ROBERT CRAWFORD SAFFORD

was born in Canton, Wayne County, March 21, 1838, and is the son of Rufus and Elethear Safford. His father was the son of Jabez Safford, and was born in Canterbury, Windham County, Connecticut, on June 1, 1800. His grandfather was one of three brothers who came from Scotland, one of whom settled in Connecticut, one in Vermont, and the last in New York. Rufus Safford, after reaching his majority, worked on a farm in summer and taught school during the winters, eventually going to New York City, where he worked at the stonecutter's trade for a number of years. In 1832 he emigrated to Michigan, and settled on Section 2 in the township of Canton, Wayne County. In 1835 he married Elethear Crawford, the daughter of Robert and Hannah Crawford. She was born near Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County, New York, on October 30, 1803, and came to Michigan, with her brother Ezra, in 1833. Rufus and his wife continued to live on the farm which he first bought until his death, on June 1, 1884. His wife died on March 28, 1889, at the age of 86. They had three sons, namely, Robert Crawford Safford, Jabez A. Safford, who was born on September 17, 1839; he died February 6, 1853. Winfield Scott Safford, the third son, was born January 23, 1841, was a soldier in the Civil War, and was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, and died the next day.

Robert Crawford Safford was educated in the district school, and also attended one term at the State Normal School in Ypsilanti. He continued with his father on the farm until April, 1864, when he moved to Plymouth, and still occupies the farm upon which he has lived for a quarter of a century. He was married on January 29, 1863, to Elizabeth A. Murray, daughter of Archibald Y. and Abigail Murray, who settled in Canton, Wayne County, in 1826, and were among its earliest inhabitants. They have had one son and two daughters, namely, Lenora, who was born on April 13, 1865; she died on October 9, 1868. Homer Erwin was born September 18, 1869, and their daughter, Ada Murray, on November 26, 1877. Mr. Safford subscribes to the doctrines of the Universalist Church, but is not a member of any branch society. He is a strong temperance man, and, believing that all legal measures should be adopted to restrict the liquor traffic, he supports the Prohibition movement, and has done much to advance the cause of that party. In 1889 he was serving as Chairman of the Wayne County Prohibition Committee, and is esteemed and respected as an able and useful citizen
The History of Detroit and Wayne Co Michigan Pg 1264