John Ferrell STAFFORD (son of Pvt. J. Fleming STAFFORD of Co. H 39th Kentucky Mounted Infantry, and Elizabeth “Lizzie” EVANS) was born on 24 August 1844 in Pike Co KY (Weeksbury or Peter's Creek). John Ferrell STAFFORD enlisted with the 39th Kentucky Mounted Infantry on 28 Jan1863 at Peach Orchard and served under Capt. William KING. In November 1864 at Marion, Virginia, John took ill and in the Winter of 1864 when the troops were marching through Bean Station, Tennessee, he contracted Rheumatism brought on by exposure to the cold weather. He was Honorably Discharged at Louisville, KY on 15 September 1865. His pension papers describe him as being 5ft 4in. tall, fair complexion, light hair and blue eyes.

Sometime during 1864, John met Katherine WALLACE (daughter of Pvt. Solomon WALLACE of Co. G 39th KY Mounted Infantry, and Lucinda DANIELS). They had a brief romance which resulted in the birth of one child, my Great-Grandfather:

Child of JOHN STAFFORD and KATHERINE WALLACE is:

i. ISSAC STAFFORD⁵ WALLACE, b. Bet. June 17, 1865 - 1868, Pike Co KY (Barrenshee); d. April 26, 1947, Pike Co KY (Majestic); m. MATILDA ELLEN MOUNTS, March 07, 1889, Pike Co KY (at home of Katherine Wallace); b. October 04, 1871, Pike Co KY (Huddy); d. October 03, 1955, Pike Co KY (Majestic).

On 19 March 1868 when John Ferrell was 23, he married Paulina "Perlina" McCOY (daughter of Benjamin "Ben" McCOY and Phoebe McCOY).

Children of JOHN STAFFORD+ and PAULINA MCCOY+ are:

ii. OCTAVIA⁵ STAFFORD, b. May 19, 1869, Lawrence Co, KY; d. Aft. 1947; m. SAMUEL P "SAM" THOMPSON+, Mingo Co WV; b. Abt. 1873; d. November 28, 1953, Martin Co KY.
iii. LEWIS STAFFORD, b. March 12, 1872, Wayne Co WV (Ceredo); d. April 15, 1941, Lawrence Co KY (Richardson); m. ROSIE BUTCHER+; d. Bef. 1941.
iv. LOUISA "LEWIE" STAFFORD, b. February 25, 1873, Lawrence Co KY.
v. JOSEPH "JOE" STAFFORD, b. October 16, 1875, Lawrence Co KY; d. Abt. July 1941.
vi. MARY ELLEN STAFFORD, b. November 19, 1877, Lawrence Co KY; d. Bef. 1915.
vii. JAMES HARRISON "JIM" STAFFORD, b. February 10, 1880, Lawrence Co KY; d. Abt. 1964; m. BERTHA F (UMN) STAFFORD+.
viii. FLEMING "FLEM" (II) STAFFORD, b. August 29, 1883; d. Bef. 1915.
ix. LILLIE ELIZABETH "LIBBIE" STAFFORD, b. March 09, 1885; m. (1) UNKNOWN MCCOY+; m. (2) FRANK STEWART+; m. (3) UNKNOWN WELLMAN and several others.
x. J FRED STAFFORD, b. October 10, 1887.
xi. MILTON BURNS (I) STAFFORD, b. June 23, 1890, Lawrence Co KY; m. IDA HALE+, September 05, 1913, Boyd Co KY (Catlettsburg).
xii. EDWARD STAFFORD, b. April 25, 1893; m. UNKNOWN (UMN) STAFFORD+.
xiii. LEO STAFFORD, b. February 26, 1896; d. Abt. 1913.

On 19 November 1925 when John Ferrell STAFFORD was 81, he third married Malissa (Unknown Maiden Name)-STAMPER, in Boyd Co KY. Ms. STAMPER had been divorced from her first husband about 1903 in Carter Co KY (Grayson).

John was a farmer, but at some point during his life, he worked as a US Mail Carrier in Wayne Co WV (Ceredo). John Ferrell STAFFORD died in Boyd Co KY (Catlettsburg) on 11 December 1926. He was buried on 13 December 1926 in Boyd Co KY (Catlettsburg Cemetery). His widow Malissa (UMN)-STAMPER-STAFFORD applied for John’s accrued pension on 25 Jan 1927.