| Notes |
STAFFORD, Joseph E.
Joseph E. Stafford was born in Clarke County, Ohio, February 7, 1825, where he spent his early manhood and received his education. He was a millwright by trade, and followed his occupation while he remained in Ohio; but after coming to this county he abandoned his trade except to repair his own mill. He settled in this county in 1854, and jointly with his brother-in-law, Cyrus Pence, purchased the farm and mill of John W. Blair. In 1856 they divided the property, Mr. Stafford taking the farm, and Mr. Pence the mill. When he purchased the place there was a clearing of thirty acres, but no house. Mr. Stafford built a house, but as it was located on the mill property, it went with the mill. He built another house, as fine a one as there was in that part of the county. He was married May 25, 1856, to Mary J. Pence, daughter of Abner C. Pence and Anna J. (Bonnor) Pence. Her father was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, June 28, 1808, and when he was twenty-five years old he moved to Clarke County, Ohio, where he remained two years, then came to Clinton County, Indiana, and settled in Killmore, where he is still living at a ripe old age. The town of Killmore is situated on a portion of his farm. He was a millwright by trade, and followed it in Virginia, but not extensively after coming to this county. He had a general stock of dry-goods in Killmore for a short time. He resides with his son on the farm he first purchased. Mrs. Stafford's mother was born in Alabama, February 11, 1809. She moved to Ohio when a widow, having been married only six months when her first husband died. She married Mr. Pence in Clarke County, Ohio, and came with him to this county, where she died July 29, 1845. There were four children in the Pence family-Lucinda, born March 7, 1836, wife of Andrew Charles, and living in Jackson County Kansas; Mary J., born July 31, 1838, wife of our subject; Cyrus B., born April 15, 1841, is married and living in Killmore; and Martha A., born March 21, 1844. Mr. and Mrs. Stafford have had five children-Willis, born August 15, 1857, was married November 25, 1883, to Sarah H. Shanabarger; George S., born March 15, 1862, is unmarried; Joseph E., born February 4; 1864, married Emma Davidson in 1884; Pence, born May 10, 1866; all were born on the old homestead. Mr. Stafford died March 31, 1874, and was buried in Jefferson Cemetery. He was a great Republican worker, but did not seek public office. He came to this county with about $700, and left an estate worth $15,000. The Pences are of German ancestry. Mrs. Stafford's maternal grandmother's name was Christina Croburger.
Source: History of Clinton County, Indiana, 1878
Census:
- 1860. Listed as Joseph Stafford, a farmer, with wife Mary J., son John W. Stafford, Charles Minx age 13 b. IN and Lucinda Pence age 23 b. IN.
- 1870. Listed as Jos. E. Stafford, a farmer, with wife Mary and children John W., George, Joseph E. and Pence.
Buried:
Same stone as Joseph E, his son and Josephine, his daughter
He spent his early manhood and received his education in Clarke County, Ohio. He was a millwright by trade, and followed his occupation while he remained in Ohio; but after coming to this county he abandoned his trade except to repair his own mill. He settled in this county in 1854, and jointly with his future brother-in-law, Cyrus Pence, purchased the farm and mill of John W. Blair. In 1856 they divided the property, Mr. Stafford taking the farm, and Mr. Pence the mill. When he purchased the place there was a clearing of thirty acres, but no house. Mr. Stafford had built a house, but as it was located on the mill property, it went to Mr. Pence with the mill. Mr. Stafford built another house, as fine a one as there was in that part of the county.
He was married May 25, 1856, to Mary J. Pence.
Mr. and Mrs. Stafford have had five children: John Willis, born August 15, 1857, was married November 25, 1883, to Sarah H. Shanabarger; George Stanton, born March 15, 1862, is unmarried; Joseph Eaton, Jr., born February 4; 1864, married Emma Davidson in 1884; Pence, born May 10, 1866; Josephine died as an infant in 1874; all were born on the old homestead.
Mr. Stafford died March 31, 1874, and was buried in Jefferson Cemetery. He was a great Republican worker, but did not seek public office. He came to this county with about $700, and left an estate worth $15,000. The Pences are of German ancestry.
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1825 - 1874 (49 years)
