A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
From: Portrait and Biographical Album of Calhoun County, MI. Pages 1001-1002. Researched 8-26-2004, State of Michigan Library, Lansing, MI. PJB: George R. Sanford.
Although this gentleman has been living in Tekonsha Township but a few years, he has already gained a good repute by reason of his fine character, business ability and social qualities. His home is on section 29, where he established himself in 1886, taking possession of the H. Randall farm. He has also bought three or four farms and sold them. He is a native of Marion, Wayne County, N. Y., and his natal day was March 3, 1824. His father, Stephen Sanford, was a native of Paris, Onondaga County, and his mother, whose maiden name was Emma Russell, was born at Palmyra. Stephen Sanford served in the War of 1812 and was a pensioner of the United State Government; he lived to the venerable age of eighty-seven. His wife died in 1880, at the age of eighty-two years.
The maternal grandfather of our subject was Daniel Russell, a native of Connecticut, who settled in Wayne County, N. Y., during the first stages of its development. He reared a family of seventeen children. The daughter, who became the wife of Stephen Sanford, grew to womanhood in Williamson, was married in that place and died in Batavia, as did her husband. Her family consisted of two daughters and a son. The daughters were Matilda, who died at the age of three years, and Malora, who lived to pass twenty milestones on life's journey.
The youngest child of Stephen and Emma Sanford is the subject of this notice, who began his education in the common schools of his native place. He completed his course of study at the Walworth Academy and after he had become of age taught in that town. He then bought fifty acres of land on time and while boarding with his father, paying $1 a week for his board, he worked his land. He had $25 when he began farming, and when eight years later, he sold his property and removed to Fairport, Monroe County, he had about $3,000 as the result of his labors.
In 1854, Mr. Sanford was united in marriage with Mary E. Barnum, daughter of Eli and Clarinda (Thompson) Barnum, and a relative of the well-known "Yankee showman," P. T. Barnum. Mrs. Sanford was born in Washington Hollow, Dutchess County, N. Y., April 13, 1825, and was reared in Wayne County. After marriage, Mr. Sanford located near Fairport, where he carried on agriculture and dealt in real estate, becoming one of the most extensive operators in the latter line in New York. In the spring of 1880, he came to Michigan, having been brought to the verge of bankruptcy by having gone security for other men. He located in Girard Township, Branch County, where he rented and operated two farms for three years. He then returned to New York, but two years later came again to Michigan and settled where he is now living.
The following extract from a History of Monroe County, N. Y., shows what part Mr. Sanford bore in the progress of that section: "Other powerful auxiliaries of the continued growth of Fairport have been the public spirit and judicious action of her moneyed men and owners of real estate who have aided her mechanics and workmen in securing homes for their families. Most prominent among these has been George R. Sanford who, during the past twenty-three years has handled over fifteen hundred acres, selling in lots and farms to suit purchasers. He has erected a large number of comfortable houses and sold to workmen on the plan of savings banks, to be paid in small sums when convenient, and on long time, thus enabling many to secure homes for the money usually paid for rent."
Mr. and Mrs. Sanford are the parents of three sons and two daughters, one of whom died in infancy and John T. at the age of four years. The living members of the family are: Eli B., who is baggage master at Helena, Mont.; Emma, wife of F. B. Gleason, a grocer in Batavia, N. Y.; May C., a school teacher, who makes her home with her parents.
The political views of Mr. Sanford accord with the principles laid down in the Democratic platform. While in Fairport, N. Y., he was elected President of the village two terms, getting all the votes and first time and all but one the second. He was also elected one of the Trustees of the graded school for a long term, at the expiration of which he was re-elected for a second long term. This was in a Republican precinct and shows that his political views did not detract from his popularity among the citizens. In religion, he is a Presbyterian and in the church, he was Trustee for several years.
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