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C. G. SCRAFFORD

C. G. Scrafford, the pioneer merchant of Seneca, was born January 28, 1829, in Albany County, N. Y., is a son of George C. and Nancy (Hayes) Scrafford and grew to manhood in Bellevue, Ohio.  In 1856 he settled in White Cloud, Kansas, built the first hotel and saw-mill here.  In January, 1860 he opened the first general store in Seneca (now the furniture store of M. Stein.)  The lumber for the building, and the goods in the store were drawn from the Missouri river by ox-teams.  For eight years Mr. Scrafford continued the mercantile business, then associating a brother-in-law, Samuel Lappin, the business was continued by Scrafford & Lappin, who, in 1871 built the bank now prospering under the name of the State Bank of Kansas.  In 1875, through financial misfortunes, the firm collapsed.  Two years later Mr. Scrafford took an interest in the firm of J. P. Cone & H. C. Lettle, both of whom were superseded in 1878 by the present firm of Scrafford & Ford. 

Mr. Scrafford married Miss Justianna, daughter of Finley Lappin.  They were wedded in 1853, in Fremont, Ohio, and have three children - Josephine, born in Ohio; Frank M., born in White Cloud, Kan., and Grace, born in Seneca.  Mr. Scrafford is a prominent member of the Universalist church.

The above information from William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas

See large monument below that is  in Seneca cemetery
Lappin on one side and Scrafford on the opposite side.

Place mouse over picture to see opposite side.

Finley Lappin was first permanent settler in Seneca, Kansas and this has been inscribed on his grave marker on the opposite side it Charles Scrafford who is son-in-law of Finley Lappin.

Will you take notice in the paragraph above the stone which is underlined : " In 1875, through financial misfortunes, the firm collapsed."   What  really what happened here is  the two were charged with fraud in the school bond sandal and arrested and  skipped out on their bond and their property confiscated  and sold.  Now you know that they could not sell them a book if he wrote  this in the William G Cutler's  "History of  the State of Kansas."  and perhaps they did not know this however I would bet it was common knowledge. 

In Looking through the abstract of the Haug Brother building at 515 Main there was a notice of  C. G. Stafford and  Finley Lappin appearing in court to get permission to resell the property at that location because the owner had left the area and his whereabouts was  unknown. I certainly do hope he did not return some time later to find someone else owning the property. Would seem to me that if you can sell the same property more than once it can be very profitable however  that person may had still owed money for the first time.

When looking through the abstract of the Jim and Randy Heinen  building there is  notice of this property being lost  to bankruptcy by C. G. Stafford in 1876 which is the same date as in the above Cutler history. I had thought this was very likely because of the fact that Charles Lappin had been arrested for using state funds while he was State Treasure.    At first I am thinking C G. Scrafford and other  may had went his bond and  Charles  Finley  had skimped the country and went to Peru and this was caused for them to the lost of  their property. Then I learn Scrafford was involved it this bond scandal also. Was Scrafford's  father-in-law, Finley Lappin who was father of Samuel also involved?  Questions and more Questions. I am quite sure that more information will come up in regards to this.  This like a mystery story only you are the detective.

This money they had printed was likely no good after their  bank and company went bankrupt. This could have cost some of the people that held some of this script a good amount.  More money  was lost by other who owned Stock in the bank I would think. Charles Lappin and C. G. Scrafford had organized the  Nemaha County Bank and I do not have information as to who held stock in this bank.  My G Great Grandfather Matt Schneider and J. P. Koelzer may have bought this  bank or they  may have had stock in it when it collapsed.  The name was changed to the  "The Seneca State Saving Bank" which  was located  in the old bank building on the corner of fourth and main along with the National Bank   C G Scrafford built the Bank on the corner after all this happened. Should I put this on the web or wait till I have more information.  I am 77 years old now in 2004 and time is important as tomorrow I may forget this in fact I already forgot what happed yesterday sometime.

My Grandfather, Henry Stallbaumer and J. P Koelzer were married to Schneider girls,  Anna Schneider Stallbaumer  and Elizabeth Schneider Koelzer. J. P Koelzer was the Mayor and a  well though of person in this town there is no doubt in  my mind  that both were honorable people.  Matt Schneider was President of the bank and was a very strong person  who one should  not  crossed as he would not put up with any wrong doing, Other who were board members were  J H  Cohen Vise president, B. G Firstenburger, Casher, C. G. Williams, and J. P. Koelzer. You will find more on this with some Information I received from  Bob Strathman is linked at the bottom of the page. C. G. Williams was also stock holder in the National Bank which was also in the Old Bank Building on the corner of fourth and main

Often when writing this web page and history I  must go back corrected some thing that I had previously thought to be true.  Historian can  write only what they know  and not all of that if they want to sell a copy of the their book to these people. Small Town news papers write the news to sell subscriptions. I have the same problem and that is why these pages  deal with only the long gone past.  When out in the Cemetery taking picture I asked,  if any of you object to what I  write you should speak up now of never speak up. What secrets were buried here? Some secrets are reveled if you search. 

C. G. Scrafford and Finley Lappin were son-in-law and father-in-law respective and partners in many ventures. Charles Lappin, son  of Finley and brother in law of C. G. Scrafford led to their  bankrupted when he fled to Peru after using state funds and this was likely to help finance some projects in Seneca.  Finley Lappin and his son-in-law Charles Scrafford share the same grave marker in the Seneca City Cemetery.