History of Clay County Illinois
Volume I
1876 Edition
Page 120:
Probably the most important family of pioneers in this section of the country was that of the Stanford's, after whom the township is now named. The first of the family came here in 1838, and the name continues to hold a respectable place in the county.
The family consisted of sex brothers -Samuel, David, William, Mordecai, Issac and Abraham- and the mother. The first to come here was Samuel in 1838, followed by David and Issac; then in 1839 by the widow with the two younger children Mordecai and William and in 1841 by Abraham. The father John Stanford and the mother Bessie Austin, were both natives of Maryland. The Grandfather Stanford came from England in a very early day, and settled in that state and there the father and mother were married. From there they went to Armstrong County Pennsylvania and there the three older brothers were born. -Abraham in 1808; Samuel in 1810; and Issac in 1812. In the early part of 1817, the family came to Pike Co. Ohio, where the settled and David was born in 1817; William in 1821; and Mordecai in 1823. In 1826, the father died in Ohio, and in 1830 the mother removed with her family to Tippecanoe County, Indiana, there making a pioneer settlement. In 1838, Samuel, being the most adventurous spirit, started out in seach of another pioneer country. He came to this county and made a settlement in this township in section 22, on the old State Road. He then returned to Indiana and told the rest of the family the news of the new land further west. And accordingly all the family except Abraham made arrangements to start. Their journey to the new Territory was typical of the journeys of other pioneers to this region. They came in wagons and their trip was fraught, with much danger.
Samuel
as mentioned above settled down in section 22, and soon became the most opulent of the family. In 1863 he went to Flora and began merchandising. He remained there until 1875, and then he returned to his farm in this township where he died in January 1879. He was twice married and his second wife Rachel Stanford, is still living with her children -Hannah, Newton, Samuel, Orpha and Jane. Three Children by his first wife are also living-Mrs Bathsheba Ewing, in Kansas and Charles and Milton in this township.David
settled in section 27, and was the best know of all the brothers. He was an ordained Elder and local preacher in the Methodist Church, and preached from when he was eighteen until he was fifty seven. He preached in different places in this county, and was one of the first preachers of the Methodist denomination that services in the county. His death occurred on April 1, 1870. His widow Mary Stanford and five younger children are still lliving on the old home place. Of the older children Austin is now in Clay City Townshi; Lloyd in Northern Illinois; and Rossman in this township.
The mother (Bathseheba Austin Emmot Stanford) with her two sons William and Mordecai , settled in section 23, where she died in 1866. William upon reaching manhood settled down near the home farm, and is still living there. Mordecai remained home with his mother untill about 23 years of age and then settled down in section 25 where he resided until his death in 1872. His widow Mrs. Rebecca Stanford and two children are still living on the old home farm. Of the older children-Mrs Mary Jane Baylor is in this township, Mrs. Nacy Lamp also in this township, and Mrs. Lenord is in Champaign Co.
Issac
settled down in section 8, of town 2 , in the southwest part of the township and is still residing there.Abraham
the last of the brothers to come arrived in this township in 1841, and settled down in section 22. He is still living on the same place that he entered over forty years ago, at the hale old age of seventy five. One of his children Mrs. Eliza Jane Williams, is still living on the home farm, and another Lewis is in Clay City Township.