Biography of Ira William Hayford.
Great Grandfather Ira William Hayford, Machinist: He was born in Pennfield, N.B., on 17 Oct 1846. He was the son of Asa and Ann (Tatton) Hayford. His family moved to Lowell MA in the late 1840s and to Hudson WI around 1853.
Ira’s voluminous Civil War pension records – an inch in depth – tell the story of one man who experienced great physical pain in life due to his Civil War injury but also showed great fortitude. He enlisted for the Union Cause on 19 Dec 1863 in Hudson WI; joined Co G, 4th Regiment, Wisconsin Cavalry in early 1864, and was separated with an honorable discharge on 19 Jun 1866 in Madison WI. He “received an injury of his right knee by his horse falling upon him while scouting in the area of Baton Rouge LA in Apr 1864.” He was but 17 years old at the time. After the War, he settled in Biddeford ME where he married Sarah Frances Goodwin, a first cousin, on 9 Jun 1868. Sarah was born on 6 Jun 1848 in Lowell MA, a little better than three months prior to Abe Lincoln’s visit to Lowell on 16 Sep 1848. Ira worked for many years at the Saco ME Water Power Machine Shop at the foot of steep Pike Street from a sitting position because of his crippled condition.
This injury got progressively worst as the years passed. During his work years, he stood at 5 ft. 4 in. and weighed some 155 lbs. After his disability became so pronounced in 1881, he began using a crutch and cane. He applied for a pension in 1886 under The War Pension Act of August 4, 1886 and was granted $24 per month. From then on, he made out affidavit after affidavit for a higher claim award. He was awarded $30 on 29 Jan 1890 and $36 on 1 Apr 1891. His claims for an increase on 25 Apr 1893, 3 Aug 1894, 6 Sep 1895 and 25 Jan 1897 were all rejected. The Pension Board reversed the decision of the Medical Referee on 30 Apr 1898 and awarded him $50 per month. The reason given: “The disability … in this case is … much greater than if the limb had been actually amputated, even at the hip joint.” His monthly pension claim was increased to $72 an 24 Nov 1903.
His efforts in getting a better pension were immeasurably helped by his wife’s brothers Charles and Albert – prominent Biddeford ME bankers. Over the years everyone got into the act with various kinds of sworn statements filed with the Pension Office. Statements were received from Sarah Frances and Minnie Hayford, his wife and daughter; his machine shop co-workers; his neighbors; his Civil War Company Commanding Officer and buddies; numerous doctors; etc. On 11 Jan 1907 at 60 years of age, he wrote: “I am and have been for the last part of twenty-five years, at least, wholly disabled for any kind of manual labor, be it so light.” Ira lived at 40 Pike Street and 111 Alfred Street in Biddeford and at Old Orchard Beach, Maine, during his final years of life. Great Grandfather Ira Hayford died on 19 Nov 1909 (OOB ME). He and his wife Frances are buried at the Greenwood Cemetery in Biddeford.
Compiled and Submitted By: Wendell Small
Member - Sons of Veterans of the Civil War
Major General Thomas H. Ruger Camp #1
Compiled and Submitted By: Wendell Small
Member - Sons of Veterans of the Civil War
Major General Thomas H. Ruger Camp #1
