BIOGRAPHY: Van Buren M. Stafford; Cayuga co., New York transcribed and submitted by: Ann Anderson (ann.g.anderson at gmail.com) ========================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ny/nyfiles.htm ========================================================= BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW THIS VOLUME CONTAINS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE LEADING CITIZENS OF CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK BOSTON BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY 1894 VAN BUREN M. STAFFORD is not lacking in any quality belonging to a Christian citizen and gentleman, for he is ever ready to lend a hand when any good project is afoot. Of course, these characteristics have made him respected as a useful member of the community of Fair Haven. By trade he is a carpenter, but has been long connected with the Southern Central & Lehigh Valley Railroad as Foreman. He was born in Sullivan, Madison County, N.Y., September 24, 1847. As Mr. Stafford has a fondness for genealogy, the writer is able to trace the points of descent from his great-grandfather, John Stafford, who was born February 9, 1740, and died November 25, 1800, nine months after the birth of the grandson (David's son John) who was named after him. His wife Eunice, four years his junior, was born in April, 1744, and died January 2, 1792. Their ten children were: Catherine, born June 9, 1765, died September 9, 1852; John, Jr., born November 22, 1766; David, the grandfather of Van Buren, born March 16, 1768; Aaron, born October 26, 1769, died in childhood, 1776, in the early part of the Revolution; Eunice, named for her mother, born June 6, 1771, died in 1829; Priscilla, born August 1, 1773, died in the same year with her sister Eunice, 1829; Amos, born November 22, 1775, in the year of Lexington and Bunker Hill, died in 1822; Jemima, born February 5, 1779, died in 1851; Edith, born February 11, 1782, died September 20, 1816; Clarissa, born September 14, 1785. This generation of Staffords lived in Pennsylvania; but the present sketch is specially concerned with John's second son and third child, David, who came into Madison County as a pioneer, in what is now the town of Fenner. On a spot cleared by his own hands he lived, loved, and labored till the day of his death. David married young, when he was hardly twenty-one, and had ten children: Phebe, born October 10, 1789, died August 9, 1866: Sally, born January 12, 1791, died April 17, 1862; Betsy, born September 7, 1792; David, named for his father, and born October 3, 1794; Joseph, born July 6, 1798, died October 18, 1870; John, the father of Van Buren, born July 27, 1800, died April 26, 1878; Amos, born May 22, 1805, died 1849; Harry, born March 15, 1808; Ann, born March 12, 1810, died December 3, 1838; Mary, born September 13, 1813, died February 27, 1876, in the centennial year. David's son, John Stafford, spent only a few years at his home in Fenner, having gone into public-house employment at an early age. Having learned the carpenter's trade, he worked a while in Cazenovia, then returned to Fenner, where he spent many years as a carpenter, and finally removed to Fair Haven, where he died. Before her marriage Mrs. John Stafford was Melissa Hutchingson. She was .born in July, 1800, in Madison County, and died in Fenner in 1874. She was a Baptist church member. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John Stafford. Four have passed over the river, and the four surviving ones are as follows: David, named for his paternal grandfather; Fidelia; Henry M.; and Van Buren M., the subject of this sketch. The early years of Van Buren M. Stafford were passed in Cazenovia, where he attended the public schools; but he continued his education in Fenner, whither the family moved, in 1851. Subsequently he worked out by the day till he was of age. Indeed, he continued to live under his father's roof-tree even a few years after his marriage in 1870, at the age of twenty-two, while employed as farmer and general mechanic. In 1874 he removed to Fair Haven, and worked as bridge foreman on the Southern Central & Lehigh Valley Railroad for six years, when he was promoted to the position he now holds of foreman in the coal-shipping department. In 1875, the year after he came to Fair Haven, he built the attractive residence which he has ever since occupied. His wife, Eliza Albring, was born in Butler, Wayne County, the daughter of a farmer, Joseph Albring, and his wife, Betsy Potter. Mr. and Mrs. Van Buren M. Stafford have two sons. John Homer is now attending the Fair Haven Academy, a bright and respected young man, named for his grandfather and great-grandfather. The other, Joseph M., was trained to wagon - making, and is married to Lucy Powers, daughter of Chauncy Powers, the village wagon-maker, with whom his trade was acquired. Mr. Van Buren M. Stafford belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and has always voted the Democratic ticket. The family belong to the Methodist church, wherein Mr. Stafford has held many offices, such as Trustee, Steward, Treasurer of the Board of Stewards, and assistant Sunday-school superintednent, and is a member of the local Board of Education. Mrs. Stafford is also a leader in the church, and an active temperance worker. With such men to till the ground and build the homes, and such women to rear the children, there is abundant hope for the future of our beloved land.