By Teresa Martin
Klaiber, January 2023
Kentucky, A History of the State was written in 1887 when John B. Sanford was 31 years old. Sanford had already made a name for himself as a talented harness maker and rated a small clip in the publication stating he had been born in Bath County to Reuben and Sarah (nee Lyons) 26 June 1856. Reuben and Sarah married in Bath County 9 January 1854.[i]
John’s
father, Reuben was a farmer and as his family grew began to work as a tailor in
Bath County, Kentucky. A sister, a year
older, was named Elizabeth. Next came a
brother,2 years younger than John B., named Reuben for his father initially,
but because of confusion, later was called Richard. Younger siblings were Minerva, Laura Lee (m.
1898 Elijah Terrell[ii]),
Charles G., Sophia B., Edward (a minister in Lexington) and Mary Francis
(Fanny)[iii].
It
was not uncommon for families to have apprenticeship agreements to teach a
child a trade. But it appears that John
chose his occupation and his teacher, as a young adult. By 1880 John B. Sanford,
age 23, is listed in the household of Jacob W. Hutchinson, on Main Street,
Owingsville, Bath County. Both Hutchinson and John are listed as saddlers. Hutchinson was an artist stitching beautiful
patterns on the Kentucky Spring Saddle. Hutchinson
died 2 December 1923 and is buried in Owingsville Cemetery.
The
Kentucky Spring Saddle with its basic English tree shape is one this compiler
is very familiar with. I learned to ride
English saddle with a proper seat. The
Kentucky Spring Saddle not only used the traditional English saddle tree but
was modified for more flexibility, more padding and quilted leather. All
stitching hand done. The saddler’s
stitching and pattern his own. There are
a few saddlers today that can recognize a Sanford.[iv]
[v]
.jpg)
Sanford
was a quick learner and a savvy business man. Unmarried, by 1881 Sanford had moved to bustling
Catlettsburg, Boyd County, Kentucky to ply his trade of saddlery. He set up his harness business on Panola and
quickly became a Deacon of the Hampton Lodge #235, an excellent way to get to
know the gentleman of the county.
John
married Jessie Kibbe 29 September 1890 in Catlettsburg and by 1892 John B.
Sanford owned a lot on Louisa Street. His
letter head shows him doing well selling harness, saddles, buggies and
carriages. But it was his beautiful
saddles that people far and wide wanted for comfort when riding.
Photo by Ann Strosnider 2023
Among
the treasures we have here on Deliverance Farm is a rare Sanford Saddle. The stitching is intact, the leather shows
cracking but the tree and pattern in perfect condition. Over the years and the
many miles riding from Garner in Boyd County to Carter County and to
Catlettsburg the stirrup straps were probably replaced many times. Handed down
thru the family, both my husband, James David Klaiber and his father utilized the
saddle well into the 1960’s. A true
treasure and certainly built to last.
.jpg)
John
B. Sanford’s first wife Jesse was the daughter of Marcus L. Kibbe(y) and wife
Elizabeth. John and Jesse had a daughter
Gladys born in 1898. Jesse contracted
pneumonia and died 12 March 1915[vi].
At the time of her death, John B. Sanford was serving a four-year term as Mayor
in Catlettsburg, Kentucky. Jesse Kibbe
Sanford was laid to rest in Ashland Cemetery.
The
1920 census shows John B. widowed, his daughter Gladys age 22 and sister-in-law
Mary Kibbe who had lived with them since prior to Jesse’s death. In 1923 Sanford married Mary D. Kibbe. By 1930
Sanford’s worth in real estate and funds was valued at $8000. His occupation was listed in the census and
on his death certificate as a merchant of hardware. Mary, sister of Jesse, was the daughter of Marcus and Elizabeth Clark
Kibbe.
Sanford
died 7 January 1939[vii]
of arteriosclerosis. The funeral was
held at the Presbyterian Church, undertakers were Kilgore & Collier and
burial took place 9 January in Ashland Cemetery[viii]. Mary Kibbe Sanford died 7 January 1941 and
was laid to rest in Ashland Cemetery.
[i]
Kentucky, Bath Marriages fhl film 000273006
[ii]
Kentucky, Bath M. 7 Jul 1898 Elijah F Terrell and Laura L Sanford. Wit Wm
Terrell and Mattie Scott 7 Jul 1898
[iii]
Owingsville Outlook, 30 Jul 1896. “death…flux…at Farmers…Fanny…daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Reuben Sanford…buried at Old Virginia.”
[iv]
Preston, Tim. The World’s Most
Comfortable Saddles A Stitch in Time http://www.princealbertstables.com/Kentucky%20Saddler%20Saddle.htm
[v]
Kasiak, Neil A Quilted History: The
Kentucky Riding Saddle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebyEHkoE0Y4&ab_channel=NeilKasiak
[vi]
Kentucky D Cert 1914 cert 5967.
[vii]
Kentucky D Cert. 1939 - 187
[viii]
Bath News-Outlook 19 Jan 1939
