Engford Family Genealogy

• Harry William Otto, b. May 15, 1905 - d. Dec. 1, 1973 (obit), would marry Lois Estelle Espenscheid, b. April 17, 1913 - d. March 1974 (obit), on Feb. 17, 1936. 
• Ruthie, born April 15, 1940, marries Frank Edward Clark Sept. 17, 1966 in London, Ontario. They reside in Florida.
• Dave Harry, b. April 19, 1943, marries Mona Trapp on Oct. 14, 1978. They reside in Baraboo Wisconsin.
• Mollie Trapp Engford b. Mar. 31, 1983.
• Florence, b. Jan. 1, 1909 - d. Oct. 27, 2001. Florence's Obituary.

Engford Family Cemetery Plot

The Engford Family Cemetery plot is located in the Plover Cemetery on River Rd. (Photos of headstones will appear in a small new window.)

• Engford family plot
• Robert and Amanda Engford
• Harry and Lois Engford
• Florence Engford

Engford Family Obituaries

Mrs. Robert Engford, age 69, of Plover village, died, this morning at 8 o’clock at St. Michael’s hospital She had been in ill health for two years and entered the hospital six weeks ago.

Mrs. Engford, the former Amanda Raduechel, was born on November 4, 1885, a. daughter of the late William and Bertha Raduechel. She married Mr. Engford it Milwaukee on March 10. 1904, and the couple continued to reside at Milwaukee until 1923, They came to Portage county at that time and had lived at Plover since.

Mrs. Engford was a member of the Plover Methodist Ladies Aid society and the Royal Neighbors of America.

Surviving are her husband, a daughter, Mss Florerce Engford at home, a son, Harry Engford of Plover, two grandchildren, Ruth and David Engford, three brothers, Alfred, William and Walter Raduechel of Milwaukee, and a sister, Mrs. Clara Solarick of Milwaukee.

Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Plover Methodist church and burial will take place in the spring in the Plover cemetery. The body is at the Crosby funeral home where it may be viewed after 2 o’clock Friday afternoon and at the church from 1 o’clock on Sunday until the time of the funeral.

Funeral services for Mrs. Robert Engford, age 59, of Plover, who died Thursday, were held Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Plover Methodist church. Rev. John A. Kendall officiated. Burial will take place in the spring in the Plover cemetery. During the services the church choir sang "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," accompanied by Mrs. Arlin West.

Those from away who came for the funeral were Mrs. Clara Solarick, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Orson Mr. and Mrs. William Engford William Raduechel, Walter Raduechel, Mr. and Mrs. John Reinke and August and Herman Engford of Milwaukee and Edward Shulz of Appleton.

Robert Engford, 83, Plover, died at 9:15 p.m. Friday at St. Michael’s Hospital, where he had been a patient since Feb. 9. He had been in ill health for the past five months.

Mr. Engford was born In Germany on June 8, 1883, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Engford. He came to the United States with his parents at the age of 4, settling in Milwaukee.

He was married there March 10, 1904, to the former Amanda Raduechel.

Mr. Engford was recognized by the Wisconsin State Historical Society as a pioneer in the motorized circus equipment Industry, and he was one of the first to tour Wisconsin In 1920 with motorized circus equipment.

The same year, he supplied the grandstand attractions at the Portage County Fair held here, and brought his family to the area in 1923.

He retired in 1941, and his wife died Feb. 15, 1945.

Surviving are one daughter, Florence. at home; one son, Harry, Chicago: two brothers, Herman and William, both of Milwaukee; two sisters, Mrs. Caroline Kempin, Milwaukee, and Mrs. Tulle Reinke, Los Angeles, Call-f.; and two grandchildren.

His parents, wife and three brothers preceded him in death.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday at the Plover Methodist Church, with burial to follow in the Plover Cemetery.

Friends may call after 2p.m. Sunday at the Crosby Funeral Home, and from 11 a.m. Monday until the time o services at the church.

A memorial fund for the Plover Methodist Church has been established in Mr. Engford’s name.

The Rev. Richard’ Hansen officiated at funeral services held Monday at the Plover Methodist Church for Robert Engford, 83, Plover, who died Friday.

Until his retirement in 1945, Mr. Engford was employed at the Cash and Carry Lumber Co. in Plover.

During the service Mrs. Arlyn West sang "In the Garden" and "Beyond the Sunset," accompanied by Mrs. Ray Tomczak.

Pallbearers were David Engford, Burt Copley, Donald and Charles Calkins, Ralph Yorton and Paul Thomasgard. Women employees of the Weber Tackle so., where Mr. Engford’s daughter Florence, is employed, attended the funeral in a group.

