Santa Barbara County Biographies

E. P. SANBORN

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


E. P. SANBORN was born in Kennebec County, Maine, November 1, 1844. 
His father, Captain John Sanborn, sailed in the West India trade. In a storm 
his ship was wrecked and all on board lost except the captain and one other man, who were 
rescued, but died two years after from the effects of exposure and hunger. Young San- 
born was reared on a farm and attended school in his native State. When the war of the 
Rebellion burst upon the country he was only seventeen years old, but the patriotic fire 
burned in his young heart, and he enlisted September 7, 1861, in Company C, Eighth 
Maine Volunteer Infantry. When his term expired he re-enlisted and served gallantly all 
through that great struggle, being mustered out January 18, 1866. Their regiment started 
in April, 1864, with 900 men, and after the battle of Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864, they 
numbered only 160 efficient soldiers. At that battle Mr. Sanborn, while making a charge, 
received a gun-shot wound in his shoulder, which disabled him from duty for four 
mouths. He participated in many important engagements, and through all acted well the 
part of a brave soldier. Entering the army as a private, he was promoted to Orderly 
Sergeant and carried the colors for six or seven months. He knows what it is to bear 
the old flag aloft in the midst of shell and shot, and lived to see it wave over a united country. 
In 1867 Mr. Sanborn came to California and settled in Solano County, where he worked, 
six months on a farm, and afterward farmed on the shares and accumulated a little money. 
He then went to Sacramento County and bought 200 acres of land, which he improved, 
and on which he engaged in farming. This land flooded and the property became worth- 
less. Mr. Sanborn was then foreman on a large stock ranch for ten years. He bought 
thirty acres of fruit land at $1.40 per acre, in Vaca Valley, which he improved and after- 
ward sold for $300 per acre. He then wont to San Mateo County and purchased 3,000 
acres of stock ranch, and afterward sold it at a profit, and went to King City Monterey 
County. He there took the position of foreman on a 25,000-acre stock and grain ranch. 
Some time after this he went to San Diego and operated in lauds and invested in city 
property, and also shipped 157 head of horses from the North, meeting with success in all 
of these enterprises. He came to his present property in March, 1888, bought forty acres 
of the ^nest land in the valley, and built a house and large barn. In 1889 he realized 
$2,100 from the products of the farm. 

Mr. Sanborn married Miss Emily Palmer, a native of Maine, daughter of Reuel Palmer 
of that State. They have one daughter, Elteen, born in 1877, in Sacramento County, 
California. 

Mr. Sanborn is a Republican, a member of the G. A. R., and a most worthy citizen. 

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.