Finger Family Genealogical DatabaseLast Update

Sanford Willard Smith, attorney at law, of Chatham, N. Y., was born August 19, 1869, in the town of Kinderhook, the birthplace of Martin Van Buren, and is the son of Henry Smith, a native of Chatham, and Rachel (Shaw) Smith, who was born near Inverness, Scotland. Henry Smith was educated at the common schools of his native town, and, upon arriving at a proper age, was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade, which he learned in all its details. When quite a young man, he went to Michigan, and worked at shipbuilding, after a time extending his travels to Milwaukee and Cincinnati, working at his trade in both of these places. He finally went to Kinderhook, settling at the old birthplace of Martin Van Buren. In 1874 he removed to his native town of Chatham, of which he has been a resident ever since. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had six children, the following of whom are living: Ellen C., a resident of Chatham Mary L. wife of L. Stevenson of Lowell, Vt, Robert H. and Sanford W., both of this city. Sanford W. Smith, the subject of this sketch was educated at the Chatham high school, where he showed a remarkable aptitude for study, graduating with distinction in the class of 1887. Immediately upon leaving school he entered the law department of Cornell University, being a member of the first class to take a full course. While at the university he was known as a close and diligent student and the expectations of his friends were not disappointed when he received an honorable mention at his graduation in January, 1889. After leaving the university, he entered the law office of Judge H. W. McClellan, of Chatham and was admitted to the bar September 12, 1890, with permission to practice in all the courts of the state. Mr. Smith early received the commendation of his townsmen, being elected to the office of Town Clerk in 1892, a position he filled with dignity and credit, receiving the honor of re-election in 1893 and 1894. At the time of his first election to the position of Town Clerk he opened a law office in Chatham, and is rapidly gaining a large and lucrative practice. He is a member of Columbia Lodge, No. 98, F. & A. M., and is also a member of Friendship Lodge, No. 95, Knights of Pythias, and one of its Trustees. - The Chatham Courier October 23, 1941 Found him on the 1875 Chatham, Columbia, New York state census (E.D.01 img 26) as Sanferd Smith age 5. Found him on the 1900 Chatham, Columbia, New York census (dist 6 img 17) as Sanford Smith age 30, lawyer.

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                                  | John A. Smith                   | 
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| Henry Smith 1827                |
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|                                 |                                 | Henry Tunis Smith  1770   
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|                                 | Mary Smith 1799                 |
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|                                                                   | Christina Finger 1775 
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|- Sanford Willard Smith   
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| Rachel Shaw 1834                |
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