Lincoln County, West Virginia    Biography: Walker J. SANFORD

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West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia, Supplement Vol. 7, Hardesty's,
Lincoln County, published by Jim Comstock, Richwood, WV 1974


Walker J. Sanford
     Among the early settlers in the Guyandotte Valley was Robert Sanford. 
For many years he resided in Orange County, Virginia, but in 1809 removed 
west and settled on Guyandotte River, near where Barboursville, the county 
seat of Cabell County, now stands. His son, Walker J., the subject of this 
sketch, was born in Orange County, on the 3d day of June, 1797; he still 
lives, now in his eighty-seventh year. At the age of twelve he accompanied 
his father to their new home in the Guyandotte country. He well remembers the 
formation of Cabell County and the attempt to hold the first court in 1810, 
at which time the people informed the judge who came to preside, that they 
did not care to be bothered with judgments, indictments, etc., and that he 
would do better to return east, where they had more need of law. When the war 
of 1812 broke out he was in his fifteenth year, and he remembers the names of 
many of those from Cabell County who enrolled their names and carried arms in 
defense of "free trade and sailor's rights." 
    In 1817 Mr. Sanford was united in marriage with Sarah Brumfield. They 
reared a family of nine children, two girls and seven boys. Of the latter 
marine, the eldest, born in 1819, is a merchant at Hamlin, and although now 
in his sixty-third year, has never resided more than three miles from his 
present location. five of the sons are prominent ministers of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Henry C. is the presiding elder of the Charleston district, 
Vanlinden resides four miles west of Charleston, and has been in the ministry 
more than twenty-five years; William D. has charge of the Elk River Valley; 
James L. was for several years  in charge of Weston station, but some time 
since was transferred to an Ohio conference, and is now laboring in the 
northern part of that state; Robert lives at West Columbia, West Virginia, 
where he preaches occasionally, and George W. resides at New Haven, in the 
same State, prominently identified  with the church and Sabbath schools of 
that town.
    The father, though having lived seventeen years beyond the scriptural 
allotment, still retains all his mental faculties, especially that of memory, 
which does not appear to be in the least impaired, and if one visits Hamlin 
and can induce "Grandpa Sanford" as he is familiarly called, to abandon his 
work and engage in conversation, he will learn much of the early history of 
Mud and Guyandotte valleys, from one who has long outlived his own generation.