Portrait & Biographical Record of Montgomery, Parke & Fountain Counties, Indiana p
479 -- 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 int he hearts 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
int he real 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
Co 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 reemained 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 ilnees 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 ont he 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; Goerge 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 die din 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.