Oliver Spencer Mulford

  General Notes:

OLIVER SPENCER MULFORD by Michael K. Mulford

CHAPTER ONE BACKGROUND AND THE EARLY YEARS 1828-1840

Oliver Spencer Mulford was born on Tuesday, July 22nd, 1828 in Dillsboro, Dearborn County, Indiana, USA. His father was Benjamin Mulford who was born on Tuesday, August 17th, 1802 in Clermont, Clermont County, Indiana.
His mother was Mary Legg who was born on Monday, February 22nd, 1808 in Boone County, Kentucky, USA. His parents were married on October 4th, 1827 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
It is believed that his father apprenticed as a blacksmith and then moved west to open up a blacksmith shop in Dillsboro, Dearborn County, Indiana. In 1828 Andrew Jackson defeated John Quincy Adams to become the fourth President of the United States. In 1830 Joseph Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints which would lead to a huge genealogical collection. In 1832 Andrew Jackson was re-elected as the seventh President of the new "Democrat Party". By coincidence, this was the same year the word "socialism" came into use in English and French. In 1833 the Whig Party was formed. In 1836 Texas won independence from Mexico and became a republic with General Sam Houston as its first President. Also in 1836 Martin Van Buren was elected as the eighth President of the United States. William H. Harrison was elected as the ninth President in 1840.

CHAPTER TWO THE PREWAR YEARS 1841-1860
John Tyler succeeds newly elected William H. Harrison to become the tenth President of the United States in 1841. In 1844 James K. Polk was elected as the eleventh President of the United States. In 1846 Iowa became a state. In that same year Brigham Young lead the Mormons from Nauvoo, Illinois to the Great Salt Lake, Utah. In 1846, the war with Mexico began.
In 1847 U.S. forces captured Mexico City, Mexico. In 1848 the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo gave the U.S. Texas, New Mexico, California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona plus parts of Colorado and Wyoming. In 1848 Zachary Taylor was elected the twelfth President of the United States.
Oliver Spencer Mulford married Sara Ann Wills on Thursday, November 1st, 1849 in Dillsboro, Dearborn County, Indiana. Sara Ann Wills was born on Thursday, August 7th, 1828 in Chesterville, Dearborn County, Indiana.
Together they had eight children. These included Mary Elizabeth Mulford born on August 22nd, 1850 (who died on September 4th, 1850 at the age of 13 days); Benjamin Elliott Mulford born on September 11th, 1851; Olive Ann Mulford born on August 22nd, 1854; Martha Belle Mulford born on December 20th, 1856; Sara Jane Mulford born on May 4th, 1859; Oliver Perry Morton Mulford born on March 8th, 1862; Ulysses S. Grant Mulford born on September 1st, 1864; and Charles Franklin Mulford born on May 15th, 1868.
In 1852 Franklin Pierce was elected the 14th President of the USA. In 1854 the U.S. Senate ratified the Gadsden Purchase of parts of southern New Mexico and Arizona. In 1856 James Buchanan won the U.S. Presidential election. In 1858 Minnesota became a state. In 1859 Oregon became a state. In 1859 Charles Darwin wrote On the Origin of the Species by Natural Selection. In 1860 Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States and South Carolina seceded in protest. In 1861 Kansas became a state.

