Elijah BASFORD was born in Maryland circa 1794 to Benjamin BASFORD and Ann WHITTINGTON (his second wife). Elijah and his family moved to Ohio 1835 and resided in Millwood Twp., Guernsey Co., per the 1850 census. He married Peggy UNKNOWN and they had 6 or 7 known issue. Listed on the 1850 census are:

James T., 21, b. MD
William, 19, b. MD
Ezekiel, 16, b. MD (possible twin Eleziel, 16)
John L., 14, b. OH
Enoch, 11, b. OH
Elijah, 11, b. OH
Margaret, 10, b. OH

In 1860, son James had moved to Illinois, Ezekiel (with family) was in Marion Twp., Noble Co., Enoch (with wife Nancy) was in Richland Twp., Vinton Co., and John and his family were living with his in-laws in Pleasant Twp., Clarke Co. I cannot find Elijah Sr. or Jr. or William in 1860, however in 1870, Elijah Sr. is living with William in Beaver Twp., Noble Co. and in 1880 with his son Elijah Jr., also in Beaver Twp.

I descend from Elijah's son John L. BASFORD, b. 21 Dec 1835 in Bainesville, Beaver Twp., Guernsey Co., married to Isabelle MAGHUMPHREY, 25 Jun 1856 in Millwood Twp., Guernsey Co. They moved to Pleasant Twp., Clark Co. with his in-laws between 1856 and 1860. John enlisted in the 45th Regiment of the Ohio Infantry Volunteers on 7 Aug 1862 in Springfield, Ohio. He was injured two years later (a freak accident), and spent most of the next year in the infirmary. In 1872, the family moved to Adams Co, Illinois.

John and Isabella had issue as follows: Mary, William , James, Eleanor, John, Margaret, and Mariah "Nancy". When John applied to the Old Soldier/Sailor's Home in Quincy, Illinois, he had four surviving children. Mary C."Marie", John W., Ellen, and Nancy.

I would love to find out where Elijah was in the 1860 census. He was a farmer but evidently did not own any land. The same is true for Isabella's father, and even worse is the spelling of her last name. On the 1850 census her father was Nicholas McGHENAPHY, in 1860 it's Michael McGUMPHREY, on John and Isabelle's marriage record it's MAGLENNPHY and on John's application for pension it's MAGHUMPHRY. Per my great aunt it was McHUMPHRY, and I've also seen it spelled McGUMFREY and McGLUMPHY.

Changes:

2001 JUN 25: First published.