Watson More Sanford

Born 3 August 1861 at Margaretville, Delaware County, New York

Died 22 May 1939 at Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York

Watson was the only child born to Edgar B. Sanford and Harriet Jane More Sanford. His parents adopted two daughters; Polly May Sanford about 1875 and Bessie Sanford after 1880. He was raised at Middletown, New York where his father was the owner and operator of a farm. The family relocated to Catskill, New York about 1875 and to New York City about 1880 where, at both places, his father was a carpenter. Watson followed in his father’s footsteps as a carpenter and was engaged as such in New York City. Watson married to Mary Elizabeth Brigham on 26 October 1881 presumably at New York City where they first made their home. They relocated to Liberty, New York about 1884 where he was the owner and operator of a farm. In April of 1910, the family resided at New Milford, Connecticut; and, in May of 1910, the family had relocated permanently to Poughkeepsie where he was engaged as a carpenter. In 1930, Mary resided in the Bronx, New York with their daughter Harriet who had married to David Cowan and Watson boarded at South Clinton Street at Poughkeepsie in the household of Anna Earl. He died at the home of his son on Overocker Road after a lengthy illness and was buried in a Sanford family plot at LaGrange Rural Cemetery. Watson had been a member of Carpenter’s Union and of Patriotic Order Sons of America. Watson and Mary were the parents of three children; Watson Edgar Sanford, Elizabeth Lee C. Sanford, and Harriet Julia Sanford. Watson was John More Association Jonas Line cousin #4281 and my first cousin three times removed.

*Note-Margaretville is a village in the town of Middletown.

©2017 Cindy Coffell

Lily Emily Mills Sanford

Born 20 June 1882 at Brighton, East Sussex County, England

Died 11 August 1966 at Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York

Lily was the daughter of Edwin J. Mills and Annie Thatcher Mills. She emigrated from England to New York City in 1888 when she was six-years of age. She attended schools in New York City; and, on 10 August 1910, Lily married to Watson Edgar Sanford at Manhattan. For the next 40-years, her husband was a foreman of various departments at DeLaval Separator Company. They made their home at Arlington, New York, a suburb of Poughkeepsie. Lily and Watson were the parents of two children; Charles Watson Sanford and Ethel Mae Sanford. Lily was a member of Arlington Reformed Church, Guild of Christian Service, and Order of the Eastern Star. She died at Delameter Nursing Home after a lengthy illness. She was buried with her husband, who had died in 1953, in a Sanford family plot at LaGrange Rural Cemetery at Poughkeepsie. Lily was John More Association Jonas Line cousin #M42811 and the wife of my second cousin twice removed.

©2017 Cindy Coffell

Watson Edgar Sanford

Born 5 November 1882 at Manhattan, New York County, New York

Died 13 August 1953 at Rutland County, Vermont

Watson was the eldest of three children born to Watson More Sanford and Mary Elizabeth Brigham Sanford. When Watson was two years of age, his father relocated the family to Liberty, New York where he was the owner and operator of a farm. The family relocated before 1910 to New Milford, Connecticut where his father was a building carpenter. Watson was a freight depot clerk with New York, New Milford, and Hartford Railroad at that place. The family had relocated yet again in May of 1910 to Poughkeepsie, New York where his father was a carpenter. Watson was an office bookkeeper at Poughkeepsie when he married to Lily Emily Mills on 10 August 1910 at Manhattan. They made their home at Arlington, New York, a suburb of Poughkeepsie. Watson was engaged by DeLaval Separator Company where he was a foreman of several departments until his retirement in 1949. DeLaval was a producer of dairy and farming machinery. Watson was a member of DeLaval Foremen's Club; Arlington Board of Education; Arlington Central School District Board of Education; Dutchess County School Boards Association; Arlington Provisional Rotary Club; Arlington Reformed Church; Poughkeepsie Grange; Arlington Free Library; and Triune Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. Watson died while on vacation to Lake Bomoseen, a freshwater lake in the western part of Vermont in the towns of Castleton and Hubbardton in Rutland County. He was buried at LaGrange Rural Cemetery at Poughkeepsie. He was John More Association Jonas Line cousin #42811 and my second cousin twice removed. Watson and Lily were the parents of two children; Charles Watson Sanford and Ethel Mae Sanford.

*Note-his mother’s maiden name is also found in records spelled as Briggeman and Brigman.

©2017 Cindy Coffell

Elsie B. Brezee Maxim

Born 23 July 1901 at Fleischmanns, Delaware County, New York

Died 20 July 1933 at Margaretville, Delaware County, New York

Elsie was the fourth of five children born to Henry Brezee and Rozinah “Rose” Shutts Brezee. She was raised at Fleischmanns where her father was a plumber and later a garage machinist. Elsie was a livery stable manager when she married to widower James Lester Maxim on 29 May 1920 at Kingston, New York. James was a clerk residing at Fleischmanns at the time of their marriage. They made their home on Main Street at Middletown, New York where her husband was a golf grounds laborer. Elsie and James were the parents of six children; Jean Adelaide Maxim, James Maxim who died young, Leonard Paul Maxim, Harry Burton Maxim, Anthony Maxim, and Eleanor Susan Maxim. Elsie died at her home on Stucco Street at Margaretville just two weeks after her last child was born. After her death, her children were raised by grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Their father married again in 1934 at Fleischmanns to Myrtle Brandow and gained employment as a landscape gardener in Massachusetts. In 1940, he was engaged as a mason and, was married but residing without his wife, in the household of his mother at Fleischmanns and resided at Fleischmanns in 1942 when he registered for the World War II draft. What became of him after that is unknown.

*Note-Fleischmanns, a village in Middletown, was also known as Clovesville and Griffin Corners.

©2017 Cindy Coffell

Alford L. “Alfred” Austin

Born 11 February 1821 in Middletown, Delaware County, New York

Died 25 September 1880 at Walton, Delaware County, New York

The earliest record I found for Alford was at Delaware County, New York on 29 September 1845 when he was indicted for Being Armed and Disguised, Conspiracy, and Kidnapping during the Anti-Rent War. I know not the result of these charges. 1845 was also the year that I presume that he married to Achsah Morse. Alford purchased a farm near Trout Creek at Masonville, New York about 1846 where his main crops were oats, wheat, and rye; and, in addition to some cattle, he raised sheep. It was at this place that Alford and Achsah raised seven children. Achsah died in 1872 and Alford married next to Lovica Parker about 1873. Alford and Lovica had no children and she died in 1877. Achsah married last to Cornelia More Grant on 19 February 1878 presumably at Walton where he resided as a retired farmer. Achsah and Cornelia had no children. Alford, at Masonville, served as Justice of the Peace in 1864; grand jury member in 1873; and, Town Supervisor in 1877. He died as a result of cancer in his stomach and was buried with his first two wives in a family plot at Austin Cemetery near Trout Creek, New York. Alford was John More Association John Line cousin #M144. He was the husband of my second cousin four times removed.

©2017 Cindy Coffell