Outagamie County WI Archives Biographies.....Sanborn, John T. 1805 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 August 10, 2008, 10:32 pm

Author: J. F. Fuller

John T. Sanborn.

JOHN TAYLOR SANBORN, in his later life familiarly known as "Father" Sanborn, was
born in Sanbornton, N. H., March 25th, 1805. He lived for a few years in
Massachusetts, and in 1837 moved with his family to Ohio. In 1846 he came to
Wisconsin, making his first home in Neenah. In 1853 he went to California,
taking the "Overland Route," where he remained fourteen years. His family came
to Appleton in 1855, which was his home after his return from California until
the death of Mrs. Sanborn in 1886. After that time he lived with his son, Mr.
John B. Sanborn, of Hortonville, where all that was possible was done for his
comfort and happiness.

    Those who knew Father Sanborn need not to be told that a life of unusual
virtues had gone to its rewards. In our histories of earth he will not be
written about as one of the great men of his generation. But if it be true that
"he that ruleth his spirit is mightier than he that taketh a city;" that the
greatest work assigned to us is to carve out a noble character, to send out to
the world a perpetual and positive influence for good, to leave behind a record
for fairness and tenderness and faithfulness in all the relations of life,—then
not many will outreach in attainments this "Father in Israel."

     He was a man of intelligence Well informed upon the affairs of Church and
State, of remarkably accurate memory, it was a pleasure and profit to listen to
him. In later years, with almost the vision of a prophet, he would give his
thoughts of their conditions and needs. His moral perceptions were quick and
clear. He was always in the van-guard on the moral issues before his generation.
For sixty years he had taken openly the position that total abstinence for the
individual and prohibition for the traffic were the only right solutions of the
liquor problem.

    He was a man of choice social qualities. In touch with both the young and
old, he always put the best construction possible on the deeds and words of
others. While courageous in the utterance of his convictions, he offended none,
for he was imbued with that spirit of "charity that never fails."

     He was a man whose religion was spiritual, whose christianing was not a
garment but a life. For many years he had been a member of the Congregational
church, occupying positions of responsibility as an officer and teacher. He came
by letter from the church at Menasha to this church Oct. 13th, 1867, and
remained a member of it till his death, Nov. 6th, 1890. As a teacher and member
of the Adult Bible class in Sunday school "Father" Sanborn's worth was most
apparent. His spotless reputation as a man and his clear ideas always commanded
and received merited attention. These, however, could add to or take but little
from him, because his real power was in his unostentatious, consistent and
consecrated personality. "He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith."

    During the last few years of his life he was totally blind, but there was
never a murmur at his fate. A spirit of gratitude for the blessings left, of
cheerful waiting for the end possessed him, and he met the last enemy as one who
"lies down to pleasant dreams."

    'Servant of God, well done!
     Thy glorious warfare's past;
     The battle's fought, the race is run,
     And thou art crowned at last.'
                                      JOHN FAVILLE.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
APPLET0N, WIS.

PREPARED FOR THE
SEMI-CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY, DEC. 18, 1900.
BY
J. F. FULLER, A. M., Compiler of the "Fuller" Genealogy.

1850—1900.
APPLETON PRINTING CO.,
APPLETON, WIS.


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