Son of William Rheams Mulford and Martha Smith. Husband of Margaret Sleeper. Father of Martha Mulford, Mabel Mulford, Kate M Mulford, Margaret Mulford and Helen Mulford. Served the Union Army in the United States Civil War - Company H and Company K of the Third Regiment Michigan Infantry.

Civil War service profile:

Name: William J Mulford

Residence: Port Huron, Michigan

Age at enlistment: 18

Enlistment Date: 26 Aug 1864

Rank at enlistment: Private

Enlistment Place: Port Huron, MI

State Served: Michigan

Survived the War?: Yes

Service Record: Promoted to Full Sergeant on 23 Sep 1864.

Enlisted in Company H, Michigan 3rd Infantry Regiment on 07 Sep 1864.

Promoted to Full Color Sergeant on 18 Nov 1864.

Promoted to Full Sergeant Major on 18 Feb 1865.

Promoted to Full 2nd Lieutenant on 12 Mar 1865.

Promoted to Full 1st Lieutenant on 28 Nov 1865.

Mustered out on 25 May 1866 at Victoria, TX.

Birth Date: abt 1846

Sources: Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers 1861-65

∼DEATH COMES SUDDENLY TO WILLIAM J. MULFORD

Prominent Merchant and Highly Esteemed Citizen Succumbs to Injuries Sustained in a Fall.

In the passing of William J. Mulford, senior member of the firm of Mulford and Gustke, furniture dealers, whose death took place at his home, 109 Harvard street at 4:30 o'clock Thursday morning, Battle Creek loses one of its best known and most highly esteemed citizens.

Mr. Mulford's death was directly due to internal injuries sustained in a fall from his bicycle last Monday and his untimely end comes as a great shock to his host of friends.

Mr. Mulford was born December 5, 1845, at Elizabeth, N. J., and when a year old, came with his parents to Port Huron. There he was married, in January, 1867, to Miss Margaret A. Sleeper, of Caledonia, N. Y., who survives him. He was prominent in the furniture business in Port Huron, and in 1900 closed out his business there and came to Battle Creek. He rented the Brown-Sweet block on East Main street and went into the furniture business there. Five years later he sold out, and was out of business for about five years. Then, with his former clerk, Otto C. Gustke, he again started a furniture store in the Stein block, at 64 East Main street. Mr. Gustke had been in Mr. Mulford's employ for many years, coming here from Port Huron with him. In fact, he had started in while only a boy, to work for Mr. Mulford. The partnership between the two began three and a half years ago.

Mr. Mulford was a veteran of the Civil war, and at the time of his death was chaplain of the Farragut post, G. A. R. He enlisted in 1863 in the Port Huron company, Company K, Third Michigan infantry. During the course of the war he was promoted to first lieutenant, and held that rank at the close of the war.

A prominent member of the First Presbyterian church, and of the Modern Woodmen, Forester and Maccabee lodges, Mr. Mulford will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He had been a member of the Presbyterian church for 50 years, and was a tireless worker and influential officer of the church here. Besides his wife, five daughters survive him, Miss Martha Mulford, who lives at home, Mrs. John Evans, whose husband is governor of the island of Palewan, one of the Philippine Islands, Mrs. F. D. Haddock of Michigan City, Ind., Miss Margaret Mulford, teacher of music in the Mary Baldwin seminary at Staunton, Va., and Miss Helen Mulford of Racine, Wis.

A private funeral service will be held at the residence on Harvard street Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted by the Rev. George E. Barnes, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, and public memorial services will be held at the First Presbyterian church at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon, in charge of Mr. Barnes. Burial will be made in Oak Hill cemetery.

Published in the Battle Creek Enquirer (Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan, USA) Friday, February 28, 1913, Page 2