Biography - A Hannaford
Esquire A. M. Hannaford is a native of Massachusetts and was born in the city of Lowell, Middlesex County, July 1, 1842. His father was superintendent of the of the tinker room in the Merrimac Cotton Mills, the largest factory of its kind in the United States. The subject of our sketch remained at home until the age of thirteen years, when he decided to become a sailor and shipped on the Frigate Independence. Form 1855 to 1858 he was in the Pacific Ocean. He following the sea for a living, being engaged on different vessels until 1861. April 28, 1871, he enlisted in the Union Army and served until he was discharged, June 21, 1864. After his discharge he returned to the army and served in the quartermaster’s department of the Army of the Potomac until the end of the war.
At the close of the war he came West and located in Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked for the Cleveland and Toledo Railway Company. In 1866 he came to Bloomington and engaged with the Chicago and Alton as engineer. He remained with this road for thirteen years and since then has worked for various other roads in the West and South. In 1877 he moved to Roodhouse, where he has resided ever since.
Mr. Hannaford was married February 5, 1868, to Miss Mary A., daughter of C. S. Swan, formerly foreman of the C. & A. roundhouse at this place. At that time Mrs. Hannaford was a resident of Cleveland, Ohio. To them have been born twelve children, seven boys and five girls. They are: Frank, Charles, Arthur, Harry, George, Oscar, Maude, Gertrude, Adelaide, Clara, Jessie, and James, who died when twelve years of age. All live in this city except Frank, who lives on a farm near Jingo, Kansas.
Mr. Hannaford is a very pronounced Republican and is holding the first office he ever asked for, that of Justice of the Peace, having been elected April 5, 1897. He is giving universal satisfaction and makes a model Justice. He is a Mason and was one of the charter members of the E. M. Husted Lodge No. 796, and for the first five years of its existence was its Secretary. He is Commander of Jacob Fry Post No. 193 G. A. R. , and First Assistant Engineer of Division No. 220 of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
Mr. Hannaford is a thoroughly educated gentleman who has traveled a great deal and seen much of the world and its people. He has a wide knowledge of men and affairs and is an entertaining and instructive talker on any subject. He enjoys the confidence and respect of a wide circle of acquaintances. A good likeness of the ’Squire is presented herewith.
Transcribed 25 Oct 2006 by Linda Jones Craig from Souvenir of Roodhouse, 1897.
