Obit: Tolford, Ralph H. (1866 - 1933)

Contact: Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: TOLFORD RIPPLINGER WILSON HARYCKI CONWAY

----Sources: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 01/26/1933

Tolford, Ralph H. (19 MAY 1866 - 22 JAN 1933)

Ralph H. Tolford was born at Madison, Wis., May 19, 1866 and died of heart failure at his home in the town of Withee (Clark Co., Wis.) on Sunday evening, at eleven o’clock after but a few hours’ illness. During Sunday afternoon he attended a car party at St. Bernard’s Church and was taken ill about six o’clock when he immediately went to his home and Drs. A.H. Kulig and F.P. Neis were called.

At the age of six years deceased came to Neillsville with his parents where he acquired his education the public schools. After completing his studies he served as deputy register of deeds during the terms of Herman Schuster and Wm. Zassenhaus. In 1890 he came to Thorp and accepted a position as bookkeeper for the Garrison Brothers Store and bank, remaining with them for three years. Later he became bookkeeper for J.W. Cirkel & Sons, manufacturers of staves and heading here and also at Boyd. He then became manager of the firm’s business at Thorp. He was one of the organizers of the Thorp Mfg. Co., they buying out the Cirkel Mill. In 1918 he became bookkeeper for the lumber firm of Nye, Lusk and Hudson until he was appointed postmaster in 1925, in which position he has since served. Mr. Tolford also served as a member of the village board and its president.

After his removal to the Town of Withee he became Chairman of that town for a number of years. He was also secretary of the Thorp Vol. Fire Co., since its organization. His lodge affiliations were with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, local Masonic Lodge, Knight Templar, Chippewa Falls, and Consistory, Eau Claire.

In 1897 he was united in marriage to Mary Ripplinger at Boyd, who, together with eight children, Mrs. A.M. Wilson, Cambridge, Mass., Frank, Milwaukee, Frances, Mrs. John Harycki, Mrs. F.J. Conway, James, Joshua and Josephine of Thorp, survive.

He had filled the various relations of life as husband, father and friends, and filled them well. It must be so; these tender human ties cannot be secured without a pang. His life work was done and well done. His best monument will be the good report that he has left behind him in the community in which he has lived for more than forty years.

Funeral services were conducted yesterday afternoon from the Masonic Lodge Hall under the auspices of the local lodge. Orin Larabee of Chippewa Falls acted as Master of ceremonies, Dr. C.K. Dittmer, as Chaplain and R.G. Lawrence as Marshal. Interment took place in the village cemetery. The following named acted as pallbearers: A.J. Hansman, Hugo Holzhausen, Walter Boelter, Richard Coates, Albert Childs and L.W. Cattanach.