Thomas G. Stafford (1825-1862), husband of Catherine Fleeman (1820-1895), brother of Samuel Stafford, and father of James Thomas Stafford. Married 17 August 1843. The father of Thomas G. is unknown; it is The mystery of the Southern Illinois branch of the Stafford family. Frances Widdows Ashley once told me it was possible Laban[?] Stafford was Thomas's father. Family tradition says both Thomas G. and his father spoke German. Thomas was born in Smith County TN on 19 February. He enlisted 26 August 1861 in Anna, Illinois, and he was mustered in on 18 September 1861. His home was listed as Anna when he enlisted. His home address changed to Makanda (some 10 miles north of Anna) in 1862. He was a musician with Company E 31st Illinois Volunteers. He was wounded on 2 February 1862, in the siege of
Fort Donelson (Tennessee, now under the Cumberland River) and died of his wounds 25 February aboard a troop ship (the "Fanny Bullit") carrying wounded up the Ohio River to Cincinnati. His body was taken off the boat at Evansville, Indiana, and he was buried in Water Valley, Illinois, in Union County. His place of burial has been verified by Lee H. Hill III. The actual data for all people in this site is available in GEDCOM files, which can be downloaded and imported into any genealogical program. Just click the file cabinet icon at the right of this paragraph.
His children include James Thomas (the second-born child). James is the father of John William Stafford and the gggrandfather of the author of these pages, Lee H. Hill III. Besides James Thomas, the marriage also produced seven other children: Elizabeth A., Sarah L.V., Frances M., Bulah Ann, Martha Josephine, John S., and Mary C. Thomas and Catherine were born in Smith County TN and married in Macon TN. Their first two children were born in Smith County TN, the next four in Missouri, and the last two in Illinois.
The cameo in the first paragraph points to a photograph of Thomas's grave. A closer shot of the stone would not provide much more information about him, since it is badly eroded. Another headstone parallels Thomas's, but it is further away than one usually sees for husband and wife. The second stone is completely unreadable. Information about a brother of Thomas G. is forthcoming.
Last Updated 12/22/04
