| Notes |
- H. W. Beckwith (Chicago: HH Hill) History of Montgomery County, 1881
REV. GEORGE W. STAFFORD,
Crawfordsville, was born September 24, 1815, in Giles County, Virginia. His father, Thomas Stafford, was born in Dublin, Ireland, whither his parents had gone from England for the transaction of business in the fine linen trade. When Thomas was three years old (1790) his parents came to America and settled in Giles County, Virginia. Here George Thomas was raised on a farm, and in manhood became quite a stock dealer. In 1812 he fought in the battle of Norfolk. Later he emigrated to Fountain County, Indiana (1832), near Attica, where he died September 16, 1847. He had been an active member in the Methodist Church, and was chorister for many years. His wife, Ruth Neel, daughter of John B. Neel, Esq., of Monroe County, Virginia, a member of the same Church from girlhood, died April 24, 1854, at the age of sixty-four years. Both had lived good lives, and died peaceful deaths. Mrs. Stafford's father, John Neel, was quartermaster-sergeant, and a hero in the battle of Bunker Hill. George W., the subject of this sketch, became inured to the toils of the farm, and in early manhood attended Wabash College. Mr. Stafford being desirous of entering the ministry, and there being no theological seminaries in those days within his convenience, he studied at home, assisted by ministers of the Church, chief of whom was Rev. James Dixon. In the fall of 1836 he was licensed by the Methodist Episcopal conference to preach in Stafford's meetinghouse, Virginia. In 1840 he was ordained deacon by Bishop Soule, at Indianapolis, and elder by Bishop Morris, at Centreville, in 1842. He continued in the itinerary till 1878, when he withdrew from the active ministry. During his life-work he has been stationed at the city of Richmond, Frankfort, Valparaiso, Greencastle, Rockville, and in 1861 be permanently located at Crawfordsville, where he purchased a farm near the suburbs of the city. Since that time, while engaging in the ministry at different points, he has also supervised his farm of 300 acres. During the war he served somewhat more than a year as chaplain in the 40th Ind. Vols.; was at the engagements at Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and with Sherman to Atlanta, where, on account of sickness, he resigned. During his ministry he has been one of the most successful workers in the Methodist Church, having received 3,500 persons into membership, 400 of whom he received at his first charge on the Newtown circuit, Fountain County, and ten of whom are now in the ministry, some in foreign lands and some at home. He has also been an earnest worker in the temperance cause, and signed the first temperance pledge in America, and every one presented him since. He is also a member of the fraternities of Masons and Odd-Fellows. Financially, also, Mr. Stafford has made a success of life. Having received from his father's estate, after having fairly started in life, but $1,000 by perseverance and economy has accumulated a competency for his old age, and legacy to his children, of $25,000 or $30,000. He was married March 24, 1842, to Miss Rachel R. Stitt, daughter of Judge Stitt, who sat upon the Crawfordsville bench for twenty-one years. Her parents were from Virginia. She was born December 25, 1822. Their family have numbered eleven children: Charles W. (deceased); James F. and John M., ministers in the Methodist Church; Sarah A. (deceased); William A., farmer; George W., attorney at the Crawfordsville bar; Lewis and Oscar (both deceased); Eddie A., student at Wabash College; and Mary and Lizzie at home.
George left Virginia with his father and family in the fall of 1831. They advanced as far as New Carlisle, Clark Co., Ohio when they had to stop due to the cold and snow. In 1838, his father started again on his journey west and got as far as the Wabash River in Indiana. Hearing that the Black Hawk Indians had commenced hostilities on the white settlements in Illinois, his father decided to stay in Indiana and purchased a farm..
He was licensed to preach in 1837 and assigned to the Newtown Circuit in 1838. He was a chaplain of the 40th Indian Vol. Infantry. He organized Salem Chapel in Franklin Twp. Montgomery Co., Indiana and preached in its anniversary sermon in 1890. During his 64 years service as a minister, he had 3500 converts and married 700 couples. He died in his old homestead on Darlinton Road in Attica, where George Washington and Mary Stafford later resided. This family farm was first owned by his father, Thomas Stafford.
THE REV. GEORGE W. STAFFORD.
GEORGE W. STAFFORD died at his home in Crawfordsville, Ind., February 1, 1902. He had been for sixty-four years a minister of Jesus Christ, and was a prominent figure in that heroic company of early Methodist itinerants, who so successfully wrought in the laying of the foundations of the Church of God in the Mississippi Valley. Born in Virginia, he came with his parents to Indiana in 1832, and lived, for a time, on a farm near Attica. He was converted September 6, 1836, at a camp-meeting in Virginia. Immediately he united with the Church, and soon led prayer and class meetings. On January 7, 1873, he was licensed to exhort, and on June 24th of the same year, he received a license to preach, and joined the Holston Conference on trial. On account of a serious and prolonged illness, he could not take up the work. In 1838, he became a member of the Indiana Conference, and was sent to Newtown. He preached one year in Renssalaer, then a mission station. Later he served in the North Indiana Conference, and, in 1850, was stationed in Richmond. In 1853, he was transferred to the Northwest Indiana Conference, and preached at Crawfordsville, Valparaiso, Frankfort, Greencastle, and Rockville. At the expiration of his pastorate in Rockville, he moved with his family to a farm, near Crawfordsville, where he made his home, and from which lie [he] went out preaching for ten years more. In 1878, he was superannuated at his own request. He served as chaplain of the Fortieth Indiana Volunteers in 1863, and was in the battles of Chickamauga and Lookout Mountains. In March 1842, he was married to Rachel Stitt,' daughter of Hon. James Stitt, of Crawfordsville. This union was blessed with eleven children, four of whom died in infancy. Two of his sons became Methodist ministers. Brother Stafford was of Scottish and Irish parentage. His grandfather was converted under the ministry of John Wesley. His parents were devoted Methodists. Early he was taken to Sunday school and Church.
