No “Portrait Gallery of eminent Canadians,” would be considered complete without a sketch of the gentleman whose name heads this article. For several years he has stood in the front rank of the “Merchant Princes” of Hamilton, and by his remarkable career of business success has filled a place in the public attention so large as to constitute him, to some extent, a Provincial character and public property. So without fear or favor, and almost forgetting to say, by your leave, we attempt our sketch.
Mr. Sanford was born in the city of New York, in 1838. His mother dying shortly after his birth and his father during his childhood, he was loft without the moulding influence of parental affection, or parental example. But on reaching his seventh year, and shortly after his father’s death, he was sent to his uncle, Edward Jackson, Esq., of Hamilton. In the beautiful christian home of Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, he was brought up under all healthful influences and trained in those sterling qualities of mind and heart which he has since so conspicuously displayed. He was educated in one of the Academies of New York, and in his sixteenth year entered the employ of the well known publishing firm of Pratt, Woodford and Co., New York, in whose service he remained up to his twenty-first year, his:remarkable business ability being rewarded by an offer of partnership. The death of the senior partner, however, prevented this arrangement being carried out.
