| Introduction Born in Albany Family move Civil War Service After the War Sanford Married |
The
Biography of Copyright ©2004 Debra Sue Zimmerman No part of this document may be reproduced, either in
print or electronically, Back to TopThe Biography of Sanford Henry Winters 1847-1913 This biography is dedicated to Ruth Charlotte Martin (married surname Miller). Ruth was Sanford's granddaughter although she never knew him as died a few months before she was born. The initial efforts to research my family tree began with a conversation I had with my grandmother, Ruth Charlotte Miller (nee Martin) in about 1991. She was able to give me some information about her mother, Lulu Belle Martin (nee Winters), but she knew virtually nothing about Lulu’s parents, not even their names. After learning Lulu’s date of birth, I obtained her birth certificate which revealed her parents’ names; Sanford Henry Winters and Emma Jane McIntyre. In subsequent research, I have located various documents relating to their lives. Sometimes these tend to raise more questions than they answer, but that’s what makes genealogy the grand adventure that it is! And now by way of a brief introduction to the man,
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A
little over one year later in 1888, Mary Linda Winters was born on the
16th of October in Canastota, Madison County, New York.
Sanford is noted to be an out of wedlock father while Emma’s surname
is shown as Judd.44 On the line for the "name of the child,"
Judd is also written with no first name provided for the child. There is
another entry on this certificate in different handwriting above the
line for the child’s name, which shows Mary Linda Winters as the
child. The use of the surname Judd is as yet unexplained, and adds
another intriguing fact to this family history.
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That, in fact, Emma is residing in the household with Sanford, Mary and Lulu, and that Rhoda is not residing there. If this is true, then: 1. Someone lied to the census taker about Rhoda’s name and the "real" Rhoda should be found elsewhere. 2. Emma would not be found anywhere else in the 1900 census. 3. There may be differences between the Rhoda enumerated with Sanford and the "real" Rhoda found elsewhere. 4. There may be other facts in support of the theory. Each of these is addressed in turn below.
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Facts in support of theory 1. The most substantial support comes from the 1900 census which reveals a 42 year old Rhoda Morgan residing with her husband, David Morgan, in the city of Utica, Oneida County, New York.70 It was taken on 13 June 1900, two days after the enumeration of "Rhoda" Winters in Madison County. It shows that Rhoda and David Morgan had been married for 18 years which would put the marriage at around 1882 and the marriage certificate of Rhoda and David Morgan confirms that this couple was married on 14 July 1882.71 (after the 1880 census on which Sanford and Rhoda were enumerated with their 4 children). The Morgan couple’s Utica residence is shown as 71 Water Street. At 71 ½ Water Street, 26 year old Charles Winters is listed with his wife and 3 children, so mother and son are living adjacent to each other.72 In a later obituary, Charles Winters’ mother is referred to not only as "Rohida [sic] Eliza Gibbs Winters," but also as "Mrs. David Morgan of Utica."73 In the same obit, Charles’ father is shown as Sanford Henry Winters. Based upon the foregoing, it can be said with a high degree of surety that Rhoda Morgan of the 1900 census in Utica, is the same Rhoda that had been Sanford’s partner/spouse from 1873 to about 1880.74 2. A fair amount of additional census work has been done in an attempt to locate Emma on the 1900 census, but she has not yet been found elsewhere. Granted, it is difficult to prove a negative (namely that she is not anywhere else on the census, and this fact taken alone does not conclusively prove anything, but it is one piece of a larger picture. If Emma is ever found elsewhere on this 1900 census, it will conclusively disprove the theory proposed here. 3. There is one difference between the Rhoda enumerated with Sanford and Rhoda Morgan of Utica which may carry some significance in this analysis. Rhoda Morgan is shown as being able to read and write whereas Rhoda Winters is illiterate. This tends to indicate that these two were not the same individual, but again, standing alone does not provide conclusive proof in support of the theory. Research is continuing to try to establish the literacy, or lack thereof, of Emma and Rhoda as well. 4. The proposed theory is also supported by the fact that just one year prior to the 1900 census, Sanford acknowledged his marriage to Rhoda and their four children in his reply to the Bureau of Pensions.75 He made no mention whatsoever of either Emma or his three daughters and yet, Sanford, Emma and their three daughters were all enumerated as a family unit on the 1892 New York State census.76 Then in 1900 he is still residing with two of these daughters, Mary and Lulu.77 So, was Rhoda actually residing in two places at the same time? Was she in Utica with her husband of 18 years, David Morgan, with her son Charles in an adjacent household, while also living with Sanford Winters and two of the daughters he fathered with another woman? It seems unlikely. What seems much more probable is that the "Rhoda" was given to the Madison County census taker as being Sanford’s wife when, in fact, Emma was actually the woman residing in the house (although not married to Sanford). What was the motive for this deception? It is not clear, but perhaps it has to do with Sanford’s application for his veteran’s pension. Perhaps he thought it might somehow be in jeopardy if the Bureau of Pensions learned he was no longer with Rhoda. Or was it more of an emotional or a moral concern? We may never know although it is hoped that the ongoing research will eventually turn up facts that may make this part of Sanford’s life less murky and more understandable.
