Eighth Generation (Continued)
Family of Samuel BASFORD (604) & Mary Agnes WOOD

954. William BASFORD (Samuel7, Joshua K. S.6, Jonathan5, Benjamin4, Joseph3, James2, Jacob1). Born abt 1851-1856 in Iowa. [783], [826], [626], [1515] age 4 in 1856 census, age 8 in 1860 census, age 24 at marriage in 1881, age 34 in 1885 census. William died in Clermont, IA, abt 1885. [1516], [1212]

Marriage record gives parents names as S. Bassford and (blank) Wood, and birthplace as Cincinatti, OH. Both William and Marageret signed the marriage record with an “X”. [1515]

1885 State Census Collection for Clermont, Fayette Co., IA, Mill St. [626]
William Basford, male, age 34, b. Fayette Co., IA, laborer, married
Margaret, female, age 24, b. PA, keeping house
Maud A., female, age 2, b. Fayette Co., IA, single
Fannie I., female, age 0, b. Fayette Co., IA, single

Apparently he died abt1885. His wife Margaret remarried and gave the two girls to neighbors who adopted them. [1516]

[783], [826], [626], [1515], [1516], [1212]

He married Margaret E. MARTIN, daughter of Christian MARTIN & Catherine BASINS, on 17 Jul 1881 in Auburn, IA. [1515] Born on 18 Apr 1861 in Richfield, PA. [1212] Margaret E. died in Westfield Twp, IA, on 16 Aug 1914. [1212]

[626], [1515], [1516], [1212]

They had the following children:
i. Maud A. (1882-?)
ii. Alice (1885-1938)

955. Frances Helen BASFORD (Samuel7, Joshua K. S.6, Jonathan5, Benjamin4, Joseph3, James2, Jacob1). Born abt 1854 in Fayette Co., IA. [783], [826] age 2 in 1854 census, age 6 in 1860 census. Frances Helen died ? . aka: Helen. [649], [826]

[649], [783], [1045], [826], [1211]

She married Ransom Joseph Coley WILTSIE, son of Martin WILTSIE & Eliphel COOLEY, on 7 Jun 1880 in Milwaukee Co., WI. [1045], [1211] Born on 17 Sep 1841 in Hannibal, NY. [1211, place], [1517] Ransom Joseph Coley died in Milwaukee, WI, on 12 Nov 1899. [1517], [1518] Milwaukee County Jail. Buried in Wood National Cemetery, Milwaukee, WI. [1518] aka: R. C.

1880 federal census for Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co., WI, p. 223B [649]
R. C. Wiltse, male, head, age 39, b. NY, father b. NY, mother b. NY, brakeman, married
Hellen, female, wife, age 25, b. IA, father b. IA, mother b. IA, keeps house, married
Estella Basford, female, sister-in-law, age 20, b. IA, father b. IA, mother b. IA,
keeps house, single
(other boarders are also listed with the family)

1895 state census for Wauwatosa, Milwaukee Co., WI [1519]
R. C. Wiltze
1 white male
1 born Germany

His death record indicates that he was a widower, and that his wife’s name was Mary. [1517]

[649], [1045], [1211], [1520], [1517], [1518], [1519]

956. Mary Estella BASFORD (Samuel7, Joshua K. S.6, Jonathan5, Benjamin4, Joseph3, James2, Jacob1). Born in Oct 1857 in Fayette Co., IA. [1521] Mary Estella died in Oakland, CA, on 29 Mar 1927. [1522], [1523] Buried in Mountainview Cemetery, Oakland, CA. [1522] aka: Estella, Stella. [624]

1870 federal census for Westfield, Fayette Co., IA, p. 166 [624]
Stella Barford, female, age 11, b. IA, pauper
(living in poor house)

She was living with her sister Frances Helen Wiltsie at the time of the 1880 census. [649]

[649], [783], [624], [1045], [1521], [1210], [1522], [1523]

