Author Archives: jimsandford

Records from the 1950 Census reveal one more chapter in the lives of James and Bessie Hynes

The recent public release of 1950 census records provides an additional data point from the lives of great-grandparents James Louis Hynes and Bessie Gordon Hynes. In 1950 they lived at 107-29 134th street in Queens, New York. A search of today’s maps places this location in the industrial periphery of JFK airport, near the intersectionContinue reading “Records from the 1950 Census reveal one more chapter in the lives of James and Bessie Hynes”

February Commemorations

Died Monday February 11, 1901 (121 years ago) in Mankato, Minnesota. James B. Swan, 2nd great grandfather Died Saturday February 17, 1912 (110 years ago) in Fort Dodge, Iowa (buried in Mankato MN). Mary Kenworthy Swan, 2nd great grandmother Died Tuesday February 23, 1993 (29 years ago) in Pullman, Washington (buried in Ontario CA). MargaretContinue reading “February Commemorations”

The First Cavalry Regiment of the District of Columbia

An open question has been how our great grandfather Edward Sandford, who was born, raised, and enlisted in Maine, came to serve in the First Cavalry Regiment of the District of Columbia during the Civil War? I had presumed that it had something to do with his arriving late to the party, having been onContinue reading “The First Cavalry Regiment of the District of Columbia”

October Commemorations

Born Tuesday October 1, 1907 (114 years ago) in Newburgh, New York. James Gordon Hynes, grandfather Died Saturday October 1, 1988 (33 years ago) in Redlands, California. Ruth Marshall Sechler Hynes, grandmother Died Sunday October 8, 1922 (99 years ago) in Ontario, California. Edward Thomas Sandford, great grandfather Died Thursday October 12, 1911 (110 yearsContinue reading “October Commemorations”

Another Remarkable Crossing of Family Paths in Colonial Connecticut

The ancestors of Janelle’s maternal grandfather Arthur Wright, have been in New England since the early 17th century, circulating between Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. A summary of what we can figure out about Janelle’s New England roots New England is shown below. (As a reminder, there is no known connection between these Wrights andContinue reading “Another Remarkable Crossing of Family Paths in Colonial Connecticut”

Ontario History: Railroads, Water, Land, Orchards, Electricity and the Contributions of Earl Richardson

Let’s step back and review what we’ve learned about the history of Ontario, California. Here is a summary… Date Event 1876 Southern Pacific Railroad is built through future Ontario region Late 1870s-Early 1880s George and William Chaffey arrive from Canada and engineer irrigation system for Ontario 1879 Thomas Edison develops a reliable light bulb 1880sContinue reading “Ontario History: Railroads, Water, Land, Orchards, Electricity and the Contributions of Earl Richardson”