CHAPTER THREE THE CIVIL WAR YEARS 1861-1865
The Civil War began on April 12, 1861. Many large Confederate units such as the Kentucky State Guard were encamped across the river at Louisville, Kentucky. Although Kentucky was technically neutral, Major General George B. McClellan refused to recognize that neutrality. In April and May of 1861, commanding Ohio state forces, McClellan's attacks helped keep Kentucky as Union territory. Oliver Perry Morton Mulford was born eleven months later. His father, Oliver Spencer Mulford was 34 years old at the time. Oliver Spencer Mulford served twice in the Civil War. Owning a horse allowed him go into the cavalry. The first time was with the Indiana Regiment. On the second occasion a doctor's son in Aurora, Indiana was drafted. Oliver Spencer Mulford agreed to go in his place in return for $1,000. Oliver Spencer Mulford left his wife and four other living children back in Dillsboro, Dearborn County, Indiana, USA as he went off to war.
Oliver Perry Morton Mulford's siblings included Mary Elizabeth Mulford who was born on August 22nd, 1850 (but died 13 days later on September 4th, 1850); Benjamin Elliott Mulford who was born on September 11th, 1851; Olive Ann Mulford who was born on August 22nd, 1854; Martha Belle Mulford who was born on December 20th, 1856 and Sara Jane Mulford who was born on May 4th, 1859. These were Oliver Perry Morton Mulford's older siblings. Later siblings included Ulysses S. Grant Mulford who was born onSeptember 1st, 1864 and Charles Franklin Mulford who was born on May 15th, 1868.
Dillsboro, Dearborn County, Indiana, USA was at times only 10 miles from Confederate lines. That is, Kentucky was just across the Ohio River to the East and South. As a result, Oliver Spencer Mulford hadtobeconstantly prepared for raiders from the Confederacy. His blacksmith shop, livery stables and horses were prime targets for these attackers. As a result, Oliver Spencer Mulford had to retain a rifle at his side at all times. This weapon, fixed with side fitting bayonet, to allow use of the ramrod, was made in Harper's Ferry in 1848. Approximately 30 notches on the stock indicate the number of rebels dispatched with this weapon. The rifle was later passed on to Oliver Livingston Mulford to Robert Keith Mulford to Michael Keith Mulford. Likewise, certain blacksmith tools as an anvil, sledge hammers, pliers and like were still used by Oliver Livingston Mulford until his later years.
On March 9, 1862 the Ironclads, the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia (later known as the Merrimack) marked the first clash of ironclad warships. On January 1st, 1863 the EmancipationProclamationbecameeffective granting freedom to the 3,953,760 slaves. In 1863 the Confederate forces won at Chancellorville, Virginia in May but then lost at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and Vicksburg, Mississippi in July. In early 1864 General Ulysses S. Grant succeeded General Halleck as Commander-in-Chief of the Union armies. Soon thereafter, Oliver Spencer Mulford named his newborn child after this victorious warrior.
In 1865 General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9th, 1865. Oliver Perry Morton Mulford was only three years old at this time and only second-hand knowledge of the events occurring in the Civil War.

CHAPTER FOUR THE DILLSBORO BLACKSMITH 1866-1888
Oliver Spencer Mulford was the town's blacksmith and was needed in the town. The blacksmith shop was the largest in southern Indiana. The Blacksmith shop was on Main Street. The family home was beside it. A large barn was behind it. The barn, on the back lot included two box stalls for ponies, a chicken coop, a harness room and a lot for horse trading.
The home was the best in town. It had four bedrooms, four fireplaces and a hot air furnace fueled by the coal. The basement was always full of coal. During the winter they would close off the front and back parlor to make it easier to heat. Inside they had a mahogany piano which all the girls were required to take lessons to learn how to play. After evening meal the girls were required to perform a small concert for the entertainment of the family. The outside was painted yellow. Later it would be painted white. It had the prettiest yard in town. There were 12 maple trees. The bottoms were whitewashed. To assure a straight line the top was belted with a strap before painting. There was a large flowerbed as well.
In 1866 Alfred Nobel invented dynamite. In 1867 Russia sold Alaska to the United States of America for seven million two hundred thousand dollars. Meanwhile, Nebraska became a state. In 1868 U.S.President Andrew Johnson was impeached for violating the Tenure of Office Act but was acquitted by the U.S. Senate. Later in the year Ulysses S. Grant was elected President of the United States. This was also the time that the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was added. In 1869 U.S. Grant was inaugurated as President. Dillsboro had approximately 500 persons at all times. Its biggest industry was the Dillsboro Sanitarium, which was located on Back Street which later, became the town's nursing home. Many people would come from Cincinnati to "take the cure" at the mineral baths therein. The town had a few stores, a doctor and a lawyer. The Schoolhouse was made of brick and had two floors. Two classes would share each of the rooms. The family had backed the Republicans and abolitionist candidates such as Abraham Lincoln. During this period of time Oliver Perry Morton Mulford attended the local schoolhouse in the morning and helped his father in the blacksmith shop in the afternoons.
Oliver Spencer Mulford was a strong Methodist as were his children. The family would attend church each Sunday and read the Bible at night by candlelight. The children were also strict Methodists who would not even read a newspaper on Sunday. These Christian values also included helping their fellow men and no one was refused service due to lack of payment. The town also had these values with everyone willing to help their neighbors in time of need.
Oliver Spencer Mulford was about 5' 9" tall. He was a large man weighing about 190 pounds. He was quite strong due to his work in the Blacksmith shop. His only vice being that he liked to drink. This would lead his son, Oliver Perry Morton Mulford, to abstain from any alcoholic beverages. In 1871 Charles Darwin published The Descent of Man. The U.S. population had now grown to 39 million persons. In 1872 U.S. Grant was re-elected as President. The Mulford males (since females were not allowed to vote) were always quite active in Republican politics. This usually involved management and finance rather than running for the offices themselves. The Indiana residents were far better off than their former Confederate neighbors across the river. In 1876 Tilden had 184 electoral votes to 165 electoral votes for the Republican Hayes with 20 votes still in dispute. The electoral commission granted Hayes the victory in 1877. Being rabid Republicans, the Mulford's agreed with this outcome.
In 1880 James A. Garfield won the U.S. Presidential elections. At the same time Thomas Edison devised a practical electrical light and Louis Pasteur discovered a chicken cholera vaccine. In 1881 James A. Garfield was sworn in as President. Then in September he was assassinated and succeeded by Chester Arthur. In 1884 Grover Cleveland was elected President of the United States. Breakfast was fried potatoes and steak. These calories were burned in the blacksmith shop. During this time Oliver Perry Morton Mulford would use his forge, coal, bellows, pliers and sledge hammers to make horseshoes, plows, blades, shovels, hoes and like. Oliver Perry Morton Mulford was approximately 5'8" tall. He had black hair and brown eyes. He was quite muscular and stocky due to daily work in the blacksmith shop. He weighed approximately 180 pounds. The blacksmith shop was a comman meeting place on Main Street. Their home was right beside the shop.
Dillsboro, Dearborn County, Indiana, USA was known for their flourmills which were located on a creek which they called a "race".One of these was the "Mulford Mill" which was owned by a cousin. These would grind the grain with their mill wheels. The area also grew a great deal of tobacco and grain crops. Dillsboro had a population of approximately 500 people at this time. Most of the people were of English and Northern European stock.
There was a very large Germanic population. This resulted in there being three Lutheran Churches (Augustan Synod, Missouri Synod and Ohio Synod). These German farmers also had their German Lutheran School, which also taught the children German.
Main Street was a dirt street with hitching posts and some wooden sidewalks at that time. Main Street ran east to west. Main Street was paralleled by North Street with most business and housing in between on the crossing streets. Still north of North Street was Lenover Street, which also ran east to west. All these were dirt streets. Gaslights were available at night. There were no shacks in Dillsboro. It was a middle class midwestern town. The population was entirely of European descent.There was not a Black in the town.
Oliver Perry Morton Mulford's older brother, Benjamin Elliott Mulford, died at the age of 34 years on November 4th, 1885. This left Oliver Perry Morton Mulford as the oldest surviving son along with his brother U.S. Grant Mulford.
On Thursday, November 25th, 1886, at Friendship, Ripley County, Indiana, Oliver Perry Morton Mulford would marry Isola Livingston who was born on Wednesday, August 23rd, 1865 in Dillsboro, Dearborn County, Indiana. Isola Livingston brought a long and distinguished line of patriots into the Mulford lineage. Oliver Perry Morton Mulford's older sister, Martha Belle Mulford would die in February 1888 at the age of 31 years. Oliver Perry Morton Mulford's first child was Maude Livingston Mulford who was born on February 19th, 1888 in Dillsboro, Dearborn County, Indiana. Two months later, Oliver Spencer Mulford passed away on April 28, 1888 in Dillsboro, Dearborn County, Indiana. Oliver Spencer Mulford was 59 years, 9 months and 6 days old. The blacksmith shop, livery stable and horses were then passed down to Oliver Perry Morton Mulford and Ulysses S. Grant Mulford who operated the business as partners.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census, 1840, Sparta, Dearborn, Indiana. ⁶