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More
from the 1900 census
Other information taken from the 1900 census provides additional insights into Sanford’s household. For example, the family did not reside on a farm, and the house in which they lived was rented. This rental situation is interesting in light of the fact that Sanford had previously purchased the town of Lenox property. If we assume for the moment that he still owned it in 1900, which has not yet been proven, it tends to indicate that no residential structure had been constructed on it.
Sanford is show as being a day laborer although the type of labor is not specified. This is in contrast to the 1890 census on which he is listed as "a constant invalid."78
Sanford and Rhoda are shown as having been married for 30 years. As previously argued, this author’s theory is that Rhoda was not really residing in Sanford’s household at that time, however, 30 years prior to 1900 would be 1870. This is within 3 years of the 1873 marriage date to Rhoda Gibbs given by Sanford in his veteran’s pension papers.79
In contrast, the 1900 census taken in Utica shows Rhoda as having been married to David Morgan for 18 years. Thus, their marriage would have been in about 1882. Their marriage certificate has substantiated the fact that they were married in 1885.80 Interestingly, Sanford, Rhoda and their four children are shown as an intact family in 1880 in the Madison County town of Brookfield, but within about five years, Rhoda had remarried to David Morgan.
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Rhoda’s birth date is given as March of 1859 on the town of Sullivan enumeration and March of 1858 on the Utica enumeration. A subsequent burial record has May of 1858 as her birth date.82 Regardless of which is the more accurate, the dates permit us to extrapolate the fact that Sanford’s 1873 marriage to Rhoda occurred when she was either 14 or 15 of age. Sanford would have been 26 years old at the time of his marriage to Rhoda in 1873.
The 1900 census also shows that Rhoda was the mother of four children, all of whom were living at that time. This fact is shown on both the Sullivan and the Utica census.83 As we have seen, the four children were Charles, Eva, Emily (Emma Abigail) and Lilly.84 Unfortunately, two of these four would not be living for very much longer.
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Untimely
death
On the afternoon of Friday, 26 May 1905, the body of Charles H. Winters was found floating in the Erie Canal at the John Street bridge in Utica, New York.85 Charles had been reported missing on Saturday, 20 May 1905, by relatives in that city and although Utica’s three newspapers reported the story, the Utica Daily Press gave by far, the most detailed account of the last hours of Charles’ life.86
According to the story, Charles had lived in Utica nearly his whole life, but about four years prior to his death; he went to work on a farm in Canaseraga, New York. It is not known if the Canaseraga referred to is the Canaseraga in Allegany County or a place in Madison County near Canaseraga Creek. It was said that he frequently visited his mother, identified as Mrs. David Morgan of 3 Potter Street in Utica.
Then, on the evening of Friday, 19 May 1905, he went out with some friends. Thereafter, he became intoxicated and at about 9:30PM, after being turned away from a bar because of his condition, he fell into the Erie Canal and drowned. The coroner found no evidence of foul play and declared Charles’ death an accident.87 Charles H. Winters was only 31 years of age when he met his demise.88 He is buried in Forest Hills Cemetery in Utica.89
Charles obituary makes for interesting reading insofar as what it says about Sanford. It begins:
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"Charles Henry Winters was the son of the
late Sanford Henry and |
It then goes on to say that Charles’ "father died some years ago."90 Contrary to these assertions, Sanford was 58 years old and residing in Madison County at the time of Charles death.91 It appears that Charles, and likely his three sisters, were estranged from their father.
