Person:Isaiah Tufford (1)

Isaiah's first wife, Harriet Nichols (the sister of Robert Nichols, husband to Isaiah's sister Barbara Catherine), died in 1854 and left Isaiah with two sons, Marvin and Elliott. He married his second wife Annie in 1856. Sometime around 1858-59, Isaiah moved his family to LaSalle County, Illinois, where his son Edwin was born. They are listed on the 1860 census for the town of Northville, LaSalle County, Illinois. The date of this census is June 8, 1860, one month before Edwin was born.

On Dec 2, 1861, Isaiah enrolled as a Private in Company G, 53rd Regiment, Illinois Volunteers. On Feb 27, 1862, this regiment was ordered to Chicago to assist in guarding the Confederate prisoners captured atFort Donelson. It was ordered to St. Louis on March 23, and from St.Louis to Savannah, Tennessee. It was engaged in the siego of CorinthonApril 29, 1862, but Isaiah did not participate as he was discharged from service due to "fits" on Apr 22, 1862.

He moved back to Niagara County, New York sometime after his discharge. His daughter Clara was born on Oct 1863 in Niagara County and he then enlisted in Company H, 22nd Regiment, New York Cavalry on Dec 20, 1863. In March 1865, while in charge of the baggage wagons, the wagon hit a stump and threw Isaiah to the ground, injuring his back and legs, leaving him partially crippled. He was discharged Jun 15, 1865.

After the war he continued living in Niagara County until approximately 1873 when he moved his family to Talbot County, Maryland. There Isaiah and Ann bought a 25 acre farm for $1400 just north of Tunis Mills. They then subdivided this property into lots which they sold. They called this new village "Liberty" and is the present site of Copperville. (Lot #12 was sold to Isaac Copper in Jun 1881, and it is assumed the town was renamed by Isaac's family). In 1880 Isaiah and his sons moved to Custer County, Nebraska, where he appears in the census. Annie was still in Talbot County with her daughter and son-in-law, Mary Catherine and John Thomas BANNING. They appear to have joined Isaiah by June 1881.

When Isaiah left Nebraska is uncertain, but in Jan 1891 he applied for a pension while living in Denver, Denver County, Colorado, apparently with his son Walter. By 1900 he was back in Custer County, Nebraska, living with his son Edwin. Sometime after 1900 Edwin moved to Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, taking Isaiah with him, which is where he died on Aug 29, 1904. His body was brought back and buried in Mason City, Custer County, Nebraska. Most of this information is obtained from the census records and Isaiah's pension record.

Isaiah's death certificate shows he died of acute gastritis secondary to a malignant growth in the right side of the neck. His obituary states that his body was brought back to Mason City and buried in the village cemetery. There is a Civil War marker with no markings at an obvious grave with the graves of his daughter Mary Catherine and her husband, as well as a marker for his grand-daughter Annie Banning. The first burial in the Mason City Cemetery occured in 1889. Since both Isaiah's wife Annie & his grand-daughter Annie died in 1884, they were probably moved there when Isaiah was buried there.

1850 Census - Lewiston, Niagara Co., NY, Page 886, Line 19, House 1170, Family 476 Tufford, Isaiah 30 M Carpenter born Canada Harriet 25 F born New York Marvin V. 6 M born New York Elliot 1 M born New York

1860 Census - Northville, LaSalle, Illinois, Jun 8, 1860; Roll: M653_196; Page: 81& 82; Dwelling 582, Family 590

   Isaiah Tufford (39, Canada); Anne (28, England); Marvin (16, New York); Elliott (11, NY); Mary C. (3, New York)

1870 Census - Suspension Bridge, Niagara City, Niagara Co., NY, Page 39 386, Line 6 House 266, Family 274 Tufford, Isaiah49 M Carpenter born Canada Anna35 F Keeps House born England Mary12 Fborn New York Edwin 9 Mborn Illinois Clara 6 Fborn New York Walter 2 Mborn New York Phillip75 Mborn New Jersey Harriet70 Fborn Vermont

1880 Census - Precinct 1, Custer Co., Nebraska Page 20 300, SD 2, ED171, Line 1 House 193, Family 206 Tufford, Isiah 59 M Farmer born Canada father New Jersey mother Vermont Annie 49 F Wife Keeping House born England parents England Banning, Mary 22 F Daughter Keeping House born New York Thomas 24 M Son-in-Law Mill wright born Maryland parents Maryland Tufford, Edwin 20 M Son At Home born Illinois Clara 16 F Daughter born New York Walter 12 M Son born New York

1900 Census - District 67, Elk Creek, Custer Co., Nebraska Page 4B, Page 76, Dwelling 71, Family 72 Tufford, Edwin Head W M July 1860 37 M 12 Illinois Canada England Farmer Alice Wife W F Nov 1871 28 M 12 4 4 Maryland & both parents Almetta A. daughter W F Aug 1888 11 single Nebraska Thomas E. son W M July 1890 9 Single Nebraska Honor I. daughter W F April 1893 7 Single Nebraska John I. son W M Oct 1895 4 Single Nebraska Isaiah father W M Aug 1820 79 Wid Canada They are living right next door to John Thomas and Mary Catherine Banning

1. ↑ Ancestry.com, Oregon Death Index, 1903-98 (Name: Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2000;;)
   Certificate 922.