Background
Padelford was born in Taunton, Massachusetts.
Padelford was born in Taunton, Massachusetts.
He worked as a grocer, as well as serving on the Providence, Rhode Island City Council, the Providence School Committee and in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. Padelford was a Unitarian and an ardent abolitionist with ties to the New England Emigrant Aid Company, which armed and organized settlers who took part in the "Bleeding Kansas" conflict. In 1860, he was nominated as the Republican Party candidate for Governor of Rhode Island.
Anti-war Republicans and textile interests joined Democrats to back the young William Sprague IV, the nephew of former Rhode Island Governor and Senator William Sprague III. He was elected Governor in 1869, serving four terms before stepping down.
Padelford died in 1878 in Providence, and is buried in Swan Point Cemetery. John Peirce, step-son - participated in the development of the telephone.