STAFFORD-George W. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

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.

Rev. George Washington STAFFORD is a name that for many years has occupied a prominent position in the Methodist Church of the state of Indiana and better still, has been enshrined in thehearts of both the high and low, to whom Mr. Stafford has ministered with zeal and Christian affection. The honored subject of this sketch was born Sept 24, 1815 in Mechanicsburg, Bland Co VA his father, Thomas Stafford, having owned the land and laid out that town. The birth of the latter took palce at Enniskillen, Ireland although he was of English ancestry. The father of Thomas was John Stafford and he settled in VA in 1775 where Thomas became a large landholder and business man. The latter married Miss Ruth Neal of Monroe Co VA and in 1832 he came to Indiana and settled at Attica, Fountain County, Indiana. Here he became an extensive farmer and lived until his death, Sept 17, 1847. His wife survived him until April 1862. The family of Mr. and mrs. Thomas Stafford consisted of 7 sons and 3 daugthers and all lived to maturity. Our subject, the 4th child is one of the children living. One sister, Elizabeth died May 24, 1893 and Mary Ann lives in Fountain County, wife of William Sharp in Attica. His one brother, Oscar F is engaged in thereal estate business in Chicago. The eldest brother of our subject was a large land owner in Monticello, Indiana and died there 1856. Of the other memebers of the family Lewis B. and William N. settled near Attica. All of the family of the former are dead, but the son and daughter of the latter still reside there. Granville died in Warren County 1849 and Hugh A. died at home in his 22nd year in 1848. A young sister, Cynthia M, died in girlhood 1847. And so passed the relatives of our subject to the other shore. Mr. Stafford was reared at home until nearly 21 and began teaching school at age 18. He went to VA and shortly after became interested in serious matters and connected himself with the ministry. After a time spent in teaching in his native state he returned to Indiana in 1837 and in 1840 was ordained at Indianapolis, but was given a charge at Newtown, Fountain County, Indiana and remained one year and then sent one year to Frankfort, Clinton Co, before ordination. After this solemn event Mr. Stafford was stationed at Richmond, Ind for two years and from 1852 to 53 was placed at Crawfordsville. From 1840 5o 49 he filled appointements on a circuit. One mission field at this time was Rensselaer. Mr. Stafford filled the posts of his church at Frankfort two years at Valparaiso for two years, at Greencastle for the same length of time and at Rockville two years. At the opening of the war in 1861, he bought his present farm on the outskirts of Crawfordsville and has since served on circuit work with his home at this place, ministering to his old circuit at Newtown in 1861. In 186e Mr. Stafford enlisted as chaplain in the 40th Indiana Infantry, organized at LaFayette and he remained one year. He saw service in Georgia and was with his regiment in the battles of Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. He followed Sherman to Atlanta, where after encouraging many and performing over hundreds the last sad office, Mr. Stafford was himself stricken with illness was taken to the hospital and then resigned and came home. Mind and body had sickened at terrible sights he had been forced to contemplate but as soon as health was restored he returned to ministerial work. In 1866 Mr. Stafford was place on the superanuated list (a beautiful feature of that denomination) and has since then passed his days quietly upon the farm. Her ehe has 340 acres, mainly adjoining the city on the east. In his ministerial work, Mr. Stafford has had much encouragement and is a Methodist preacher of the old school, beliving in revivals for the quickening of the Spirit. In his fervent zeal he has been able to count form 2-300 converts at each place where he has ministered and grand total of 3500 souls have experienced religion under his efforts. From 7-800 couples have been joined in holy matrimony through his ministrations. In his poltiical opinions, Mr. Stafford has always been one upon which he has had strong opionions. The marriage of Mr. Stafford took place March 24, 1842 to Miss Rachel R. Stitt, the daughter of Hon. James Stitt who was Circuit Court Judge 21 years and who died in 1844. The family of Rev. Mr. Stafford is as follows; James T, a minister located at Monon, Ind; John M, a minster of Crawfordsville; William, a farmer and stock raiser east of Crawfordsville; Sarah A, deceased; George Washington, a graduate of Wabash college and professor in the public schools of Seattle, Washington; Eddie a, a graduate of both Wabash & Rush Medical College at Tacoma, Washington; Robert and Oscar who died in infancy and Mary R and Elizabeth at home. They, with their most excellent mother, surround the declining years of the husband and father with affectionate care. No more successful nor respected life among the pioneer ministers of his church can be found than that of the gentelmen of whom we have briefly written.

John Stafford, a son of John Stafford and Margaret Brunt Stafford of Staffordshire, England married Elizabeth Fair, a widow. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Brown. She was a native of Enniskillen, Donegal Bay, Province of Ulster, Ireland. Her first marriage was to Robert Fair and by this marriage on child, Catherine Fair was born. By her second marriage there were born .. : Thomas, John, Joseph, Margaret and a son who died during the voyage to America and was buried at sea. John Stafford and wife, Elizabeth with their family came to America in the year 1785 and located in Philadelphia but soon thereafter located at Mechanicsburgh, Giles County VA. Elizabeth died in 1828 and her remains rest in a country graveyard near where she lived. In 1839, John, her husband, died and was buried at the same place by the side of his wife. Elizabeth was a member of Wesleyan Connection and later Methodist Episcopal Church. Thomas, a son of John and Elizabeth Fair STafford was born in Enniskillen, Ireland and came to America with his parents. He was then in his sixth year. He lives with his parents in Giles County Virginia until his marriage to Ruth Neel of the same county until the year 1832 when he emigrated to Fountain County, Indiana. He lived near the town of Attica and died in 1844. There was born to Thomas and Ruth, 10 children: Elizabet; Lewis B; John; William N; Alexander; Minerva; Granville; Oscar F; Mary A Sharp and George W. Stafford, late of Crawfordsville, Indiana. George W. Stafford married Rachel Stitt, daughter of James Stitt March 24, 1842. Their children: Charles W; James T; John M; William A; Sarah Alice; George W Jr; Robert Oscar; Charles O; Eddie A; Mary R and Rachel E, being 10 in number. George W. Stafford resided in the old home near Crawfordsville, Indiana until his death and lived a quiet, upright and religious life, much respected by all who knew him. I did not know him personally but my knowledge of him is somewhat extensive from information received from the old relatives of the Stafford family of Ohio who frequently visited him and his family at Crawfordsville. He has many descendants located in various states; they are known as a fmaily of good repute and quite active in the affirs of life.