The obituary also states that when Charles was "two years of age he came to this city (Utica) with his parents and resided here up to four years ago." This statement appears to be inaccurate in light of other evidence. Charles was 2 years of age in 1876 when his sister, Eva, was born and both Charles and Eva were born in Forestport, New York.92 Additionally, the census of 1880 shows Charles, his parents Sanford and Rhoda, and his three sisters residing in the town of Brookfield in Madison County.93 Charles was six years old at the time. Thus, unless the information about the family in the 1880 census was untrue, it appears that Charles did not move to Utica until after 1880 and not at the age of two as the newspaper reported.
Furthermore, although the obituary claims that Charles moved to Utica "with his parents," there is no indication that Sanford ever resided in Utica. Other than enrolling for civil war service in 1863 in Utica, Sanford does not appear to have had any other connection to the city. In fact, in Sanford’s veteran’s pension papers, there is one document which required him to list his "several places of residence since leaving the service." Completed in 1912, all of the locations listed are in New York State, namely, Camden, Cleveland, Canastota, Perryville, and Hamilton, but Utica is not among them.94 Thus, the part of the newspaper statement about Charles’ parents relocating to Utica appears to be inaccurate insofar as it applies to Sanford. It is surmised that when Rhoda married David Morgan in 1885, or even prior to that time, the four children relocated to Utica with their mother and her new husband and remained there while growing up. It appears likely that Sanford was not a part of their lives thereafter.
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1905
New York State Census
In the same year that Charles died, the state of New York conducted a census which raises the same question as the federal census of 1900; namely, is it possible that the "Rhoda" enumerated with the Winters family is, in fact Emma? Charles’ obituary clearly places Rhoda, then Mrs. David Morgan, in Utica at the time of his death in late May of 1905.95 The 1905 census, however, taken less than one week later on 1 June, enumerates "Rhoda" in Lincoln township in Madison County.
1) Henry S. Winters, aged 58, farmer,
2) Rhoda, wife, aged 53, and
3) Lulu B. aged 18.96
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Wherefore art thou,
Sanford?
In the next federal census, taken in 1910, Sanford has thus far remained elusive. Despite a line-by-line search of the online census images on the Ancestry.com online subscription service in the towns in Madison County in which it is likely Sanford would have been, he has not yet been located. The research strategy is to continue the search for him in every one of the enumeration districts in Madison County until the complete county has been covered. The search will then expand to towns in the counties contiguous to Madison County until a reasonably thorough search has been completed.
The year 1910 saw the death of another one of Sanford’s seven children. On 14 August of that year, Eva, whose married name was Schreck, died in Utica of pneumonia and is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in that city.97 This is the same cemetery in which Charles body was laid to rest five years before, but the two are buried in different sections. It is hoped that an obituary for Eva may eventually be found in order to see what, if any, mention is made of Sanford.
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Resident
of Hamilton
An affidavit subscribed to by Sanford in May of 1912 shows him residing in the Madison County town of Hamilton, New York.98 It is not known how long he had resided in Hamilton, but he had not been found there on the 1910 census.
Sanford turned 66 years old in April of 1913 and it is believed that he continued as a resident of Hamilton. His connection to the town appears to have been his daughter, Minnie May, one of the girls he fathered with Emma. Minnie had become Mrs. LeGrand Mosher (Moshier) on 25 September 1906,99 and resided in Hamilton,100 although the 1910 census does not show Sanford residing with them.
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Christmas
1913
On Monday evening, 22 December 1913, Sanford was attending "Christmas exercises at the chapel" in Hamilton. He suffered a "stroke of apoplexy" while there and "did not regain consciousness."101 The newspapers reported that he was taken to Minnie and Legrand’s home "on Bonney Hill" and passed away on the 27th of December of 1913.102 He died of "cerebral apoplexy,"103 a blood clot in the brain commonly referred to as a stroke. One can only imagine the dampening effect this must have had on the Mosher household Christmas that year.
Services for Sanford were held at the Mosher home at 1:00pm on the 30th of December. They were conducted by the Reverend S. B. Leary, whose religious affiliation is not yet known. It was reported that the services were "largely attended by his neighbors and relatives" and that "[f]loral offerings by friends were many."104
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Sanford was survived by a "family of five children."105 All of them were daughters, identified in his obituary by their married names, except for Mary who was unmarried at the time of his death.
