For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 301
EDWARD J. STAFFORD....Among the faithful soldiers of the Civil war now living retired in Muscatine county should be named Edward J. Stafford, for forty-four years a resident of Nichols. He is native of Ohio, born September 5, 1842, and is a son of Dr. James and Mary ( Rowland ) Stafford, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Pennsylvania. They were married in Ohio and remained there until the death of his wife, which occurred in 1845. There were six children in the family: Freeman, now living retired in California; Amanda, wwho married Thomas Johns, of West Liberty, Iowa, and died at the age of fifty-five years; Annie and Mary, both deceased; Edward J., our subject; and Andrew J., a carpenter of West Liberty, Iowa. Shortly after the death of the mother of these children, Dr. Stafford was married to Hannah Dickinson, also a native of Ohio, and by this union six children were born, namely: Mary A., the wife of Thomas Roland, of What Cheer, Iowa, now living retired; Thomas J., a barber of Audubon county, Iowa; Julia, the widow of Bert Hibbs of Victor, Iowa; Kate, who married Edward Gilbert, a farmer of Bellefontaine, Ohio; James R., a carpenter of Thornburg, Iowa; and william R., who died in infancy. After his second marriage Dr. Stafford devoted his attention to the practice of medicine in Ohio and later in Iowa after his arrival in this state. He passed away in 1872, his widow departing this life eighteen years later. He was a man of many fine qualities and as a physician was eminently successful.Edward J. Stafford received his education in the public schools and continued at home until he was nineteen years of age, when, on October 7, 1861, he enlisted for a period of three years in the Union service as a member of Company A, Second Iowa Cavalry. The regiment belonged to the Army of the West and participated in many of the leading battles along the Mississippi river and in the adjacent states. Mr. Stafford was present at the engagements at New Madrid Island No. 10, the battles of Farmington, Corinth, Boonville, Pocahontas, Memphis and others of importance, acquitting himself at all times in such a way as to receive the commendation of the officers of his company. He was honorably discharged at Davenport, Iowa, October 24, 1864. After leaving the army he followed farming in Muscatine county until 1875, when he retired to Nichols, where he has since lived. He is the owner of a handsome home in that place.
On the 25th of November, 1887, Mr. Stafford was united in marriage to Miss Anna B, Mizner, of Kansas, a native of Illinois and a daughter of William Mizner. Her family removed from Illinois to Kansas in 1872 and the father is still living in that state at the age of seventy-two years. The mother is deceased. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Mizner, all of whom are living in Kansas except two who make their home in Iowa.
Politically Mr. Stafford is a stanch adherent of the republican party. He has held a number of offices of trust and responsilitity and was postmaster at Nichols under Presidents Cleveland and McKinley, serving a period of eight years. He was also assessor of his township for six years, township clerk for four years and justice of the peace for ten years. He filled the office of city clerk two years and was member of the council for four years. He is identified with Stainless Lodge, No.445, A. F. & A. M., at Nichols, and for forty-three years past he has been connected with the Nichols Lodge, No. 665, I. O. O. F. He has filled most of the chairs in the latter lodge and is now its treasurer. He also holds membership in the Knights of Pythias and has long been a delegate to the Grand Lodge of that organization, being at the present time the oldest member of the order in the state of Iowa. He and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist church, the latter being superintendent of the Junior League and an active church worker. Mr. Stafford has always been conscientious and faithful in the discharge of his duties, both public and private, and he therefore is greatly esteemed by his friends and neighbors and by all who are acquainted with his sterling qualities.
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