37 ii. Clara Vanderford was born August 23, 1877. Clara died December 2, 1931 in Iowa, at 54 years of age. She married Hardin Conrad in Marshaltown, Iowa, September 15, 1896. Hardin died February 17, 1928. (See Hardin Conrad for the continuation of this line.)

38 iii. Lillian Vanderford was born in Indiana August 1880. Lillian died December 24, 1960 at 80 years of age. She married Gene Schryver. Gene died January 5, 1958. (See Gene Schryver for the continuation of this line.)

39 iv. Mary E. Vanderford was born 1882. She married Fred Arthur Prescott 1900. Fred was born August 30, 1877. (See Fred Arthur Prescott for the continuation of this line.)

William & Rose Vanderford
July 4th, 1957
50th Wedding Anniversary

+ 40 v. William Austin Vanderford was born April 13, 1884.

Send email to preparer: charlie@vanderford.net

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