Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 877 - 878

CHARLES A. STAFFORD, attorney-at law and real-estate dealer, owns and occupies one of the most valuable homesteads of Wichita, and which comprises a part of the claim which he took up on first coming to this locality in 1870. This, on account of the rise of property, has proved a regular bonanza and ample provision for a rainy day. He is the gentleman who drew up the petition to the Probate Judge that the hamlet of Wichita might be incorporated as a town, and he was appointed one of the five Trustees for its organization, in which capacity he served two years.

            Mr. Stafford had already established himself in the law business at this point, and in 1872 accepted the office of Justice of the Peace, which he held four years. At the expiration of his term he returned to his regular practice, and in the mean-time wisely invested his spare capital in land. He has now one of the finest farms in the county, on the Ninnescah, near Clearwater, and his home, which is situated at No. 126 North Lawrence avenue, is supplied with everything required for the comfort and embellishment of the modern estate.

            Our subject was born in Fountain County, Ind., May 9, 1831, and is the son of James and Annie (Savage) Stafford, natives respectively of South Carolina and Virginia. James Stafford was born in 1792, was a farmer by occupation, and departed this life at his home in Fountain County, Ind., in the fall of 1856. He was a man of much force of character, upright and methodical in his business transactions, held the various township offices, and was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The mother was born in 1800, and survived her husband twenty years, remaining a widow. Her death took place at her home in Fountain County in 1876. She was the second wife of James Stafford, and the mother of seven children, namely: John W., Rebecca, Charles A., James M., Mary E., Elizabeth W. and William H., of whom four are now living.

            The first wife of James Stafford was in her girlhood Miss Rachel Mitchell. She died young, leaving one child, Sarah, who is now the wife of John K. McMillian, of LaFayette, Ind, Charles A., of our sketch, passed his childhood and youth after the manner of most farmers' sons. He pursued his first studies in the common schools, and later attended Asbury University, at Greencastle, Ind. After completing the Junior year he entered the Fowler Law School, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and upon leaving this institution read law in the office of D. W. Voorhees and E. A. Hanegan, for about three years. He completed his law studies in 1873, and became the partner of Mr. Voorhees, with whom he continued in the city of Covington three years, then abandoned the profession and took up his residence on the old homestead in Fountain County, where he carried on farming until coming to this State. He arrived here on the 7th of June, 1870, and his subsequent course we have already indicated.

            The marriage of Charles A. Stafford and Miss Abiah Lawson was celebrated at the home of the bride in Covington, Ind., on the 10th of September, 1861. Mrs. Stafford was born in Fountain County, that State, Oct. 21, 1833, and by her marriage with our subject became the mother of two children: Frank E., born Jan. 21, 1865; and David W., Feb. 18, 1868; they are now attending school at Wichita. Mr. Stafford, politically affiliates with the Democratic party, and socially, belongs to the A. F. & A. M. He was Chairman of the first Board of Trustees of the village of Wichita, his confreres being Morgan Cox, Christopher Pierce, Ed Smith and Harry Vautrees. The portrait of Mr. Stafford is shown on a preceding page, and forms a fitting accompaniment to this brief sketch.

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