Hon. W.L. Sanford, Rapides Parish, La
Submitted by: Suzanne Shoemaker

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Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890

Hon. W. L. SANFORD, farmer, of Rapides Parish, La.  No worthy reference to
the agricultural affairs of this parish would be complete, without mention
of Mr. Sanford, among others engaged in agricultural pursuits.  Besides
this he enjoys to an unlimited extent the confidence and esteem of all who
know him, and is one of the influential men of the parish.  He was born in
what is now Hampshire County, West Va., and received the advantages of the
common schools of the same.  His parents, W. T. and Catherine (Crain)
Sanford, were also born in that state, the former in 1797, and the latter
in 1796.  The paternal grandfather, Capt. William Sanford, was of English
descent, and was an officer in the Revolutionary War.  W. T. Sanford was a
member of the Methodist Church, his wife being a Presbyterian, their deaths
occurring in Missouri and Virginia, in 1842 and 1824, respectively.  In
addition to attending the common schools of Virginia, W. L. Sanford was
also an attendant in Missouri, and completed his education in St. Charles
College, of St. Charles, Mo.  After leaving this institution he studied law
one year, but did not complete the course, and after his marriage, which
occurred in 1843, he purchased the plantation where he now resides, and has
since devoted his time in planting.  His plantation of 670 acres is
situated twelve miles west of Alexandria, and 200 acres are under
cultivation and well improved.  There were no improvements on the place
when he first located in 1847, but he has now one of the most fertile and
best cultivated and improved farms in the parish.  In 1855 he was elected
to represent Rapides Parish in the General Assembly of the State, serving
two years, and in 1863 he was elected to the State Senate, serving one
year, and again in 1867, being elected to the Lower House to fill the
unexpired term of Mr. Lewis.  In 1863 he was appointed by Jefferson Davis,
provost marshal for Rapides Parish, with the rank of major, and held this
position until the close of hostilities.  In 1876 he went back to his old
home in Virginia, to take charge of some property left him by the will of
an aunt, and there made his home until the death of his wife in 1885,
returning to Louisiana the following year.  His wife was a daughter of
Samuel and Jane (Williamson) Compton, born, respectively, in Maryland and
Tennessee.  In the early part of the present century they removed to
Louisiana, where the rest of their days were spent.  To Mr. and Mrs.
Sanford fourteen children were born-nine sons and five daughters:  L. C.,
William, Robert L., Mary A. (now Mrs. Hickman, with whom the subject of
this sketch resides), Sarah V. and Louisiana being the only ones of the
family now living.  Mr. Sanford is the only surviving member of his
father's family of eight children, and throughout life has been a prominent
man in the different communities in which he has resided.  He was  a member
of the board of supervisors, of the State Seminary of Learning and Military
Academy, now located at Baton Rouge, and after the resignation of Gen.
Graham as vice-president, he was elected to that position and held it for
ten years.  Under Gov. Warmouth's administration he was appointed
superintendent of public education, for the district of North Louisiana,
but for the various reasons did not qualify for this office.