Biography - CHARLES S. SANDFORD
Charles
S. Sandford, of Tuscola, Illinois, is the son of Isaac and Belinda (Foster)
Sandford. The father was born at Bridgehamton, Long Island, in 1796, and
married Belinda Foster, who was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, in 1798. The
progenitor of the Sandfords on Long island first settled near Boston,
Massachusetts, in the year 1640. This branch of the family tree has had
numerous descendants, identified with important movements at an early day in
the history of Long Island. Many of them participated in the battle of Long
Island, and some of them were minute men. Isaac Sandford emigrated to Edgar
County, Illinois, in 1820. He served as captain in the Black Hawk war and
was later commissioned as brigadier-general of the state militia by Governor
Reynolds in 1833. He held that position for fifteen years, after which time
he resigned. General Sandford was a man of great financial ability and
remarkable energy. At the time of his death, in 1853, he was one of the
wealthiest men in Edgar county.
Charles S. Sandford's maternal grandfather. Luke Foster, was one of the
associate judges of Hamilton county, Ohio. He was born at Riverhead, Long
Island. The Fosters settled on Long Island as early as the Sandfords.
C. S. Sandford grew to manhood on the farm; attended school at Edgar
Academy, at Paris, Illinois, and afterward for a time at Greencastle
(Indiana) Asbury University — now known as the DePauw University. In 1855 he
was married to Susan J. Judson, a native of Connecticut. Her girlhood home
was in Vicksburg, Mississippi, but her later education was received at
Steubenville, Ohio. Mrs. Sandford hails from a family of decided literary
tastes, her own inclinations and practice in the several communities where
residing being to promote and forward intellectual advancement. To their
marriage have been born six children: Walter Alexander died in infancy;
Janet J. is the wife of Capt. Wm. T. Wood, who was graduated from West Point
in the class of 1877, and at present is serving as treasurer at Manila, in
the Philippine Islands, under General Otis. They have sons Halsey W.,
Sheridan C. and Isaac Russell. Sheridan C. has had an extensive experience
as a commercial traveler. Grace Foster is the wife of Dr. W. E. Purviance,
assistant surgeon in the United States army, with the rank of captain, now
stationed at Fort Egbert, Alaska. Isaac Russell, the youngest of the family,
is partner with his father in dry-goods and general merchandise at Villa
Grove, Illinois.
Mr. Sandford's business career has been one of unusual diversity. In 1850 he
made the overland route to California and engaged in mining for two years;
afterwards handled cattle in Edgar county and Douglas county, Illinois; made
and improved two farms from the virgin soil — one in each of the above
counties. He was a partner in the wholesale and retail house of C. C. Smith
& Co., Terre Haute, Ind., in 1893. Came to Tuscola and followed
merchandising, in which, since 1863, he has been actively engaged.
Extracted 09 Jun 2019 by Norma Hass from the Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County, Illinois, published in 1900, pages 211-212.
