Cornelius H. Hanford

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Cornelius H. Hanford (21 April 1849-1926) was an American judge and the first United States Judge for the District of Washington.

1 Early Life
2 Career
3 Personal life
4 References

[edit] Early Life

Hanford was born in Winchester, Van Buren County, Iowa. His parents, Edward and Abbie J. (Holgate) Hanford, were natives of Ohio, but were married in Iowa. Their ancestors were among the pioneer settlers of Connecticut. His father Edward Hanford was an extensive farmer of Iowa, but in 1853 sold his possessions and moved with family and friends,to Oregon Territory and then to Seattle, Washington where his brothers, George Hanford and Seymour Hanford, and his brother-in-law, John C. Holgate, were already located. He brought his family there in the summer of 1854.

The Indian troubles of 1855-56 destroyed the stock and improvements Edward, and the boys, of whom there were five, were thrown upon their own resources at an early age. Cornelius attended the village school when not otherwise engaged.

When Cornelius Hanford was twelve years of age the family moved to San Francisco, California and there Cornelius secured employment as office boy, and attended the night school. He also took a course in the Commercial College. In 1866 the family returned to Seattle and young Hanford was employed for two years in carrying the mail to Puyallup, Washington.

[edit] Career

Completing his mail contract, Hanford followed fanning up to 1869, then went to Walla Walla, and spent three years teaching school, with intervals at farm labor. He then desired to enter the stock business, but on account of ill health, returned to his home in Seattle to recuperate and as his strength was slow in returning, he abandoned the project and in the spring of 1873 engaged in the study of law in the office of George M. McConaha, Prosecuting Attorney for the Third Judicial District. Hanford attended to the office work, and was admitted to the bar in February, 1875.

Hanford became a partner of the firm which continued until McConaha lost his health. Hanford then continued alone for a time, subsequently becoming connected with Colonel C.H. Larrabee, Judge Roger S. Green, John H. McGraw and J.F. McNaught, all prominent characters in the history of Seattle.

In 1875 Judge Hanford was appointed United States Commissioner, and held that office until the following year, when he was elected to the Territorial Council. Serving one term, he declined to be a candidate for re-election, and gave his undivided time to his profession. In 1882 he was elected City Attorney of Seattle, and again elected in 1884-'85. From 1881 to 1886 he held the office of Assistant United States Attorney under Hon. John B. Allen, then United States Attorney, now United States Senator from Washington.

In March, 1889, Judge Hanford was appointed Chief Justice of Washington Territory by President Harrison, and held that office until the admission of the Territory to Statehood, when his office lapsed; but he was at once honored with the appointment by the President to the office of United States Judge for the District of Washington.

During the Chinese trouble of 1885-'86 he was a leader of the law-and-order class, and spent much of the winter in advising with Mayor Yesler and Sheriff McGraw, and in prosecuting those leaders who had committed or assisted in overt acts. The Judge was also a member of the Howe Guards, and took an active part in the civic and social organization of Company E, First Regiment, and continued as a member of the company until called to the bench.

In politics Judge Hanford was described as an ardent Republican; during the campaign of 1888 he was chairman of the Republican Territorial Committee.

After the fire of June, 1889, he was the first to publicly propose that the city should turn the disaster into a public benefit by widening and straightening some of the principal streets of the city.

[edit] Personal life

He married Clara M Baldwin in November, 1875. They had had eight children.

[edit] References

Much of the text above is from a profile in "An Illustrated History of the State of Washington", by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL. 1893.