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Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa
W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889


    WILLIAM H. ELFORD, one of the leading painters and decorators of
    Cherokee, Iowa, was born in South Hampton, England, June 24, 1853.
    He is the eldest son of WILLIAM H. and ELIZABETH (BARTON) ELFORD.
    At the age of fifteen years he emigrated to America with his mother,
    the father having died in the West Indies, when he had gone on a
    business trip.  They landed in the city of New York, July 4, 1868,
    and continued their journey to Chicago, Illinois, where they resided
    for a period of twelve years.  The first year WILLIAM H. was employed
    in a boiler factory, and then he began to learn the painter's trade;
    he served a three years' apprenticeship in the shop of J. B. SULLIVAN,
    after which he worked as a journeyman.  He was then engaged by the
    Northwestern Railroad Car Shops in the painting department, and
    remained there five years.  The three years following he was employed
    by different parties, and then went to work for HEATH & MILLIGAN,
    manufacturers of paints, remaining with this firm one year.  In the
    autumn of 1880, Mr. ELFORD came to Cherokee, Iowa, and the first year
    of his residence there he was in the employ of A. LOFT, who was run-
    ning a paint shop and store.  At the end of two years Mr. ELFORD
    purchased the stock of Mr. LOFT, and continued the business at the
    old stand.  One year later he bought his present store building on
    Maple street, to which he moved his stock; the house is 20x50 feet;
    two stories high, and is filled with a well-select stock of paints
    and wall-papers.  Mr. ELFORD is himself a practical painter, and
    during the busy season employs from five to nine men.  He has been
    twice married; his first wife was Miss MINERVA OVERTON, who died
    twelve months later.  His present wife was Miss MATTIE M. SCHWARTZ,
    a native of Germany.  By his first marriage one child was born, EVA R.
    The second union resulted in the birth of three children: WALTER C.,
    ESTHER MAY and BERTHA E.  Mr. and Mrs. ELFORD are consistent members
    of the Congregational Church, Mr. ELFORD being a deacon of the society.
    For many years he was identified with the Republican party, but is
    now a Prohibitionist, and was one of the twenty-seven men to cast a
    straight Prohibition vote in 1888, in Cherokee County.  Mr. ELFORD'S
    youthful days were spent mainly in Chicago, where he acquired his
    education, principally at the evening schools.  His mother was a
    teacher in early life, and now makes her home in Cherokee.

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