Miami County, Ohio Genealogical Researchers -- Sponsored by the Computerized Heritage Association


    WILLIAM R. MUMFORD

    Among the families long identified with the agricultural interests of Miami county is the one to which our subject belongs. He was born June 7, 1841, on the farm which he now occupies in Elizabeth township, his parents being John and Mary (Crawmer) Mumford. The father was a native of Frederick county, Maryland, born September 16, 1805, and was there married. His wife, Mary Mumford, was also a native of Frederick county, Maryland, born September 4, 1809. Subsequently he came with his wife to Ohio, and for about eight years lived upon rented farms. His industry and economy during that period brought to him some capital which he then invested in land, constituting the farm upon which his son William now resides. There he spent his remaining days, his death occurring September 16, 1868. His wife, surviving him for some years, passed away July 3, 1894. He was the owner of a valuable tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres in the old homestead, and had property elsewhere, carrying on agricultural pursuits on an extensive scale. He became one of the original members of the Universalist church at Miami city, and was a recognized leader in the congregation. His political support was given the Democracy, but he never sought or desired preferment along that line. His wife was also active in church work, and was connected with the Lutheran denomination. In their family were eight children: Matilda, who died at the age of nineteen years; James, who resided in Elizabeth township, and died at the age of thirty years; John Peter, a resident farmer of Elizabeth township; William R., of this review; Joseph, who was a merchant of Miami city and died at the age of fifty-four years, leaving a widow and daughter, Mary Grace, who now resides at Alcony; and Mary Jane and Amanda, who are living with their brother William. The former is a member of the Christian church at Honey Creek. The latter is an invalid, being able to go about only in a wheeled chair. She is a women of bright intellect and has many friends in the community.

    William R. Mumford remained upon the home farm throughout the days of his boyhood and youth, and on attaining his majority he took charge of the property. Since his mother's death he has purchased the old homestead and has recently erected a new residence and barn upon another part of the farm. He here owns one hundred and sixty acres, and has a tract of twenty-one acres elsewhere. His time is given to general farming and to sheep raising, making a specialty of the Shropshire sheep. Idleness and indolence are utterly foreign to his nature, and his unfailing industry has enabled him to work his way upward to a position of affluence, overcoming all difficulties and obstacles in his path.

    On the 7th of November 1867, occurred the marriage of Mr. Mumford and Miss Olivia Schindler, a daughter of John Schindler, a native of Maryland. Mrs. Mumford was also born in Maryland, and during her girlhood came to Ohio, where she died September 7, 1876, leaving four children, two sons and two daughters. One daughter died in early life, and Viola at the age of fifteen years. The living children are Irving and Eben. Irving married Susie Drake and resides on the old homestead, which he is operating in connection with his father. Eben, who engaged in teaching for two years and was a student in the Ada Normal School, was graduated in the Buchtel College at Akron, Ohio, and is now a student in the Chicago University, where he is pursuing a, post-graduate course with the class of 1900, and also studying theology. He is an ordained preacher in the Universalist church, and has occupied the pulpit of that denomination in Alcony.

    Mr. Mumford gives his political support to the Democracy, and is able to uphold his position by intelligent argument, yet has never sought or desired office. He is a member and trustee of the Universalist church, and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend. For twenty-seven consecutive years he has served on the township school board, and has labored earnestly and effectively to promote the interests of the schools in this locality. His is a record of a well spent life, and although it is not filled with events of exciting interest, it has been characterized by fidelity to his duty to himself, to his neighbors and to his country.

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