Laura (Stafford) Luther (abt. 1835 - 1915)

Born about 1835 in New York, United States

Ancestors

Died 1 Jul 1915 at about age 80 in Vernon County, Missouri, United States

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Biography

Laura Stafford was born in about 1835 in New York.^[1] She was probably the daughter of Isaac Stafford and Mary Unknown.^[2]

She married John W. Luther in 1855.^[3] In 1860, this young family appears in Reddish township, Lewis County, Missouri.^[4] In 1870, the growing family appears in Williamstown in Lewis County, near the family of Laura's likely brother James Stafford.^[1]

By 1880, the family had relocated to St. Clair County, Missouri.^[5] She lived there until at least 1910.^[3][6]

Laura Luther died in nearby Vernon County, Missouri, on 1 July 1915.^[7]

Children

Children of J.W. Luther and Laura Stafford include at least:

1. Isaac L., b. abt 1856^[4]
2. Thomas, b. abt 1859^[4]
3. John, b. abt 1862^[1]
4. Cora Mae, b. 11 Dec 1863, m. [1] William R. Gooch, m. [2] George Washington Scott^[1]
5. Mary (or Martha), b. abt 1866^[1]
6. Sarah Frances, b. abt 1868^[1]
7. Eliza, b. abt 1871^[5]
8. Jane (or Jennie), b. abt 1874^[5]
9. Elmer, b. 1878^[5]

Research Notes

Proof of Parental Relationship

Many online sources identify Laura Stafford as an additional child of Abraham Stafford and Hannah Sears. There is no known source for that claim, and it appears more likely that she was a daughter of Abraham's brother Isaac for the following reasons:

• Laura does not appear in Abraham's household in the 1850 census. All other known children of Abraham and Hannah do appear in that household.
• The known children of Abraham and Hannah include Sarah born in abt 1834 and Charles born in May 1836. It is possible but unlikely that they had and additional child born between these two.
• There is only 1 female child listed in Abraham's household in 1840. This is likely Sarah, who was born abt 1834.
• There are two female children in Isaac's household in 1840. One is likely Mary, b. abt 1839. The identity of the other is unknown. The only other known daughter of Isaac was Margaret, who was born in abt 1842 or later and would not be listed in the 1840 census.
• Laura's death certificate does not identify Abraham Stafford and Hannah Sears as her parents. The identity of her parents is unclear in the death certificate, indicating the declarant (likely her son John Luther, born in 1862) did not know the identity of his grandparents. Abraham and Hannah lived to 1885 & 1890; Isaac and his wife died before John was born.
• Isaac and his wife died before 1850. Their three younger children appear in the household of a foster family in 1850. The location of Laura in 1850 is unknown.
• In 1870, Laura and her family are living in Williamstown, Lewis County, just three households away from the family of Isaac's son James Nelson Stafford.
• There are numerous AncestryDNA matches between the descendants of Laura Stafford and descendants of Margaret Stafford, which many researchers rely on as corroborating the claim that Laura is the daughter of Abraham; however these matches are equally consistent with Laura being either the daughter of Isaac or Abraham, especially if they were identical twins.

Estimated Birth Date

There are many conflicting sources for her birth date. The 1870 & 1900 census and her gravestone all give a date of 1835. Other sources give dates ranging from 1834-1840.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} 1870 U.S. census, Lewis County, Missouri, population schedule, Williamstown township, p. 4 (penned), dwelling 25, family 25, line 12, Laura Luther; image, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D1D7-TNP : accessed 20 Sep 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication M593, roll 787.
2. ↑ See Research Notes.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} 1900 U.S. census, St. Clair County, Missouri, population schedule, Speedwell township, p. 181-B (stamped), enumeration district (ED) 152, sheet 6, dwelling 123, family 125, Laura Luther; image, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-63T7-QM3 : accessed 19 Sep 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication T623 roll 886.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} 1860 U.S. census, Lewis County, Missouri, population schedule, Reddish township, p. 20 (penned), dwelling 130, family 135, Laura Luther; image, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GBSH-CCJ : accessed 19 Sep 221); citing NARA microfilm publication M653, Roll 629.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} 1880 U.S. census, St. Clair County, Missouri, population schedule, Speedwell township, p. 291-C (stamped), enumeration district (ED) 227, p. 15 (penned), lines 1-8, family of J.W. & Laura Luther; image, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBH-3MG : accessed 20 Sep 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 714.
6. ↑ 1910 U.S. census, St. Clair County, Missouri, population schedule, West Speedwell township, p. 53 (stamped), enumeration district (ED) 142, sheet 2A, dwelling 17, family 17, line 15, Laura Luther; image, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRVR-59W : accessed 20 Sep 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication T624, roll 802.
7. ↑ Missouri Secretary of State, "Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1968," Missouri Digital Heritage, database with images, (https://s1.sos.mo.gov/Records/Archives/ArchivesMvc/ : accessed 17 Sep 2021), search terms: Last Name: Luther, First Name: Laura, County:Vernon; death certificate of Laura Luther, Certificate Number 23844.