OSCAR WALLACE SANFORD

BIOGRAPHY

AS RECORDED IN:

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF
TOLLAND AND WINDHAM COUNTIES CONNECTICUT.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES
PUBLISHER: J.H.BEERS & CO., CHICAGO; 1903 P. 715

OSCAR WALLACE SANFORD. In business, social and political circles the name of Oscar Wallace Sanford, and that of his son, Frederick G. Sanford, call forth the esteem and respect of the citizens of Stafford, Tolland Co., Conn. The former was born Oct. 20, 1827, in Fall River, Mass., a son of Isaac Lawton and Elizabeth (Stephens) Sanford, the former of whom was born in 1806, in Rhode Island, and died in Paris, Ky. In 1826 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Stephens. In his youth he served an apprenticeship to the carding trade, in Providence, R.I., and later worked in that city as a journeyman, working also in his native city of Fall River.

In 1837 Mr. Sanford located in Stafford, Conn., that busy manufacturing center attracting many skilled workmen, and for six years he continued to act as superintendent of the Staffordville Woolen mills, going thence to Glastonbury, Conn., where he spent two years in the same position with the Hale Woolen mills. His next change was to Berlin, Conn., and there he purchased a water privilege and erected an establishment of his own, which he successfully conducted for three years, selling then and locating at Catskill, N.Y., where for the two following years he was again employed as mill superintendent.

This enterprise, however, was not sufficient to satisfy the energy and business capacity of Mr. Sanford, and at the close of his two-years’ engagement, he purchased a flour and grist mill in Erie, Pa., and was engaged in a very prosperous business, when the outbreak of the Civil war so disarranged commercial affairs and likewise offered other avenues, that Mr. Sanford closed out his mill business and went South, locating in Paris, Ky., where he purchased a plant and embarked in the manufacturing of Kentucky jeans, the business being a successful one all through the war. There he died, his wife dying in Cromwell, Conn. Their children were: Oscar W., of this sketch; Cornelius, a painter and paper-hanger, by trade, who never married, and died in Monson, Mass.; Orson, also a painter and paper-hanger, who died in Bridgeport, Conn.; Augustine, who is a merchant tailor, residing in Housatonic, Mass.; Isaac, by trade a blacksmith, who resides in San Francisco, Cal., although he has followed the sea for many years. The second marriage of Mr. Sanford was to Eliza Winchell, of Rockville, and she died in Paris, Ky. Three children were born to this union.

Oscar W. Sanford received his education in the schools in his vicinity, and since 1837 has been a resident of Stafford. At the age of fifteen years he entered the Staffordville Woolen mills under his father, and remained employed there for five years. When his father moved to Glastonbury, Conn., he accompanied him there and also to Berlin, working in all of the mills in these places. In 1857 he returned to Stafford, where he had learned his trade of carpenter and joiner under Capt. Johnson, and for thirty years has followed the same in that city, becoming not only one of the most capable and reliable of mechanics, but also one of its most respected citizens.

On Aug. 26, 1862, Mr. Sanford enlisted for service in the Civil war, in Co. D, 25^th C.V.I., and was elected to be 1^st lieutenant before having seen any service. Mr. Sanford participated in the battles of Irish Bend, La., the siege of Port Hudson, and many other engagements in which his regiment figured, and he was honorably discharged from the service Aug. 26, 1863, having been much of the time with Gen. Banks.

The first marriage of Mr. Sanford occurred Nov. 24, 1854, to Orpha Jane Johnson, who was born May 20, 1834, a daughter of Cyril and Clarissa (McKinney) Johnson, of Stafford, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. Mrs. Sanford died May 19, 1870, her children having been: Idella, born April 14, 1857, who died March 27, 1864; Frederick Goodwin; and William Oscar, born Sept. 17, 1864, who was married June 26, 1889, to Miranda E. Pomeroy, of Stafford, a daughter of Henry Root and Henrietta (Eddy) Pomeroy. They had one son, Roy Junius, born May 10, 1890. William O. Sanford early interested himself in the manufacturing business and is at present the assistant superintendent of the Warren Woolen Company.

The second marriage of Mr. Sanford took place Oct. 25, 1871, to Emily O. Burnham, who was the daughter of Jason and Amanda (Ladd) Burnham, of East Hartford, Conn. Mr. Sanford is a consistent member of the Congregational Church of Stafford Springs, in which he had long been one of the liberal supporters.

In his political views Mr. Sanford has been ever one of the most ardent and enthusiastic Republicans, in his earlier years served as constable, and in 1899 was made a representative to the General Assembly and served on the committee on the Sale of lands. Fraternally he is a member of Ionic Lodge, No. 110, F. and A.M., of Stafford, in which for two years he was master, and now is past master, and he was also a charter member of Winter Post, No. 44, G.A.R., of Stafford, of which he served as commander, and he also belongs to the Stafford Grange.

Frederick G. Sanford, a son of Oscar Wallace Sanford, was born April 19, 1863, in Stafford Springs, and obtained his education in the common schools of the place, leaving his books at the age of fifteen years to become a clerk in the Stafford National Bank. Later he was promoted to the position of bookkeeper and efficiently filled that responsible position until 1887.

In 1879, Mr. Sanford first entered the bank and remained with it until its failure in 1887, and after that event was employed as assistant to the receiver of the bank, and remained with him until the affairs of the institution were closed. In 1888, when the present National Bank was organized, Mr. Sanford was chosen teller, becoming assistant cashier Jan. 25, 1890, and April 7, 1894, was made cashier, which position he has most efficiently held ever since.

Well known as a careful and conservative man in financial circles, the treasurership of the Central Woolen Company was pressed upon Mr. Sanford in 1897 and for two years he filled both positions, thus impairing his health to such a degree that he resigned the treasurership of the Central Woolen Company and has since given his full attention to the duties connected with the bank.

Mr. Sanford was married Nov. 19, 1890, to Laura A. Dudley, of Norwich, Conn., who was a daughter of Edwin A. and Elizabeth (Howard) Dudley.

Reproduced by:

Linda D. Pingel

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