jimsandford

Searching for Crossing Paths in the Civil War

Great grandfather Edward Sandford was not our only ancestor to fight in the United States Civil War. Our second great grandfather Aaron Sechler, the father of our great grandfather George Sechler, served in the war for three years. Although they were a generation apart, Aaron Sechler was only three years older than Edward. The 1860Continue reading “Searching for Crossing Paths in the Civil War”

An Early Crossing of Paths Between The Swan and Sechler Families

Our mother recalls that her first planned meeting with the Sandford family at the Ontario homestead had to be postponed because of the death of our father’s grandmother. Our great grandmother Mabel Tuttle Swan died in October 1951 at age 85. Had our mother met Mattie Swan, there is a small possibility that they couldContinue reading “An Early Crossing of Paths Between The Swan and Sechler Families”

Joe’s Family Provides a Business Advertising Boost

Before concluding that our grandfather Joe Sandford was always a completely proper banker and businessman, we should consider an advertisement found in the Pomona Progress Bulletin in May 1929. Somewhere along the line Joe began selling insurance as a sideline to his job as President of the Pomona Commercial and Savings Bank. In 1929, Joe’sContinue reading “Joe’s Family Provides a Business Advertising Boost”

Linked Memories: Traces of George and Laura Sechler

Can we find anything in our present memories that links us back to the life of our great grandfather George Sechler, who died at age 33 in 1907 in the line of duty as a New York City police officer? This is no easy task–his wife, Laura, apparently spoke very little about her husband toContinue reading “Linked Memories: Traces of George and Laura Sechler”

Linked Memories: Two Generations, Two Double Lives

The combined evidence on the lives of our great grandfather James Louis Hynes and his son, our grandfather, James Gordon Hynes is abundant, decisive and powerful–they were astoundingly alike in their strengths and, sadly, their faults. We can learn much about each of them from the other. On the surface, both men were successful BaptistContinue reading “Linked Memories: Two Generations, Two Double Lives”

Linked Memories: The Grass Beneath Our Feet

Following Edward’s death in 1922, great grandmother Annie continued to live at the family home at 541 East D Street. Daughter Helen remained with her, studying music with prominent musicians in the region until mid 1926, then spending two years in Vienna. Returning in 1928, Helen lived at home as she built the Pomona orchestraContinue reading “Linked Memories: The Grass Beneath Our Feet”

Linked Memories: Irrigation Day

Memories of the citrus grove at our grandparents’ home at 501 North Vine Ave in Ontario, California shed light on our ancestry. One evening during a visit in the mid 1960s a tractor came down the alleyway and proceeded to plow trenches along the length of the grove. The entire process took perhaps an hour.Continue reading “Linked Memories: Irrigation Day”

Helen’s Orchestra

After the death of Edward Sandford in October 1922, his wife, Annie, and their daughter, Helen, remained in the family home at 541 East D Street in Ontario, California. Helen, who we knew as Aunt Honey (our grand aunt), was 24 in 1922. Census and city directory entries through the 1920s list Helen initially asContinue reading “Helen’s Orchestra”

The Flight of The Southern Cross and a Memorial to the Founder of Ontario

Two of our grandfather Joe’s favorite stories were… his role in arranging the funeral and burial of George Chaffey, the founder of Ontario, California, on behalf of the Chaffey family, as well as his contributions to the George Chaffey biography, and… his contribution to organizing the first airplane flight from the United States to AustraliaContinue reading “The Flight of The Southern Cross and a Memorial to the Founder of Ontario”

Banking Through The Great Depression

Grandfather Joe Sandford was President of the Pomona Commercial and Savings Bank from 1924 until his retirement. He approached his life and work with strong ethics learned from his parents, Edward and Annie, and his in-laws, Henry and Mattie Swan. Several of his favorite stories were proudly told and retold during his Living History interviewsContinue reading “Banking Through The Great Depression”