The Honorable Samuel Hafford was born in Middleborough, Plymounth, MA to Ebenezer and Priscilla (Booth) Hafford. He lived for a time in Hoosick Falls, NY before coming to Fremont, Sandusky, Ohio. In New York he married Esther Graves, daughter of Timothy and Martha (Comstock) Graves in 1816. They had 8 children, James, Ebenezer, Eveline, Harriet, Esther, Lousia, Samuel and Warren.

Upon coming to the Ballville TWP/Fremont area, working as a farmer. He served for a time as a judge in the area. After the death of his first wife, he married Betsy (Griswold) Andrus. She passed away and Samuel married Sarah (Griswold) Fitch.
The following comes from a report on his death, published in the Fremont Journal on December 8, 1871.

"AN OLD PIONEER GONE
Mr. Samuel Hafford, who resided at Ballville, departed this life, on Saturday last... His death had been expected for some time, owing to his advanced age, and at the time stated he passed peacefully away. Mr. Hafford was born in Massachusetts, April 6th, 1790... In 1836 he removed to this vicinity where he resided ever since. He was a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church of this place... In 1841 he was elected one of the Elders of the Church, and continued in that capacity until the time of his death, having served the church over thirty years. Notwithstanding the blustering weather of Monday, his funeral was well attended. The funeral discourse was preached by the Rev. Dr. Bushnell, at the Presbyterian Church, after which the body was taken in charge by the Masonic fraternity, and buried with the imposing ceremonies of that order. Brother Hafford was said to be one of the oldest if not the oldest Mason in the country, he having connected himself with the order in 1811.... a member of the order for nearly 61 years. He was one of the charter members of Fort Stephenson Lodge of this city, but sometime after the organization of Brainard Lodge, he withdrew and connected himself with the new lodge in which he retained his membership up till the time of his death. He was widely known, much loved and respected and has passed to his reward at an old age, leaving a rich legacy in his good name, to his surviving family."