An American Family History

Mary Ann Brinson Spafford was born on June 12, 1861 in Winterset, Madison County, Iowa. Her parents were David Brinson and Sarah E. Freestone Brinson Long. When she was five years old, her mother married John H. Long.

When she was 14 years old, she married Francis Marion Marshall on February 14, 1875 in Hamilton County, Nebraska. Frances was born September 10, 1857 in Henry County, Iowa. His parents were Taggert Marshall and Mary Abigail Royce. In 1870 the Marshall family was in Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa.

Francis and Mary Ann's children included:
Frances Marion Marshall (1876, died at 6 months),
Lillie Mae Marshall (1878, married Herbert Saunders),
William Edward Marshall (1881, married Jeanie Tipton), and
Walter Marshall (1884).

At the time of the 1880 census they were living in Frontier, Nebraska. Frank was a stock grower. Some time after Walter was born, they parted ways. Frank married Mary M. Hensen about 1886.

In 1895, Mary Clark, married Waldo Worth Spafford in Tulare California. Waldo was born January 3, 1864 in Allamakee, Iowa. His parents were Sylvester and Mary Spafford.

Mary Ann and Waldo's daughter Mary Elizabeth Spafford Williams Martin was born on September 11, 1896 in Tulare, California.

In 1900 Mary Spafford was living with Walter and Lizzie in Tulare. She was working as a cook.

In 1900 Waldo was a border in Bandon, Oregon and was listed as a widower.

In 1910 Mary and Elizabeth Cunningham were living in Tulare County, California.

Waldo married Anna R. McMannon Hays about 1917 in California. They had two sons,
Ernest W. Spafford (1918) and
Marion S. Spafford (1919).

In 1920 Mary Ann was working as a housekeeper for the J.P. Hurt family in Madera County, California.

Waldo died January 24, 1924 in Kings, California. Mary Ann died on January 4, 1930 in Tulare, California.