(III) William H.. fourth son of Thomas and Urina (Harmer) Cornford, was born in England, September 8, 1835. He accompanied his parents to America, in early childhood, began the activities of life as a carpenter’s apprentice and having learned that trade he followed it as a journeyman in Phelps for some time. At the breaking-out of the rebellion in 1861, he went to the front with the Seventy-sixth Regiment, New York Volunteers, and after completing his first term of service he reenlisted in the Ninth Michigan Volunteers, with which he served until the close of the war. In 1868 he removed from Phelps to the state of Michigan, locating first in Hudson and later in Birch Run, Saginaw county, where he settled at a pioneer farmer. The primitive log cabin in which he had domiciled his family was subsequently burned, and returning to Phelps in 1871, he resided there until his death, which occurred October 3, 1909. He was a past commander of the local Grand Army post, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Catharine, daughter of William Chandler. Children : William H.. mentioned elsewhere Hiram F.. Milton, Nellie, Kate, Allen R. and Mae (twins), and Edith.