Relatives and friends attended from Chicago, Milwaukee, Chesterton, Ind., and the Potage County area

Harry Engford, 68, a former Plover resident who had been living in Chicago, Ill., died Saturday at St. Margaret’s Hospital, Hammond, Ind.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at United Methodist Church, Plover. The Rev. Lyndon Viel will officiate, and burial will be in the Plover Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. today at the Crosby Funeral Home and from 11 a.m. until time of services at the church tomorrow.

Mr. Engford, who was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Engford, operated one of the first motorized circuses in the state of Wisconsin. He opened the circus with his father and was also a producer of grandstand entertainment at carnivals.

He was born May 15, 1905, and spent most of his life in Plover. His marriage to Lois Spenscheid was Feb. 10, 1936, in Milwaukee. He retired seven years ago, and had resided in Chicago for the past 10 years.

Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Mrs. Ruth Clark, Chesterton, Ind.; one son, David H. Engford, Hammond, Ind., and one sister, Florence Engford, Plover.

Funeral services for Mrs. Harry Engford, 60, Chicago, Ill., and a former Plover resident were held Friday at the P1over United Methodist Church. The Rev. Lyndon Viel officiated, and burial was in Plover Cemetery.

The McCoy Funeral Home, Hammond, Ind., was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Engford, who was a former circus performer, died unexpectedly in a Chicago hospital on Tuesday.

The former Lois Espenscheid was born April 17, 1913 in Plover, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Louis Espenscheid. She attended local schools and married Harry Engford on Feb. 19, 1936, in Milwaukee.

Mrs. Engford and her husband were entertainers and traveled throughout the United States with the circus for many years. She was a licensed practical nurse in Chicago for the past five years, and her husband preceded her in death last December.

Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Frank (Ruth) Clark, Chesterton, Ind.; one son, David Engford, Hammond, Ind.; one brother, Milton Espenscheid, Pecatonica, Ill.; one ha1f-brother Art Miller Plover, and one sister Mrs. Mel (Isla) Booth, Kenosha.

Florence Clara Engford, 92, formerly of Plover, passed away Saturday, Oct. 27, 2001, at Jefferson Meadows Care Center, Baraboo.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Plover United Methodist Church. The Rev. Diego Orsini will officiate. Burial will take place in Plover Cemetery. Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. until the time of services Wednesday at the church. Jensen-Jinsky Funeral Home, Plover, is in charge of arrangements.

Florence was born Jan. 1, 1909, in Milwaukee, daughter of the late Robert and Amanda Engford. Florence moved to Plover with her parents and brother, Harry, in 1923.

She was a lifelong member of Plover United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir for many years. In the 1920s and 1930s, she was a part of the Engford Family Shows, a family circus of high merit that traveled throughout Wisconsin. She also worked for Weber Fly Tying Company in Stevens Point.

She enjoyed being a musician and was an accomplished painter and artist. The family home was moved to Heritage Park in Plover for historical preservation.

Survivors include her nephew and family, David and Mona Engford and their daughter, Mollie, Baraboo; and niece, Ruthie (Frank) Clark, Sarasota, Fla.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother.

Florence Clara Engford, 92, a former Plover woman whose family ran a traveling circus, died Saturday, Oct. 27, 2001, at Jefferson Meadows Care Center in Baraboo.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Plover United Methodist Church in Plover, with the Rev. Diego Orsini officiating. Burial will be in Plover Cemetery.

Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church until the services.

Jensen-Jinsky Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Miss Engford was born Jan. 1, 1909, in Milwaukee, a daughter of the late Robert and Amanda Engford. She moved to Plover with her parents in 1923.

She was a lifelong member of Plover United Methodist Church in Plover. For many years she sang in the choir there.

In the 1920s and 1930s she was a part of the "Engford Family Shows," a family circus that traveled throughout Wisconsin. The Wisconsin State Historical Society recognized the Engford Family Shows as a pioneer in the motorized circus equipment industry and one of the first to tour Wisconsin in 1920 with motorized circus equipment.

She also worked for Weber Fly Tying Co. in Stevens Point.

The family home was built in 1850 by Miner Strope, a pioneer attorney and judge. It is the county's oldest house for which the age can be verified. The house was moved from Post Road in Plover to Heritage Park in Plover for historical preservation.

Survivors include one nephew, David (Mona) Engford, Baraboo; and one niece, Ruthie (Frank) Clark, Sarasota, Fla.

She was also preceded in death by one brother, Harry.

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