| Notes |
- Moved to Ohio about 1845.
BIRTH
Washington Stafford was born 05 September 1820 in Hampshire County, Virginia. This is information from his biography in the 1887 History of Livingston County, Illinois, as well as from his tombstone and other sources. This is also supported by his information in the census from 1850-1900.
PARENTS
Research in the records of Hampshire County, Virginia, led us to the conclusion that Washington's parents were Joseph S. Stafford and Elizabeth Myer. This was finally confirmed when I was given a copy of the page from t
he Livingston County History, in which he states he was one of eight children of Joseph and Elizabeth Meyer Stafford.
Elizabeth's maiden name was spelled Myer on the marriage record; Meyer in the history.
SIBLINGS
In the aforementioned history (text below), Washington gave his siblings as Lizzie Jane Wiley, John, Sarah Long, Susan Brace, Mary Ridgeley, William and James. Our research had already confirmed Lizzie, John, Susan, M
ary, and James, and I suspected William. This is the confirmation.
FROM ALLEGANY COUNTY MARRIAGES
Washington Stafford to Elizabeth Licklighter, 29 Nov 1842
CHILDREN
His biography in the Livingston County HIstory says they had eight children, and he names them--James, John, Joseph, George, Louisa, Matilda, Lyldia and Mazy.
Elizabeth told the 1900 census she had given birth to 10 children, and 7 were still alive. The 3 dead are Joseph, who disappeared "out west"; an infant born about 1859; and Isabella Hanna Stafford, said to have died 17 Mar 1893 and is buried in the Payne Cemetery. However, Isabell appears on no census records with her parents. I wonder if the date is correct.
IN THE CENSUS
1850, OH, Coshocton Countypage 60/72/72
1860, IL, Livingston Countypage 898/1453/1445
1870, IL, Livingston Countypage x/85/85
1880, IL, Livingston Countypage 21/4/4
1900, IL, McLean Countypage 4A/75/75/81
A map showing land ownership in Livingston County, Illinois, shows Washing
ton Stafford owning two tracts of land, both about a mile southeast of Ocoya, a small community located on the Chicago and Alton Railroad. There are also several Myer/Myers and Umphenour families.
FROM THE FAIRBURY BLADE
28 May 1909: "Chenoa Notes: Washington Stafford is seriously ill at t
he home of his daughter Mrs. J.S. McNeil in this city. Mr. Stafford is qu
ite an old man and but little hopes are entertained for his recovery."
TOMBSTONE, Payne Cemetery, Livingston County, Illinois
Born: Sept 5, 1820
Died: May 28, 1909
FROM THE HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS (exact title unknown), 188
8; page 953
WASHINGTON STAFFORD. This gentleman for the past thirty-five years has been the interested observer o the many and great changes which have taken place in Central Illinois since his first arrival here in 1852. He was then a young man thirty-two years of age and had come to the West to build up for himself a permanent home. He possessed very little means and b
eing dependent upon his own resources at once began to exercise those habits of industry and economy to which he had been trained, and which had become his second nature. These were qualities quite common among the early pioneers and were the only basis upon which they could hope to build successfully in their efforts to secure their own comfort and well-being and that of their children.
Our subject is pleasantly located on section 21, Eppard's Point Township where he owns eighty acres of valuable land which he has brought to a g
ood state of cultivation and provided with substantial buildings. He has carried on general farming and on into years has made a specialty of stock raising in which he has been successful. He has just passed the sixty
-seventh year of his age and with his estimable wife, is still in good health, which is the usual result of correct and temperate living.
Census:
- Listed as a farmer with wife Elyath and children James W., John W. and Joseph M.
- Listed as a farmer with wife Elizabeth and children Wm., John, Joseph, Louisa and Matilda.
- Listed as Wash Stafford, a farmer, with wife Elizabeth and children James, Louiza, Matilda, Lydia, George and Maecy.
- Listed as a farmer with wife, son Geoge and daughter Ma. Father born in VA and mother born in MD.
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1820 - 1909 (88 years)
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