Obituary: Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Albert SANFORD ************************************************************************ Submitted by Kathy Grace, July 2004 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ Daily Northwestern March 13, 1893 Found Dead in Bed A. Sanford Suddenly Expires Albert Sanford was found dead in his bed at the Athearn hotel yesterday morning. When Mr. Sanford did not appear down stairs at his usual time yesterday morning Mr. Athearn felt some anxiety, but supposing that Mr. Sanford had overslept said nothing until about 11:45 when he went to the room of the deceased and knocked for admittance, but received no answer. After calling Mr. Sanford by name several times and receiving no reply Mr. Athearn sent for a bell boy who gained admittance into the room by going through the transom over the door. When the door was unlocked and Mr. Athearn stepped into the room a sad sight met his gaze. There, sitting upright in the bed was the pale, but still warm form of Mr. Sanford. A pillow behind him served as a support. He had evidently been reading, for a copy of The Northwestern was in his hands and his glasses were still on his nose. Dr. Hay of Milwaukee, who was stopping at the hotel, was immediately called and pronounced the cause of Mr. Sanford's death heart disease. The deceased could not have been dead long, as his body was not yet cold when found. Mr. Sanford was apparently in his usual health previous to retiring on Saturday night, but for some time he has not been in the best of health and Mr. Athearn has therefore kept close watch on him. Albert Sanford, one of the oldest pioneers of Oshkosh, was born in Conneaute, Ohio, January 13, 1828, his age at the time of his death being sixty-five years. By the death of his father he was early in life thrown on his own resources, and at the age of thirteen years was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith trade. He removed to Milwaukee, then a small town, September 5, 1846. He afterwards located at a placed called Union, in Rock county, and for about two months worked at blacksmithing. From Union he removed to Winslow, Ill., and spent the winter at hi trade, and the following spring returned to Wisconsin, traveling on foot and by stage to Madison. Failing to find employment at his trade, he contracted to drive logs on the Lemonwier creek, and after several months spent at logging he returned to Milwaukee and next went to East Troy, from East Troy he went back to Winslow, Ill., and eight months later he went to Rock Run, Ill., where he ran a shop for several years. In 1848, he war married to Eunice A. Flower of Rock Run. In 1849, Mr. Sanford came to Oshkosh and purchased property on Algoma street, adjoining the lot where now stand the First Congregational church. In 1852 he removed his family to the city and has made his permanent home here ever since. Mrs. Sanford died February 8, 1885, leaving a daughter, now the wife of William James of Minneapolis, Minn. On settling in this city Mr. Sanford opened a blacksmith shop on the site of the present opera house, and until 1856 followed his trade. He then sold out his business and engaged in teaming and in 1860 went to Pike's Peak, Col., and worked until the following fall. In 1861 he opened a shop at Neenah and conducted it until the fall of 1863. In 1885 Mr. Sanford organized and established the A. Sanford Manufacturing company, one of the largest logging tool manufactories in the west which was organized on a stock bases. Mr. Sanford during his life, turned much of his attention to the manufacture of logging tools and lumbering supplies, and was considered one of the best posted men on the needs of that trade in the west. He invented and secured patents on about fifteen different tools and appliances in the United States and five in Canada. Mr. Sanford was a Mason of high degree, being a member of the chapter, blue lodge, Knights Templar commandery, Milwaukee consistory, and of the Mystic Shrine. He was also a charter member of Oshkosh lodge, No. 25, Knights of Pythias. Some time ago Mr. Sanford sold out his manufacturing plant to J. S. Fraker, and since then he has not been actively engaged in business. The funeral will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. from Masonic temple. The remains will lie in state from ten o'clock until the hour of the services. The services will be conducted in accordance with the Masonic ritual. The remains will be interred in the Masonic cemetery. The following will act as pall bearers: J. E. Kennedy, Gabriel Bouck, C. C. Paige, W. W. Neff, Ole Oleson, W. H. Ford, Benjamin Doughty and Fred Burgess.