William J. Sanford

 From: History of Boone County, Indiana, by Hon. L. M. Crist, 1914

William J. Sanford, son of George and Martha Sanford was born near Shannondale, Montgomery County, Indiana, April 11, 1863.  He received his early education in the district schools and was graduated at Shannondale, receiving the highest grades of any graduate that year in Montgomery County.  His manuscript was considered a model of neatness and accuracy and was sent by the county superintendent to educational exhibits at Madison, Wisconsin and New Orleans, Louisiana.  Mr. Sanford received his higher education in the State Normal and local normals at Ladoga, Darlington and New Ross.  He was actively engaged in teaching for a quarter of a century in the rural schools of Boone and Montgomery counties and in local normals and high schools, making an enviable reputation as a teacher.  In April 1861, he was married to Jennie Mahorney, who was a teacher.  To this union two children were born: Juanita and Ozeta.  Ozeta departed from this life in early childhood.  Juainita was graduated from the district schools and the Lebanon high school and at present is a student in her junior year at the State University at Bloomington.  

In recent years, Mr. Sanford has given much thought and attention to the improvement of grain and live stock.  His ability is recognized as a corn judge and a number of times he has been called upon to officiate as judge in corn shows and placing awards at county fairs.  Within the last decade, the subject of this sketch, in conjunction with his ideal farming, has given intense interest to the improvement of the Hampshire breed of hogs and the blood lines in his herd is now known throughout the United States.  Mr. Sanford was one of the promoters of the Central Indian Fanciers' Association and served it officially as vice-president and later as treasurer.  He is thorough in everything that he undertakes and is known as one of the leading and practical farmers of central Indiana.  His theory is that "the best is none too good."  He specializes in raising Reid's Improved Yellow Dent Corn, Kharkov and Red Wave Wheat and Mammoth Cluster and Great Dane Oats.

Mr. Sanford was the efficient secretary of the Boone County Agricultural Association for years and during his period of service the association enjoyed great prosperity.  For two years he conducted the Boone County Farmers' Institute, much to his credit.  He organized the Boone County Boys Corn Club and was for several years its president.  He is at the present time the president of the Boone County Co-operative Horse Thief Detective Association, which organization is accomplishing much good.

Mr. Sanford is a member of the Central Christian church in Lebanon and is a Knight and an Odd Fellow.  He takes an active interest in all things that stand for the betterment of society.  He is a member of a large family of Democrats and he himself is a democrat.

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