Johnsford

He and his wife were married at the American Baptist Mission (even though Alfred was born a Lutheran) because it was one of the few places which would marry mixed race couples in Shanghai in the 1860's.

Obituary

North China Herald, Saturday, November 27, 1909, Shanghai, China

Died: 25 nov 1909

It is with great regret that we have to announce the death in the General Hospital on Thursday, at the age of 71 years, of Mr. A. Johnsford. Mr. Johnsford had been ill since Race week, but his death, nevertheless, came as a surprise to his many friends. He was admitted to the General Hospital on November 8, suffering from kidney trouble, but complications set in, and though he rallied from time to time, he sank rapidly, towards the end, and passed away early yesterday morning.

Mr. Johnsford who was a native of Gottenburg, in Sweden, first came out to China about fifty ago. He was in Hongkong for some years and then came up to Shanghai, where he entered the employment of Dent and Co.

It was in 1877 that he entered the Municipal Tax Office- in the position of Collector, and six years later he became Overseer of Taxes, a post which he held up to the time of his death, and which of course greatly increased in importance as years went by.

Naturally of a retiring disposition, Mr. Johnsford was best known to the public in connection with his duties at the Ratepayers' Meetings, where his familiar face will be greatly missed. He cannot be said to have been prominent in any department of Shanghai life, as his natural inclination was ever to keep in the background. But he was a mason of long standing, and will be gratefully remembered by the Craft as one of the original founders of the Masonic Club, of the Balloting Committee of which he was a member at the time of his death.

He was a widower, having lost his wife some years ago, and it is by her grave that he has been laid to rest

Mr. Johnsford was respected and liked by all who knew him. He had few intimate friends, many acquaintances and no enemies. He is survived by a sister, seven years his senior, who resides in Gottenbirg.