C. Hamilton Sanford
Encyclopedia
Charles Hamilton Sanford (May 28, 1873 - February 16, 1942) was born in Cleveland, Ohio
, and was president of the Syracuse Trust Company and co-founder of Sanford-Herbert Motor Truck Company
in Syracuse, New York
.
, on May 28, 1873. He was the son of Theodore S. Sanford and Arabella Fenton Sanford. His father was a "leading figure" in the banking and financial circles of the Ohio
metropolis.
public schools, he took a job as a messenger for the German-American Savings Bank.
He worked there for a year and then became a clerk in the Western Reserve National Bank of Cleveland
, where he remained until its merger with the Bank of Commerce National Association. During his time there, he rose to the position of "paying teller" and after the merger he was promoted to a "receiving teller" and later, "assistant cashier".
When the National Bank of Syracuse was amalgamated with the Syracuse Trust Company in 1918, he became vice-president of the combined bank and was promoted to president two years later in 1920. Sanford spent another 19 years as executive head of the large Upstate, New York bank as a "financier of prestige", not only in his adopted state, but far beyond its confines.
By 1927, Syracuse Trust Company had two branches, one at 330 South Warren and the other at 509 North Salina Street in Syracuse
. The company was renamed to Marine Midland Trust Company of Central New York in January 1953, and Marine Midland Bank in 1971. By 1999, the bank changed its name to HSBC Bank USA.
in Syracuse, New York
, in 1909. He succeeded the late J. Frank Durston as president of the concern in 1921.
He was a lifelong Republican. During World War I
he worked for the Liberty Loan sales, in Red Cross drives and in the War Chest
campaign.
Sanford was a member of the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, the Century Club and the Onondaga Golf and Country Club.
. He had been in poor health for several years. Sanford was buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Syracuse
after services at First Presbyterian Church.
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, and was president of the Syracuse Trust Company and co-founder of Sanford-Herbert Motor Truck Company
Sanford-Herbert Motor Truck Company
The Sanford-Herbert Motor Truck Company was a manufacturer of trucks in Syracuse, New York.-History:The Sanford-Herbert Motor Truck Company was founded in 1909 and manufactured trucks in Syracuse for over 30 years until 1939....
in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.
Biography
Sanford was born in Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, on May 28, 1873. He was the son of Theodore S. Sanford and Arabella Fenton Sanford. His father was a "leading figure" in the banking and financial circles of the Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
metropolis.
Early career
C. Hamilton Sanford, as he was known, was "so eager to get into the business field in which his father had succeeded" that, on graduation from ClevelandCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
public schools, he took a job as a messenger for the German-American Savings Bank.
He worked there for a year and then became a clerk in the Western Reserve National Bank of Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, where he remained until its merger with the Bank of Commerce National Association. During his time there, he rose to the position of "paying teller" and after the merger he was promoted to a "receiving teller" and later, "assistant cashier".
Bank president
In 1902, he became "cashier" of the old National Bank of Syracuse where he remained in that position until 1915, when he was elected president of the firm.When the National Bank of Syracuse was amalgamated with the Syracuse Trust Company in 1918, he became vice-president of the combined bank and was promoted to president two years later in 1920. Sanford spent another 19 years as executive head of the large Upstate, New York bank as a "financier of prestige", not only in his adopted state, but far beyond its confines.
By 1927, Syracuse Trust Company had two branches, one at 330 South Warren and the other at 509 North Salina Street in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. The company was renamed to Marine Midland Trust Company of Central New York in January 1953, and Marine Midland Bank in 1971. By 1999, the bank changed its name to HSBC Bank USA.
Sanford-Herbert trucks
C. Hamilton Sanford was one of the founders of the Sanford-Herbert Motor Truck CompanySanford-Herbert Motor Truck Company
The Sanford-Herbert Motor Truck Company was a manufacturer of trucks in Syracuse, New York.-History:The Sanford-Herbert Motor Truck Company was founded in 1909 and manufactured trucks in Syracuse for over 30 years until 1939....
in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, in 1909. He succeeded the late J. Frank Durston as president of the concern in 1921.
Retirement
He retired from active business in January 1939, but remained as head of the board of directors of the Syracuse Trust Company. Sanford was succeeded in the presidency by Harry W. Davies.Personal life
He was married to Alice Durston Sanford and had two sons; C. Hamilton Sanford, Jr., and Durston Sanford and one daughter, Adele Sanford. He also had two grandchildren; Samuel Cook Sanford and C. Hamilton Sanford III.He was a lifelong Republican. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he worked for the Liberty Loan sales, in Red Cross drives and in the War Chest
War chest
In arms and armor, a war chest is a container for the personal weapons and protective gear of a citizen-soldier, kept in the household, and is the origin of the term.-In politics:...
campaign.
Sanford was a member of the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, the Century Club and the Onondaga Golf and Country Club.
Death
C. Hamilton Sanford died on February 16, 1942, at age 68. Funeral services were held at his home on Maple Drive in DeWitt, New York, a suburb of SyracuseSyracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. He had been in poor health for several years. Sanford was buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
after services at First Presbyterian Church.