WILLIAM R. HANDFORD

WILLIAM R. HANDFORD was born in Delaware county, N. Y., in 1812, and came to Rodman in 1825. He was one of 16 children, who all lived to attain maturity and marriage. Mr. Handford traced his ancestry back to the Rev.Thomas Handford, who came from England in 1640, settled in Norwalk, Conn., preached to its people 40 years. William R. Handford married Miss Elsie Elizabeth Utley, of Rodman. He was a merchant during all his business life, and was engaged in merchandise when the first shot was fired upon Sumter---a shot whose echoes went round the world and roused the North to an unprecedented degree of angry remonstrance. That shot sounded the knell of slavery in America, though it required two years of warfare to elicit Lincoln''s proclamation of freedom. Mr.Handford raised Company A, of the 94th N. Y. Volunteer Infantry, and with it went to the field. While in service near Washington, he was promoted to be a major, and held that position during his entire service with the regiment. His health failing he was obliged to resign his position, and on restoration to comparative strength he resumed his business in trade. He is probably best remembered in Rodman on account of his connection with the Congregational church, of which he was consistent and honored member for many years. He was the father of George R. Handford, for many years a a merchant of Watertown, who was his only descendant. George R. married Miss Anna Wood, of Watertown, a niece of General Joseph Hooker, whose record in the War of the Rebellion is still fresh in the memory of his countrymen.

Sources

Hamilton Child's Gazetteer of Jefferson County, N.Y., published in 1890.

Jefferson County NYGenWeb, US Civil War Service Records, "Electronic," for William R. Handford

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