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William H. Stafford was born about 03 March 1841 in Morgan County, Indiana1 to Benjamin and Margaret Price.2 He died in Morgan County, Indiana on 16 December 1900 when he was only 59 years old. He was buried at the Centerton Cemetery in Morgan County, Indiana.1 He was one of the few Stafford men that served in the military during the Civil War.
At the age of 20, William H. Stafford enlisted he enlisted as a private in the Union Army and mustered in to Company K of the Indiana 21st Infantry on 24 July 1861. Twenty-three other men from Centerton also enlisted into the same unit that day and served with him. After serving for about 1.5 years with this unit he transferred to Company K, 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment on 01 February 1863 and served with them until mustering out on 13 January 1866. During his service he was promoted to his final rank of Sergeant at the time of his discharge.3
After the Civil War he returned to Morgan County, Indiana and married Ruhamah E. Kiphart3 on the 04 March 1870.4 They remained in Morgan County for the rest of their lives raising four children, 1 daughter and 3 sons. The 1900 and 1915 census states that Ruhamah Stafford was the mother of 15 children, with only 4 living at that time.4 However, it seems likely that this was an error and should have read 5 children with only 4 living. Very little is known about Ruhamah or her family. In 1870, just 2 months after she married William Stafford, the census taker visited their household and recorded two young children bearing the surname Kiphart living in the household. The eldest was 4-year-old, Laura Kiphart and 1-year-old John A. Kiphart.5 The relationship of these children to Ruhamah is not known. It is possible that they were siblings, cousins, or even her children, but work is needed to determine the connection between them.
William and Ruhamah Stafford were enumerated in Morgan County in 1870,5 18806 and 1900.7 Ruhamah Stafford was enumerated in 1910 with her son, Robert since William M. H. Stafford died on 16 December 1900 in Morgan County, Indiana9 and was buried at the Centerton Cemetery.1 Ruhamah Stafford married a 2nd time about 15 years after William died. The name of her second husband was Joel H. Canady.
Born:
- Another researcher has him as William Benjamin Stafford, born 11 Apr 1841.
Census:
- Listed as a farmer with wife, daughter and 3 sons. Father born in OH and mother born in KY.
1900. Listed as William H. Stafford, no occupation, with wife Ruhama and children Minnie, Robert and Perry.
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