Ted Stafford and Family  

54.  Ted⁶ Stafford  (William¹, Robert² Benjamin³ Grant S.,⁴ Silas⁵) was born 16 June 1897 in Morgan County, Indiana to Silas Preston Stafford and his wife, Florence Allen.^1,2,3  In 1900 Teddy's parents had been married for 5 years and the family lived in a rented home.¹  Pres worked as a day laborer and Florence was busy with two little boys named Rex and Teddy, who were 4 and 2 years old, respectively.  In 10 years time, the Clay Township census taker listed the family again, but this time they were living in a home they owned and the household had grown in size to 7 members and showed that two other children had died by this time.  Twelve year old Ted attended school and was able to read and write in 1910.⁴  By 24 August 1916, Ted was 19 years old and old enough to be working. He had left his parent's home and lived in Brocton, Illinois, which is in Edgar County just across the Indiana state line.³  He was employed by Charles Fox, but the type of work he did is not known by this author.  On that day he had to register for the draft for World War I.  He registered with the Edgar County Draft Board in the town of Paris, Illinois.³

In 1920 Ted Stafford was enumerated in Clay Township with his parents and his younger siblings.⁵  By this time his father had saved enough money to buy a farm and both Ted and his father were described as farmers.  Ted was now the oldest living child, since his older brother, Rex died on 19 January 1912.⁶  The family tradition indicates he was killed by a train.  A request for his death certificate would probably provide evidence regarding the cause of his death.

The family also reports that Ted Stafford married a woman in Indiana before moving to Kansas.  A search of the Indiana Marriage Record database produced a record for a Ted Stafford and Melvina Anderson in Marion County, Indiana.  This couple was married in Indianapolis on 07 August 1922.⁷ It is probably possible to obtain a copy of this marriage record to determine if Ted Stafford, who married Melvina Anderson is the same man that is the subject of this biography.  An newspaper clipping states her maiden name is Johnson.  Research is needed to determine if she had been married prior to her marriage to Ted Stafford.  She died in Indianapolis according to the newspaper article⁸ which correlates with the family tradition.⁶

By 1930, Ted Stafford had gone west to Canadian County, Oklahoma where he lived in Chase King's household.  His occupation was listed as laborer on a farm.⁹  Ted Stafford married Edith Maybelle Moore on 11 March 1942 in Indiana.¹⁰  According to the World War II Army Enlistment Records 1938 to 1946 database, he enlisted in the Army in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.  The date of his enlistment was 03 October 1942.¹¹  At the time he enlisted they recorded his height as 5 foot 9 inches and his weight as 163 pounds.  He worked as an electric truck driver and he was listed as married.  His enlistment was for the duration of the war plus 6 months.  His son, Terry Stafford, has provided a photograph of his father's military identification tag. 

They settled in Labette County and remained there for the rest of their lives.⁶  They raised a family of five children.  One child a son, Lee Roy Stafford died in a fire on 29 September 1979, but the other four children are still living.

Ted Stafford died on 15 November 1960 of a heart attack.  He was still farming at the time of his death.¹⁰  His funeral was held on 18 November 1960 and he was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery at Chetopa, Kansas.  His wife and children continued to live in Labette County, Kansas.  

Suggestions for additional research:

• Order death certificate for Rex Stafford - date of death 19 January 1912.

• Order marriage record for Ted Stafford and Melvina Anderson, who married 07 August 1922 in Marion County, Indiana.

• Try to obtain World War II military records. Need to determine if they are available.

i.

Roscoe Stafford

Living

ii.

Billy Ray Stafford

Living

iii.

Marcella Roseanne Stafford

Living

iv.

Lee Roy Stafford

b. 17 April 1952 in Labette County, Kansas; d. 29 September 1979 in Labette County, Kansas

v. 

Terry Stafford

Living