She married Cornelius Edward CROWLEY, son of Daniel CROWLEY & Elizabeth (CROWLEY), on 20 Aug 1881 in Milwaukee Co., WI. [1045], [1210] Born on 4 Sep 1856 in Wisconsin. [1524] Cornelius Edward died in Alameda Co., CA, on 17 Jun 1949. [1524] Buried on 20 Jun 1949 in Mountainview Cemetery, Oakland, CA. [1522] Occupation: Brakeman. [1210]

1900 federal census for New Whatcom, ED 245, Whatcom Co., WA, p. 22B [1521]
Cornelius Crowley, male, age 44, b. Sep 1855, WI, father b. Ireland,
mother b. Canada, married 20 years, machinist
Estella, female, wife, age 42, b. Oct 1857, IA, father b. NY, mother b. NY,
married 20 years, 2 children, 2 living
Cornelius, male, son, age 17, b. Sep 1882, WI, father b. WI, mother b. IA,
single, drug clerk
Bert, male, son, age 14, b. Feb 1886, WI, father b. WI, mother b. IA,
single, in school

1920 federal census for Oakland, Alameda Co. CA [1050]
Cornelius Crowley, male, head, age 55, b WI, father b. Ireland, mother b. Canada,
steam railway engineer
Estella Crowley, female, wife, age 63, b. IA, father b. NY, mother b. NY

He may be the Cornelius Crowly listed in the 1930 federal census for Jefferson, District 25, Fayette, IA [1101]
Cornelius Crowley, male, head, age 75, b. IL, father b. Ireland,
mother b. Ireland, widower, age 23 at first marriage
Mary V., female, daughter, age 45, b. IL, father b. IL,
mother b. IL, single
If so, he apparently had another child that wasn’t listed in the 1900 census.

Marriage record gives birthplace as Montreal, Canada. [1210]

[1045], [1210], [1521], [1524], [1523]

They had the following children:
i. Cornelius E. (~1882-1904)
ii. Fred Burton (1886-~1943)

957. Capt. Charles Edward BASFORD (Samuel7, Joshua K. S.6, Jonathan5, Benjamin4, Joseph3, James2, Jacob1). Born on 2 Nov 1862 in Iowa. [1209, p. 589] Charles Edward died in Bellingham, WA, on 12 Apr 1944. [1525], [1526] Buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Orcas Island, Whatcom Co., WA. [1527] Occupation: Steam Boat Pilot. aka: Edward Basfeard, Bashford. [1528], [1527]

His parents died when he was quite young. When he was ten years old he had come to be a sufficiently skilled teamster to be entrusted with the care of a team driving over the prairies of Iowa for two years and thus earning his railroad fare west. He traveled to Whatcom Co., WA with the Armstrong family, the party settling at what is now Blanchard, Skagit Co., but which then was included within the larger county of Whatcom. In the summer of 1873 he worked on a cattle ranch and in the next year had come to be a sufficiently adept rancher to be entrusted with the job of shearing sheep. In the fall of 1874 he got a job as a cabin boy on the bark "Osborn," a sailing vessel at that time well known along the coast, and thus began his career as a mariner. [1204]

Captain Basford's rise to a master's berth was rapid. When sixteen years of age he was certified as an able seaman. He then was sailing on the old Germania, freighting coal from Bellingham Bay to San Francisco under command of Captain Baker. After a time he quit the "windjammers" and took service on steamers with the Moran brothers, and during the years 1878-79 was one of the crew of the mail boat "Dispatch," from Port Townsend to outlying ports on this coast and in the islands. In 1880, when nineteen years of age, he successfully passed examination and got his mate's papers. For two years he served as mate on the Dispatch and was then mate on the Liza Anderson running between Olympia and Victoria. In 1886 Captain Basford earned his master's license and from that time until his recent retirement had a varied and interesting career as skipper, twenty years of this service being with the Newhall line as master of the Buckeye and the Islander. Among other vessels of which he was at one time or another captain may be mentioned the Kingston, the Lydia Thompson, the Evangel, the Burton and the Morning Star. In the spring of 1925 Captain Basford resigned and returned to land, buying a ranch near Everson to go into the chicken business. [1204]