He breathed the atmosphere of a spiritual home. The Lord's influence runs like a thread of gold through this man's life. As a child, he was taught in the Scriptures; as a youth, he was born of the Spirit. He believed in the new birth, and experienced it. To him fellowship with the living Christ was a blessed reality. This was the secret of the strength of his character, the gentleness and, graciousness of his spirit, and the purity and power of his life. Brother Stafford was a fine gentleman. He possessed rare nobility of soul, and an elevation of spirit quite unusual. He was a devoted husband, and never tired of speaking of what Rachel, his wife, had been to him. He was a tender and affectionate father. His consideration for his children and his gentleness toward them is one of the things his friends will want to remember forever. He was a beautiful Christian, not demonstrative, but of unswerving faith, constant peace and joy, sweet of disposition, charitable toward all, patient, appreciative, resting in the wisdom and goodness and love of his heavenly Father. He was a faithful minister of Christ, and excelled as a pastor and soul-winner. He had a young man's sympathy with the great questions and movements of the age. He was always the true friend of his pastor, and to all of them lie [he] was a delight and an inspiration. His summons came suddenly. No one was present to catch his last words, if any were spoken. But his whole life was his testimony to the saving and keeping power of God in Christ. His life is the ground of our assurance that he went to God, and that he dwells hard by the throne, wearing a victor's crown. The funeral service was held at his home, February 3, 1902, conducted by his pastor, S. W. Goss, assisted by Rev. Dr. G. W. Switzer, Rev. Dr. W. H. Hickman, Rev. Dr. E. A. Schell, Rev. J. F. McDaniel, and Rev. H. J. Lacey. May God bless his memory, and cause his death equally with his life to minister to the glory of Christ.
H. W. Beckwith (Chicago: HH Hill) History of Montgomery County, 1881
REV. GEORGE W. STAFFORD,
Crawfordsville, was born September 24, 1815, in Giles County, Virginia. His father, Thomas Stafford, was born in Dublin, Ireland, whither his parents had gone from England for the transaction of business in the fine linen trade. When Thomas was three years old (1790) his parents came to America and settled in Giles County, Virginia. Here Thomas was raised on a farm, and in manhood became quite a stock dealer. In 1812 he fought in the battle of Norfolk. Later he emigrated to Fountain County, Indiana (1832), near Attica, where he died September 16, 1847. He had been an active member in the Methodist Church, and was chorister for many years. His wife, Ruth Neel, daughter of John B. Neel, Esq., of Monroe County, Virginia, a member of the same Church from girlhood, died April 24, 1854, at the age of sixty-four years. Both had lived good lives, and died peaceful deaths. Mrs. Stafford's father, John Neel, was quartermaster-sergeant, and a hero in the battle of Bunker Hill. George W., the subject of this sketch, became inured to the toils of the farm, and in early manhood attended Wabash College. Mr. Stafford being desirous of entering the ministry, and there being no theological seminaries in those days within his convenience, he studied at home, assisted by ministers of the Church, chief of whom was Rev. James Dixon. In the fall of 1836 he was licensed by the Methodist Episcopal conference to preach in Stafford's meetinghouse, Virginia. In 1840 he was ordained deacon by Bishop Soule, at Indianapolis, and elder by Bishop Morris, at Centreville, in 1842. He continued in the itinerary till 1878, when he withdrew from the active ministry. During his life-work he has been stationed at the city of Richmond, Frankfort, Valparaiso, Greencastle, Rockville, and in 1861 be permanently located at Crawfordsville, where he purchased a farm near the suburbs of the city. Since that time, while engaging in the ministry at different points, he has also supervised his farm of 300 acres. During the war he served somewhat more than a year as chaplain in the 40th Ind. Vols.; was at the engagements at Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and with Sherman to Atlanta, where, on account of sickness, he resigned. During his ministry he has been one of the most successful workers in the Methodist Church, having received 3,500 persons into membership, 400 of whom he received at his first charge on the Newtown circuit, Fountain County, and ten of whom are now in the ministry, some in foreign lands and some at home. He has also been an earnest worker in the temperance cause, and signed the first temperance pledge in America, and every one presented him since. He is also a member of the fraternities of Masons and Odd-Fellows. Financially, also, Mr. Stafford has made a success of life. Having received from his father's estate, after having fairly started in life, but $1,000 by perseverance and economy has accumulated a competency for his old age, and legacy to his children, of $25,000 or $30,000. He was married March 24, 1842, to Miss Rachel R. Stitt, daughter of Judge Stitt, who sat upon the Crawfordsville bench for twenty-one years. Her parents were from Virginia. She was born December 25, 1822. Their family have numbered eleven children: Charles W. (deceased); James F. and John M., ministers in the Methodist Church; Sarah A. (deceased); William A., farmer; George W., attorney at the Crawfordsville bar; Lewis and Oscar (both deceased); Eddie A., student at Wabash College; and Mary and Lizzie at home.
Census:
- Listed as a gospel minister with wife, sons George W. Jr., Eddie, and daughters Mary and Lizzie R. Father born in Ireland and mother born in VA.
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1815 - 1902 (86 years)
[5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10] 