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Mrs. LeGrand Mosher (Minnie) of Hamilton;
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Miss Mary Winters of Chittenango;
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Mrs. James Martin (Lulu Belle) of Chadwicks;
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Mrs. Lerch (Emma Abigail) of Utica; and
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Mrs. O’Brien (Lillian) of Deerfield.
Three sisters also survived him.
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Mrs. Wilson (Martha) of St. Johnsville:
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Mrs. Forbes (Mary) of North Brookfield, and
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Mrs. Barton (Anna) of Taberg.106
As previously discussed, his son Charles and daughter, Eva, predeceased him by eight years and three years respectively. His father died in 1897 and his mother had passed sometime before his father.107 No mention is made of his brother, Sylvester, and it is likely that he also died prior to Sanford.
Interestingly, out of the four enumerated choices on the death certificate; namely, single, married, widowed or divorced, Sanford’s marital status is shown as "married."108 There is, however, no mention of a wife in his obituary. Both Rhoda and Emma were living at the time of Sanford’s death, although Emma died in Paris, New York in the month following his death.109 Rhoda did not die until September of 1922 in Utica and she is buried in a plot with her then husband, David Morgan, and son, Charles H. Winters.110 It is unclear to whom the "married" reference may have applied, but the informant for the death certificate was LeGrand Moshier, Sanford’s son-in-law. As such, it may be that LeGrand believed Sanford had been married to Emma or perhaps wished that this piece of information would be preserved on a document such as this certificate.
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Final
Resting Place
Sanford H. Winters is buried in Graham Cemetery which is located just off Route 12, over the railroad tracks, in Hubbardsville, New York. Hubbardsville is a small Madison County village just east of Hamilton. The cemetery was incorporated in 1861, although there are stones there dating back to the early 1800’s.111 The property consists of approximately six acres, is generally flat and as of July of 1994 when this author visited the site, it was a well-maintained burial ground.112
A nine grave lot located a short distance from Sanford’s resting place appears to be the grave of Sanford’s sister, Mary. Mary’s husband, Myron Forbes, and three other Forbes who may have been their children, are interred there. Sanford is buried in a single plot marked by a headstone identifying him as a Civil War veteran. Each year an American flag is placed on each veteran’s grave by the caretaker.113
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There remains a number of unanswered questions with regard to Sanford and his life. Some of the more obvious are:
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Why did Sanford’s family move around so much (Albany County, Schoharie County, Oneida County, etc.)?
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Was Ellen Winters, the 19 year old, English-born woman, who shows up on the 1870 census in the same household as Sanford, related to him in any way?
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Is there an extant marriage record of Sanford’s marriage to Rhoda Gibbs in March of 1873, in Forestport, New York? Also, can a birth record of Charles H. in 1874 and Eva M. Winters in 1876, both purportedly born in Forestport, be found?
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Is there a divorce record (prior to Rhoda’s marriage to David Morgan in about 1882)?
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When and where did Sanford’s mother, Mary, and brother, Sylvester, die and where are they buried? (It appears that they both died somewhere between 1880 and 1897).
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What became of the property that Sanford purchased in the town of Lenox in 1895?
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Can the theory that the Rhoda enumerated on the 1900 and 1905 censuses with Sanford is, in fact, Emma, be definitively proven or disproved? If proven, then why the deception on the census? If disproved, then why is Rhoda enumerated in two places at the same time, AND where is Emma and why is she not residing with her daughter(s)?
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Why did Sanford acknowledge only his first family (wife Rhoda, children Charles, Eva, Emma Abigail and Lilly) on his veteran’s pension papers, making no mention of his three daughters, Minnie, Mary and Lulu Belle?
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Why did Charles’ obituary state that Charles’ "father died some years ago," when in fact, Sanford was still alive?
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Where was Sanford in 1910?
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Did Sanford leave any sort of estate requiring a probate proceeding or was there a will? (Thus far a search of Madison County surrogate court records has turned up nothing.)
The pursuit of answers to these questions presents genealogical challenges that will keep this writer busy for years to come.
Copyright ©2004. ãPast Away Historical & Genealogical Adventures. Debra Sue Zimmerman