San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 843-844
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 1/29/2010
EDWIN THOMAS HANNAFORD
An honored pioneer resident of Stockton, Edwin Thomas Hannaford has made this part of California his home for more than sixty years. He was born on Cape Elizabeth, near Portland, Maine, May 1, 1840, his ancestors being of English birth. In the fall of 1860 he left his native state and sailed on the Star of the West, to the Isthmus of Panama, and up the Pacific on the Cortez to San Francisco, landing in the latter part of December, 1860. On January 3, 1861, he arrived at Stockton and for a year and a half he worked on the Foreman ranch, where the town of Linden now stands, grinding grain in a primitive flour mill owned by Rynerson & Wasley. Later he came to Stockton and engaged in the tobacco business with George Houston. They raised their own tobacco on Craig's ranch and cured it, having five acres in this crop. Natural leaf was then selling for $1.00 a pound and smoking tobacco was seventy-five cents a pound. Selling out and dissolving partnership he went to Knight's Ferry, working in the old flour mill of D.W. Tulloch, and when he returned to Stockton in 1865 he entered the employ of the City Flour Mill, located on Main Street and owned by Willard and Austin Sperry and Mr. Burkett. For fifty years he was one of their most trusted employees and at the time of his retirement in 1915 he was presented with a gold service pin by the Sperry Company in honor of his long and faithful service. He filled all positions in the mill except that of engineer and general superintendent. He was superintendent of the cereal mill and later for twenty-six years had charge of the boys and girls employed in the cereal mill. He did all the flour packing in the early days and has seen many changes in the mill's processes and machinery during his long term of service. At a recent banquet at the mill he was the guest of honor and made a fine speech, his name heading the list of veteran employees.
In earlier years Mr. Hannaford was prominent in musical affairs, having a fine basso-profundo voice. He formed two male quartettes and with the three Wheeler sisters made a concert tour throughout the Valley, visiting San Jose and other places. For three years he sang in the choir of the Congregational Church and never missed a Sunday during that time. Hale and hearty in his eighty-third year he is still very active and can dance a jig as well as in his youth. He joined the Odd Fellows in 1863 at Linden; afterwards he was a member of Yerba Buena Lodge in San Francisco. The world is his church and to do good is his religion. He has been a Republican from the time of Lincoln.
Mr. Hannaford was first married in Sacramento to Miss Madeline Bingham, born in Pennsylvania, who died in Oakland, leaving six children, five of whom are living: Mrs. Mary Hihn, of Los Angeles; Mrs. Nellie Andrews, of Watsonville; Edwin T., Jr., of Stockton; Mrs. Jennie Menasco, of Watsonville; Mrs. Lorena Elliott, of Venice. His second marriage united him with Miss Margaret Andrews, who was born in Nebraska. Her parents, John H. and Margaret (Curry) Andrews, were both natives of England, and in 1865 they crossed the plains with mule teams. They settled at first in Oregon and later came to Stockton, where Mr. Andrews opened up a harness shop on South Center Street between Main and Market, and the brick building which he erected is still standing. By this union they have one son, James L., a carpenter in Venice.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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