1880 federal census for Orcas Island, ED 36, San Juan Co., Washington Territory, p. 2B [1529]
Charles Basfeard, male, head, age 21, b. IA, father b. IA, mother b. IA, farmer
Ella, female, wife, age 17, b. W.T., father b. W.T., mother b. W.T., keeping house
Norap, male, son, age 2, b. W.T., father b. IA, mother b. W.T.
(I think this should actually be a daughter Nora)

1887 census for Orcas Island, San Juan Co., Washington Territory [1530]
Cha’s Baseard, male, age28, b. IA, farmer, married
Ella, female, age 23, b. Washinton Territory, married
Norah, female, age 8, b. Washinton Territory, single
Lara(?), female, age 6, b. Washinton Territory, single
Fred, male, age 4, b. Washinton Territory, single
E., male, age 2, b. Washinton Territory, single

1900 federal census for Orcas, San Juan Co., WA, 15 Jun 1900, p. 19A [1521]
Cha's E. Basford, male, head, age 39, b. Nov 1860, IA, father b. Ger?,
mother b. Holland, married 22 years, master-steam boat
Ella, female, wife, age 35, b. Nov 1864, WA, father b. Ire?, mother b. WA,
married 22 years, 4 children, 3 living, invalid
Nora M., female, daughter, age 21, b. Sep 1879, b. WA, father b. IA, mother b. WA,
single, housekeeper
Fred, male, son, age 17, b. May 1883,WA, father b. IA, mother b. WA,
single, at school
Irving, male, son, age 16, b. Jul 1884,WA, father b. IA, mother b. WA,
single, at school

1910 federal census for Bellingham, 4th Ward, ED 332, Whatcom Co., WA, 910 Key St., p. 238A [1261]
Charles E. Basford, male, head, age 48, b. IA, father b. IA, mother b. IA,
captain-steam boat, second marriage, married 8 years
May, female, wife, age 37, b. OH, father b. Canada (English), mother b. OH,
second marriage, married 8 years, 1 child, 1 living
Edmund, male, son, age10, b. WA, father b. IA, mother b. OH, single
Fred , male, son, age 26, b. WA, father b. IA, mother b. WA, pilot-steam boat, single
Amelia Hanrach?, female, mother-in-law, age 65, b. OH, father b. NY, mother b. VT, widow

1920 federal census for Bellingham, ED 235, Watcom Co., WA, 910 Hay St., p. 7B [1262]
Charles E. Basford, male, head, age 59, b. IA, father b. IA, mother b. IA, seaman, married
Mae V., female, wife, age 47, b. OH, father b. Canada, mother b. OH, married
Charles E. , male, son, age 19, b. WA, father b. IA, mother b. OH, seaman, single

1930 federal census for Ten Mile, ED 53, Whatcom Co., WA 2 Apr 1930, p. 1A [1103]
Charles E. Basford, male, head, age 69, b. IA, father b. IA, mother b. IA,
farmer-chicken farm, married, age 19 at first marriage
Mae V., female, wife, age 57, b. OH, father b. VT, mother b. OH, married,
age 25 at first marriage
Nina L., female, daughter-in-law, age 33, b. OH, father b. OH, mother b. OH,
married, age 18 at first marriage
Charles E., male, son, age 30, b. WA, father b. IA, mother b. OH, boat pilot, married
Donald E., male, grandson, age 2, b. CA, father b. WA, mother b. OH, single

[1525] gives birth date as 2 Nov 1859. The day agrees with the birthdate of 2 Nov 1862 given by [1209, p. 589], but the year is different. Since Charles is not listed with his parents in the 1860 census, it seems more likely that the 1862 date is correct.