• Census, 1860, Clay, Dearborn, Indiana. ⁷
O. S. Mulford, 31, blacksmith, real estate $1000, property $600, born in Ohio. S. A. Mulford, 31, born in Kentucky. B. E. Mulford, 8, born in Indiana. Olive Mulford, 6, born in Indiana. M. B. Mulford, 4, born in Indiana. S. J. Mulford, 1, born in Indiana. Fredric L. Confs, 24, blacksmith, born in Germany. A. Shepard, 21, blacksmith, born in Indiana.

• Census, 1850, Sparta, Dearborn, Indiana. ⁸
Oliver S. Mulford, 22, blacksmith, property $200, born in Ohio. Sarah Ann Mulford, 22, born in Kentucky. Amos Peck, 24, blacksmith, born in Indiana. Mary E. Peck, 1 mo, born in Indiana.

• Census, 1870, Clay, Dearborn, Indiana. ⁹
Mr. Mulford, 42, blacksmith, real estate $2600, property $1000, born in Ohio. Sarah Mulford, 42, keeping house, born in Kentucky. Benjamin Mulford, 17, born in Indiana. Olive Mulford, 16, born in Indiana. Martha Mulford, 13, born in Indiana. Sarah Mulford, 12, born in Indiana. Morton Mulford, 9, born in Indiana. Grant Mulford, 6, born in Mulford. Charley Mulford, 2, born in Indiana.

• Census, 1880, Dillsboro, Dearborn, Indiana. ¹⁰

• Occupation: Blacksmith, 1880, Dillsboro, Dearborn, Indiana. ¹¹

Oliver married Sarah Ann Wills on 1 Nov 1849 in Dillsboro, Dearborn, Indiana.^{1 2} (Sarah Ann Wills was born on 7 Aug 1828 in , , Kentucky ^{12 13}.)