Bio of Sandford, Jas. H. (b.1814) Wabasha Co., MN
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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm and Carol Judge
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1884.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab1.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Sandford, Jas. H., retired farmer, was born in Topsham, Maine, August 14,
1814. He was kept at school until fifteen years of age, when, shortly
after, his father died, when he went to sea, entering the foreign merchant
trade. For about twenty-seven years his principal occupation was that of a
sailor. Occasionally, however, he would stop at home for a time, and on
these occasions he would make a trip or two in some coasting-vessel. He
also made several trips into the western wilds in the employ of the fur
traders. In 1856 he immigrated to Minnesota, and settled in the town of
Mazeppa, where he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land in
section 29, on which he continued to reside up to 1882, when he rented his
farm and removed into the village of Mazeppa. Mr. Sandford is full of
amusing and interesting reminiscences of the early days. He saw much of
the Indians, as his place was near the Zumbro, which afforded fine
camping-grounds for them, and who frequently called at his house for the
purpose of begging. In those days he had to carry his supplies on his back
some four miles, and the idea that the lazy Indians had the face to beg of
him, when they knew how he had to pack his provisions, was too much for
him, so he told his wife, in the hearing of several of them, that he would
not give them anything more, whereupon they, seeming to understand, at
once left. Shaska, one of the Indians hung for the massacre of settlers,
at New Ulm, came to his house one day and said he was sick so Mrs.
Sandford offered him a bottling containing No. 6, composed of gum myrrh,
brandy and capsicum, a very hot, powerful medicine; but Shaska would not
take ti till Mrs. Sandford assured him by appearing to take some herself,
where upon he raised the bottle to his mouth and gulped down a good dose,
before he was aware of how hot it was; it was down, though, and he had to
stand it; but his grimaces and antics were amusing for a few moments. It
seems the Indian had faith in Mrs. Sandford's ability as a doctor, for he
repeated the dose for several days, till finally one day he came and said
he was all right. On one occasion in the winter, when Mr. Sandford was
away, a lot of Indians called at his house to warm themselves, leaving
their guns outside; finally, when they left, Mrs. Sandford went to the
door with her son George, a small boy, when they suddenly drew up their
guns and aimed at Mrs. Sandford, who, instead of darting into the house
with fear, stood and laughed at them, believing they meant no harm, while
her little boy thought it meant business, and was considerably alarmed.
Mr. Sandford is now in his decling years, enjoying the fruits of an
industrious life as he justly deserves, being the owner of several farms;
his means are ample. He has been twice married, and had two sons by his
first marriage, one of whom is living. His second wife was Miss Arabella
Pierce, of Bath, Maine, by whom he had one son, George, who is postmaster
of Mazeppa.