| Notes |
- According to 1850 Census Hiram was a Carpenter and owned real estate worth $400.00. He lived in Mckean Township, Erie, PA.
-- MERGED NOTE ------------
A Research Project
My Grandfather Hiram Theodore Stafford
By: Charles Stafford
The following was re-typed verbatim from a copy of the research project above.–Katie Sutton, 2006
Hiram Theodore Stafford was born in the state of New York according to the 1870 and 1880 Federal Census. The 1870 census lists his age as 46 (b.1824). The 1880 census lists his age as 57 (b. 1823). His discharge from the Army after the Civil War lists his age as 44 in 1865 (b.1821). Also, a description of him on his Army discharge ways he was 5 foot 7 inches tall, dark complexion and hazel eyes.
According to the 1880 Federal Census his mother and father were both born in New York State. The place of birth of H.T. Stafford could very well be Erie County New York. A “History of Erie County New York”, published in 1880, states that several Stafford families settled in what is now known as East Aurora, a suburb of Buffalo. These Stafford families were fairly large and interrrealated. The area where they settled became known as Staffordshire to the local residents. Before going to Erie County New York two of these Stafford families were listed in the 1800 and 1810 Federal Census as living in Onida County New York. We know that H.T. Stafford married Charlotte Proctor in the late 1840’s in Erie County New York. Charlotte Proctor was born in Utica, New York, 19 September 1830. Her parents were both born in England, accordning to the 1880 Federal Census and subsequent census. In 1831 the Proctor family moved to Ohio were they remained until about 1847 when they moved again to Erie County New York.
Shortly after their marriage H.T. Stafford and his wife Charlotte moved to Janesville, Wisconsin. While residing at Janesville the gold fever of 1840 came along and H.T. went to California. It is unknown if Charlotte accompanied H.T. to California. H.T. returned to Janesville for a short period after his return from CA.
In the “History of LaCrosse, Wisconsin” a census of the population of LaCrosse, taken in December 1852, H.T. Stafford and his wife Charlotte are listed as living in the area previous to and at the above date.
While residing in LaCrosse, H.T. Stafford was employed and associated with W.G. McSpadden, a farmer, hotel keeper, flour mill operator and an operator of a ferry across the Mississippi River, called “Wild Kate” which was run by horse power.
In 1853 W.G. McSpadden filled a claim on 80 acres of land in Section 33 of Houston Township, Houston County, Minnesota. In July 1854 McSpadden and Stafford returned to Houston County and laid out the village of Houston on the land previously claimed by McSpadden.
We know from the 1860 through the 1880 Federal Census’ that H.T. Stafford and his family resided in Houston Minnesota where he listed his occupation as a farmer and/or shoemaker.
In later 1864 and the beginning of 1865, during the Civil War, the state of Illinois and especially the city of Chicago, were paying high bounties for enlistments into the Army so they could fill their enlistment quotas assigned to them by the Federal Government. For Stafford, and many like him, this was an opportunity of a lifetime. H.T. Stafford journeyed to Chicago and on 18 March 1865 enlisted in Company H, 23 Infantry Regiment of Illinois. Volunteers, this regiment being called “Mulligan’s Irish Brigade”.
This enlistment was a lucrative undertaking for Stafford. He was to receive $300 from the Army, $302 from the 23 Regiment, $400 from Cook County Illinois and an undetermined amount from the Chicago Wards. An agreement of the enlistment was “If the government shall not require these troops for the full period of three years they shall be mustered honorably out of the service before the expiration of their term of enlistment they shall receive upon being mustered out the whole amount of bounties remaining unpaid, the same as if the full term has been served.”
H.T. Stafford and the other recruits of the 23rd Regiment who inlisted at this period did not join their regiment which was in the field until after the surrender of Lee. Stafford was discharged from the Army on July 24th, 1865 at Richmond, Virginia. This was good pay for four months in the Army at no risk to oneself.
Stafford returned to his family in Houston Minnesota. He remained in Houston until the spring of 1882, when, at the urging of his farmer employer W.G. McSpadden, who had went to Clark County, Dakota Territory in 1881 and homesteaded, to also move to Dakota Territory and establish a homestead.
H.T. Stafford and his family accompanied by R.K. Stafford, who was a brother or uncle (it is not known which) emigrated to Maydell Township, Clark County, Dakota Territory in 1882. A Simon Todd and his family were also in this group of homesteaders. A railroad had been built to this section of the Dakota Territory making it a convienent jumping off point for homesteaders. Eventually a homestead patent was issued to his wife Charlotte for the NE ¼ of section 9, Maydell Township, dated 1895.