[1262], [1531], [1103], [1261], [1209, p. 589], [1521], [1204], [1528], [1529], [1530], [1532], [1525], [1526], [1213]

He first married Ella E. O'BRYANT on 18 Mar 1879 in Guemes Island, Washington Territory. [1528] Born in Nov 1864 in White River, King Co., WA. [1521], [1533, place] Ella E. died in Orcas Island, Whatcom Co., WA, on 14 Apr 1901. [1533], [1526] age 37. Buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Orcas Island, Whatcom Co., WA. [1533]

[1521], [1204], [1528], [1533], [1529], [1530], [1527], [1526]

They had the following children:
i. Nora M. (1879-1924)
ii. Anna Laura (Died as Child) (1881-1895)
iii. Fred A. (Never Married) (1883-1918)
iv. Irving L. (1884-1953)

He second married May Vivian HANSARD, daughter of Charles Thomas HANSARD & Maria Amelia MILLER, on 1 Jan 1902 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. [1209, p. 589], [1204], [1213] Born on 30 Jun 1872 in Munson, OH. [1209, p. 589], [1534] May Vivian died in Bellingham, WA, on 3 May 1939. [1209, p. 589], [1534] aka: Mae Vivia.

[1262], [1103], [1261], [1209, pp. 588-589], [1204], [1525], [1534], [1213]

They had one child:
i. Charles Edmund (Step Child) (1900-1971)

958. Fred BASFORD (Samuel7, Joshua K. S.6, Jonathan5, Benjamin4, Joseph3, James2, Jacob1). Born on 18 Oct 1865 in Clermont, IA. [1266] Fred died in Portage, WI, on 2 Feb 1897. [1266], [1535] age 31 years 3 months 19 days. Buried in Silver Lake Cemetery, Lewiston Twp, WI. [1535] Occupation: Railroad Switchman. [1266]

It is not proven that the twin brothers Fred and Frank Basford who were living with the family of Edward Thompson in the 1870 and 1880 censuses of Pleasant Valley Twp., Fayette Co., IA are children of Samuel, but this seems like the most likely possibility. [624], [625] Fred’s marriage record gives the name of his father as “unknown”, but it gives the name of his mother as Mary Wood, so this would seem to confirm this hypothesis. [1208]

1870 federal census for Pleasant Valley Twp., Fayette Co., IA, p.127 [624]
Edward Thompson, male, age 49, b. England, farmer
Nancy, female, age 39 , b. PA keeping house
Elizabeth, female, age 17, b. OH, at home
Henry Shaker, male, age 24, Bosnia(?), farm laborer
Catharine Henderson, female, age 16, b. Scotland, domestic servant
Fred Basford, male, age 5, b. IA
Frank, male, age 5, b. IA

1880 federal census for Pleasant Valley, Fayette Co., IA, p. 176D [625]
Edward Thompson, male, head, age 59, b. England, father b. England,
mother b. England, farmer, married
Nancy, female, wife, age 49, b. PA, father b. PA, mother b. PA, keeping house, married
Lizzie, female, daughter, age 27, b. OH, father b. England, mother b. PA,
school teaching, single
Edward G., male, son, age 9, b. IA, father b. England, mother b. PA, single
Thomas H., male, son, age 5, b. IA, father b. England, mother b. PA, single
Frank Basford, male, boarder, age 15, b. IA, father b. IL, mother b. unknown,
laborer, single
Fred, male, boarder, age 15, b. IA, father b. IL, mother b. unknown, laborer, single
Nettie J. Powell, female, boarder, age 14, b. IA, father b. VA, mother b. PA, at school, single

This Fred would probably the one who married Helen Shackley on 10 Nov 1886, Portage, WI. [1536] Fred was a switchman for the railroad and was killed 2 Feb 1897 by an accident in the rail yard. It was reported that he was born on 18 Oct 1865 in Clairmont Co., IA, and that he came to Portage, WI in 1883. He was survived by his wife and two children, Charlie, age 9, and Verne, age 5. [1266]

He was a member of the Knights of Pythias. [1537]

His gravestone gives his age at death as 31 years 3 months 19 days, which would correspond to 14 Oct 1865. [1535] This is slightly different than the date of 18 Oct 1865 given in the newspaper account of his death. [1266]

[624], [625], [1536], [1266], [1208], [1535], [1538], [1537], [1539], [1540]

He married Helen M. SHACKLEY, daughter of James SHACKLEY & Helen CLARK, on 10 Nov 1886 in Portage, WI. [1536], [1208] Born in May 1866 in Wyocina, WI. [976], [1208, place] Helen M. died ? .

