Ira Sanford, a native of New York, was born in 1830, and in 1838 accompanied his parents to Michigan. From 1855 until 1871 he resided in Rice county, Minnesota, then located on his farm of 160 acres, in section 14, of Sundown. Mr. Sanford enlisted in the spring of 1865, in Company D, 6th Minnesota, and was discharged in 1866. In 1850 he was united in marriage with Miss Amanda M. Blanchard. Their children are Warren M. and Estella D.