Born July 6, 1843, in Westbrook, Middlesex Co., Conn. Son of Rev. Isaac
Sanford, New York East Conference; brother of Wilbur Fisk
Sanford, Wesleyan,
Class of '65.
1865, Joined New York east Conference; 1865-67, Thomaston, Conn.
1868, Studying at Yale Divinity School.
1869, Traveling in Europe.
1869-72, Pastor Congregational Church, Cornwall, Conn.
1873-82, Pastor of churches in Thomaston and vicinity, Northfield, Eagle
Rock, etc. Engaged in editorial and literary work.
1882-95, Pastor of Congregational Church, Westbrook, Conn. Author and
editor of "History of Connecticut" (1887); "A Concise
Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Biblical, Biographical, Theological,
Historical, and Practical" (1890). New editions of both these have
been published the past year.
April 1, 1900, Elected Secretary of "The National Committee on
Federation of Churches." Holds the same position still. The
work of Church Federation culminated in the great Federation meeting held in
Carnegie Hall, New York City, Nov. 15-21, 1905, representing thirty
denominations, with nearly eight hundred delegates.
"The Rev. Elias B. Sanford, D. D., for more than thirty years, has been
connected with movements designed to bring about a closer relation of the
branches of the Church of Christ. . . The Inter-Church Conference on
Federation held in this city, in November, 1905, brought about by the direct
influence of the National Federation, is largely due in its inception, in its
development, and in its splendid success, to the unceasing labors of Dr.
Sanford, who has served from the first as Secretary of the Executive Committee,
and is now also, on the motion of the Permanent Chairman, the Corresponding
Secretary of that body. . . Without detracting in any way from the arduous
duties performed during the past year by many members of the committees, it is
not too much to say, that the labor of Dr. Sanford exceeds that of all his
colleages [sic]. . . The Executive Committee wishes to place on record its
appreciation of the labor and devotion displayed by its Secretary, in connection
with the Inter-Church Conference on Federation. His unflagging zeal, his
unwavering consecration, his unfailing sweetness of temper, sometimes under
trying conditions, and his supreme sense of fairness, have endeared him to us
all." - Extracts from appreciative minutes passed unanimously by the
Executive Committee of the Inter-Church Conference on federation at their
meeting Dec. 12, 1905.
1888, Hon. A. M. from Yale University.
1894, D. D., Wesleyan University.
1905, Elected member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Married, Oct. 10, 1870, Miss Martha Sanford, of Thomaston, Conn.
Children: Adelaide Benton, born Jan. 21, 1872. Graduated at Smith
College, in 1894. Married to Prof. A. E. Hardy of Dartmouth College.
Mary Thomas, born Dec. 13, 1885. Residing at home.
Address: 90 Bible House, New York City.
Source: History of Class
of 1865 Wesleyan University, Fortieth Reunion, Middletown
Connecticut, June 27, 1905.