1900 federal census for Minneapolis, 5th Ward, ED 1714, Hennepin Co., MN, 10th Ave., 9 Jun 1900, p. 124A [976]
Helen M. Basford, female, head, age 34, b. May 1866, WI, father b. ME, mother b. NY,
grocer, widow, married 13 years, 2 children, 2 living
Charles J., male, son, age 11, b. Jun 1888, WI, father b. IA, mother b. WI, at school, single
Verne, male, son, age 7, b. Aug 1892, WI, father b. IA, mother b. WI, single
Jela Eaping, female, sister, age 30 b. Apr 1870, WI, father b. ME, mother b. NY,
married12 years, no children

[976], [1536], [1208]

They had the following children:
i. Charles J. (1888-1966)
ii. Verne (1892-1968)

959. Frank BASFORD (Samuel7, Joshua K. S.6, Jonathan5, Benjamin4, Joseph3, James2, Jacob1). Born on prob. 18 Oct 1865 in Iowa. [1266] birthdate of Fred, who appears to be twin brother. Frank died in Ashland, WI, on 9 Apr 1888. [1535] age 22 years 3 months 28 days. Buried in Silver Lake Cemetery, Lewiston Twp, WI. [1535] Death Cause: Brain Cancer. [1541] Occupation: Brakeman For St. Paul Railroad. [1541]

It is not proven that the twin brother Fred and Frank Basford who were living with the family of Edward Thompson in the 1870 and 1880 censuses of Pleasant Valley Twp., Fayette Co., IA are children of Samuel, but this seems like the most likely possibility. [624], [625] Since Fred marriage record gives the name of his mother as Mary Wood, this would seem to confirm that they were the children of Samuel. [1208]

1870 federal census for Pleasant Valley Twp., Fayette Co., IA, p.127 [624]
Edward Thompson, male, age 49, b. England, farmer
Nancy, female, age 39 , b. PA keeping house
Elizabeth, female, age 17, b. OH, at home
Henry Shaker, male, age 24, Bosnia(?), farm laborer
Catharine Henderson, female, age 16, b. Scotland, domestic servant
Fred Basford, male, age 5, b. IA
Frank, male, age 5, b. IA

1880 federal census for Pleasant Valley, Fayette Co., IA, p. 176D [625]
Edward Thompson, male, head, age 59, b. England, father b. England,
mother b. England, farmer, married
Nancy, female, wife, age 49, b. PA, father b. PA, mother b. PA, keeping house, married
Lizzie, female, daughter, age 27, b. OH, father b. England, mother b. PA,
school teaching, single
Edward G., male, son, age 9, b. IA, father b. England, mother b. PA, single
Thomas H., male, son, age 5, b. IA, father b. England, mother b. PA, single
Frank Basford, male, boarder, age 15, b. IA, father b. IL, mother b. unknown,
laborer, single
Fred, male, boarder, age 15, b. IA, father b. IL, mother b. unknown, laborer, single
Nettie J. Powell, female, boarder, age 14, b. IA, father b. VA, mother b. PA, at school, single

He was married at the time of his death. [1541]

His gravestone gives his age at death as 22 years 3 months 28 days, which would correspond to a birthdate of 12 Dec 1865. [1535] The newspaper account of his twin brother Fred’s death gives Fred’s birthdate as 18 Oct 1865, [1266] and Fred’s gravestone gives his age at death as 31 years 3 months 19 days, which would correspond to 14 Oct 1865. [1535] It is not clear which of these dates would be the correct birthdate.

A newspaper death notice dated 12 Apr 1888 indicates that he died “yesterday” which would be 11 Apr 1888. [1541] This is slightly different than the date on his gravestone.

[624], [625], [1535], [1538], [1541], [1540]

Previous · Next
Contents · Index · Surnames · Contact
Copyright © 2000-2011 Kevin E. Spaulding. This information is for non-commercial use only