PETER J. STAFFORD. Upon the opposite page of this volume appears a portrait of this gentleman, who is one of the prominent business men of Leonardville, Riley County, being engaged in the hardware business. Although he has been a resident of this town only a few years, he has established himself in the esteem of his fellow-citizens as a man of strict business integ­rity and upright dealings in all the paths of life.

Our subject is now in the prime of life, having been born in Warwickshire, England, Sept. 6, 1847, to Robert S. and Elizabeth (Smith) Stafford, both of whom were likewise natives of that kingdom on whose dominions the sun never sets. The family em­igrated to America in 1856, and settled in Washing­ton Co., N. Y., whence they removed in 1881 to Dakota Co., Minn. In 1869 another removal was made, this time to Johnson Co., Mo., and from there in 1871 to DeKalb County, the same State. Since 1878 they have resided in Jefferson, Neb.

In early youth the father of our subject became connected with the Congregational Church and commenced his noble work as a minister of that communion when only twenty-two years of age. His resolution to devote himself to the preaching of God's Word being once taken, nothing could induce him to swerve from his course, and he has contin­ued in his sacred calling from that time to the pres­ent, and only the future life can reveal the good accomplished. He is a highly educated man, and keeps full up to the times in every respect, although six years past the allotted span of threescore and ten. Mr. Stafford traces his family back to the Stafford family of historic fame of England. The mother of Mr. Stafford, Elizabeth Smith, was born in 1815, and is still in the enjoyment of a full-degree of health and vigor. This excellent couple have had six children born to them, named respec­tively, William, John, Edward, Peter, Emma and Anna.

The subject of this notice was reared in Minne­sota and Missouri, and received a common school education, which was not much to boast of, as the schools, especially in the latter State, were not very good, but young Peter had the benefit of his father's knowledge and profited by it in more ways than one. Books were scarce and expensive in those days, and a minister's library was not apt to contain any light reading, but the works that were to be found in such a collection could be depended upon for solid instruction. Since leaving the parental roof Mr. Stafford has continued the habit of reading as many works of value as he can con­sistently with his other duties. Indeed, it is neces­sary in this enlightened period to keep "booked up." and our subject is in nowise behind the age in this respect.

The early years of Mr. Stafford were passed where the same period of time in the lives of so many of our greatest and most successful men has been spent — on a farm — and he there learned much of the “various language which Dame Nat­ure is said to speak to him who, loving her, holds communion with her visible forms." His fine con­stitution, which has enabled him to successfully withstand the strain inseparable from a business career in this aggressive age of "rapid transit," is, no doubt, owing to the wholesome life of the farm which he led during the early period of his youth. Upon leaving the farm he engaged as a clerk at Stewartsville, Missouri, but after remaining there several years went in 1885 to Leonardville, Kansas, where he embarked in the hardware and implement business. This venture has proved very successful, and the firm is now Stafford & Lee. In addition to their place of business at Leonardville, they also carry on a similar store at Riley, in Riley County, and in both places are doing a lucrative trade. Mr. Stafford is a self-made man, as he had no capital but his brain and good constitution to start with, but he is a well-made man and not offensively proud of his “maker" as are some who enjoy the distinction of being "self-made." He is an excellent business man, a thorough gentleman and a first-class citizen in this county where first-class citizens are not rare.

He belongs to the A. F. and A. M. Lodge No. 235, at Leonardville, and in his political affinities is with the Republican party.

March 16, 1871, witnessed the nuptials of Mr. Stafford and Miss Julia A. Lee of Marysville, Missouri. Mrs. Stafford is a sweet, gentle Christian woman and a worthy companion for her husband. Their married life has been an ideal one and a brilliant example of the Divine wisdom of setting the "peo­ple of the earth in families." They have been mu­tually helpful in all respects and have shared their joys and sorrows and found consolation for grief at the same footstool of Infinite Love. Mrs. Staf­ford was born in Steubenville, Ohio. Feb. 6, 1853, and is a daughter of Rev. William D. and Nancy (Beatty) Lee, both natives of Ohio. Peter J. Staf­ford and his wife are the parents of seven children, whose names are, May, Robert L., Edith, Mary E., Rosco, John and Dora. Mr. and Mrs. Stafford are active and efficient members of the Methodist Epis­copal Church at Leonardville, and stand high in the esteem of all with whom they come in contact. The poor have reason to remember their benevo­lence, and the penitent wrong-doer finds in their Christian charity a mantle to cover his former mis­conduct, and their faith and trust in his sincerity encourage him to press forward in the oftimes rugged path of righteousness.