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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 Scrafford took an interest in the firm of J. P. Cone & H. C. Lettle, both of whom were superseded in 1878 by the present firm of Scrafford & Ford.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

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 of course that man 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 as same noted in above Cutler history. This was very likely because of the fact that Charles Lappin had been arrested for using state funds while he was State Treasure.  C G Stafford and other had went his bond and when Charles  Finley had skimped the country and went to Peru they lost their property. From information on the E-bay in connection with Fippin & Scrafford company money  sold there in 2004.

This money they had printed was likely no good after their  company went bankrupt  and  this could have cost many some amount.  . See Money

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.  The two are have the same grave stone in the Seneca City Cemetery.

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.