Hiram Theodore Stafford died on January 18th, 1884 while residing at his homestead in Maydell township. He is buried on a small hill over looking his homestead. There is a government grave marker at the burial site. There is also another grave at this site which is listed to Ralph Kirkland. This grave is of Ralph Kirkland Stafford, a brother or uncle to H. T. and is identical to the R.K. Stafford who accompanied Hiram to the Dakota Territory in 1882. He died September 8th, 1882, only a few months after arriving in the Dakota Territory.
After the death of H.T. Stafford, his wife Charlotte continued to live on this quarter of land with her grown sons who helped her with its operation. Her daughter Ella, who had married Vincent Raymond Flanigan in December 1885, also lived with her mother on this section. Eventually Charlotte leased her homestead to her sons as they married. This arrangement had its complications as stated in a local newspaper “Clark County Republic” dated 27 September 1895”:
“A discraceful family quarrel occurred in Maydell township Monday. W.A. Stafford rented his mothers farm for the past year and all has not been in perfect harmony between them for some time. Recently the lease was terminated by Mrs. Stafford. Last Monday a row occurred between W.A. and his mother, in which according to the statement of the mother, the son so forgot himself, as to knock his mother down. Her daughter, Mrs. Flanigan interfered to save her mother and was also knocked down. Mr. Flanigan was then called and separated the parties, when the altercation took place between him and Stafford in regards to Wills abuse of his mother, which precipitated a fight them, in which Stafford got soundly trounced, We understand that Mr. Flanigan went to Bradley and paid five dollars fine for his fistic exercise. Mrs. Stafford came to Clark Tuesday and had a warrant issued against her son for assault and battery. We have not heard Mr. Stafford’s side of the case; but we can not conceive of any excuse that will justify him striking his mother.”
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1870 United States Federal Census
Name: Hiram T Stafford
Birth Year: abt 1824
Age in 1870: 46
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1870: Houston, Houston, Minnesota
Race: White
Gender: Male
Value of real estate: View image
Post Office: Houston
Household Members: Name Age
Hiram T Stafford 46
Charlotte Stafford 36
Eugene Stafford 15
Theodore Stafford 12
Edgar Stafford 8
Ella Stafford 4
Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: Houston, Houston, Minnesota; Roll T132_6; Page: 1128; Image: 230; Family History Library Film: 830426.
Source Information:
Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
Original data:
1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
Minnesota census schedules for 1870. NARA microfilm publication T132, 13 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
Description:
This database is an index to individuals enumerated in the 1870 United States Federal Census, the Ninth Census of the United States. Census takers recorded many details including each person's name, age at last birthday, sex, color; birthplace, occupation, and more. No relationships were shown between members of a household. Additionally, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1870 Federal Census.
© 2010, The Generations Network, Inc.
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1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Hiram T Stafford
Home in 1880: Houston, Houston, Minnesota
Age: 57
Estimated birth year: abt 1823
Birthplace: New York
Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)
Spouse's name: Charlotte
Father's birthplace: New York
Mother's birthplace: New York
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Farmer
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Members: Name Age
Hiram T Stafford 57
Charlotte Stafford 46
Francis E Stafford 25
Theodore L Stafford 23
Edgar E Stafford 18
Ella Stafford 13
Willie A Stafford 9
Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Houston, Houston, Minnesota; Roll 623; Family History Film: 1254623; Page: 333C; Enumeration District: 111; Image: 0675.
Source Information:
Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. 1880 U.S. Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. All use is subject to the limited use license and other terms and conditions applicable to this site.
Original data: Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Description:
This database is an index to 50 million individuals enumerated in the 1880 United States Federal Census. Census takers recorded many details including each person's name, address, occupation, relationship to the head of household, race, sex, age at last birthday, marital status, place of birth, parents’ place of birth. Additionally, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1880 Federal Census.
© 2010, The Generations Network, Inc.
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U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
Name: Hiram T. Stafford
Side: Union
Regiment State/Origin: Illinois
Regiment Name: 23 Illinois Infantry
Regiment Name Expanded: 23rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry
Company: H
Rank In: Private
Rank In Expanded: Private
Rank Out: Private
Rank Out Expanded: Private
Alternate Name: H.T./Stafford
Film Number: M539 roll 86
Source Information:
National Park Service. U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.
Original data: National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, online <http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/>, acquired 2007.
Description:
This database contains the names of approximately 6.3 million soldiers who served in the American Civil War. In addition to their names, information that may be listed for each soldier includes regiment, company, and rank.
© 2010, The Generations Network, Inc.
Census:
1880. Listed as a farmer with wife, 4 sons and a daughter. Parents born in NY.
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1822 - 1884 (62 years)
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