Mar 27 2008
Milton Jefferson Saffold
Son of Reuben II and Mary (Phillips) Saffold, lawyer and jurist was born March 18, 1828 at “Belvoir” in Dallas County and died July 4, 1879 in San Francisco.
He attended primary schools in Dallas County and was a student at the University of Alabama, 1843-45. He read law under the direction of his father, and entered the practice of law at Haynesville, Lowndes County. Later he practiced in Montgomery and San Francisco. He was district solicitor, 1848, representative from Montgomery in the legislature, 1859, chancellor, 1859-61, judge of the circuit court, 1869.
In April, 1865, the Mayor of Montgomery, W. L. Coleman, with a deputation of citizens, made preparations to meet the advancing Union Army and to obtain protection for the undefended city. The party went out during the night, and on Wednesday (about April 18), morning, it was made known by a placard that the city of Montgomery, having “surrendered into the protection of the United States” all private property would be respected, except such as was required by military necessity. The committee of surrender was composed of the following named citizens: W. L. Coleman, Mayor, W. J. Bibb, W. B. Bell, M. J. Saffold, W. H. Smith, Lewis Owen, J. Avery Shepherd, Dr. A. A. Wilson, Dr. James Birney, and Josiah Morris.
Milton Jefferson married (1) Martha James Harrison, daughter of Colonel Edmund Harrison and (2) Eleanor Georgia Whiting, daughter of John and Elizabeth Whiting of Montgomery.
Children by Martha James were (1) Starke Selbert, president Provident Life and Trust Company, (2) James Phillips, physician, and (3) Reuben Edward, journalist.
Source: Dictionary of Alabama Biography; Alabama Confederate Reader, pg. 420.
Children by Eleanor Georgia were (1) Milton W. Saffold (b. 1859) and William Arthur Saffold (b. 1863) who worked with insurance and bonds and married Minnie E. Reynolds.
Milton also fathered Francis Erwin Saffold (b. 1876) by a black woman named Clara Erwin who was a slave until she was ten years old. He and Clara also had a daughter named Mattie Belle Saffold (b. 1874). Milton also is thought to be the father of one other daughter b. 1864 to a black woman named Eliza. (Source: Vivian Price Saffold)
The San Francisco Coroner’s report lists disbursements upon the death of Milton Jefferson.
The full page is here and the title page here.
I was just looking for information about Edmund Harrison and found this information at this website http://www.interment.net/data/us/al/montgomery/oakwood/index.htm
It says that Martha James Harrison Saffold is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Montgomery.
I quote: Saffold, Martha James Harrison, b. Sep 7, 1832, d. Sep 9, 1856, w/o Milton J Saffold. Youngest d/o Edmund and Jane Harrison, [DH]
Perhaps you already found this information.
I am the great great grandaughter of Eliza Williams and her husband Dock Allen. Before their marriage and while she was enslaved Eliza gave birth to a daughter, Mary around 1857. I have this information through oral family history, information from Janis Mercer and my cousin, Margaret McCall who was a grandaughter of Mary, daughter of Eliza and Milton Saffold. Family tradition has it that Eliza and her daughter were freed. I found them in Dallas County in the 1860 census listed as Eliza and Mary Williams. Williams was Eliza’s mother Annie’s surname. I have photographs of both Eliza and Mary in their later years.
Thanks to Christine Gregg for the mortuary notice on Milton Saffold. It does answer a few questions and gives a vivid picture of the circumstances of his death. Although we still do not know exactly where he is buried, it stands to reason it is near San Francisco, since the funeral was held there. His cousin, Reuben B. Saffold with whom he practiced law, is buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, Alamdeda County, Calif. Apparently, Milton was only in San Francisco for about seven months, although we still do not know why he went there.
Text of the mortuary notice that ran in the San Francisco Bulletin on page 3 on 7 Jul 1879:
Death of Ex-Judge Saffold.
Milton J. Saffold, the gentleman who died in the City Prison Receiving Hospital early Saturday morning, to which institution he had been taken the previous evening by Officers Rochefort and Williams, who found him lying insensible on the sidewalk at the corner of O’Farrell and Mason streets, was formerly a prominent citizen of Alabama. While scarcely a man in years he was elected a representative in the State Legislature from Montgomery county by a decided majority over the opposition of William L. Yancy. Shortly prior to the war he was elected one of the three Chancellors of that State, which office he filled with distinction. Subsequent to the war he was again elevated to the judiciary, this time to the Circuit Bench, and as such did much toward ameliorating the asperities then existing in that part of the country. The deceased was a scion from a family long prominent in the South in industries, letters, professions and public service. His father, Reuben Saffold, was for many years Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama; while his brother, B. F. Saffold, was for six years Associate Justice of the Same Court. That office he subsequently resigned. In January last the deceased came to this city, and associated himself with his relative, R. B. Safford [sic], in the practice of the law. He leaves five sons and numerous relatives adn friends in the South to mourn his untimely fall. He was buried from Grace Church yesterday, Rev. Dr. Wm. H. Platt officiating. Cerebral hemorrhage was the cause of death, as revealed by an autopsy made.
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Hi, gr8 post thanks for posting. Information is useful!
I am Janis Mercer, granddaughter of Mattie Saffold. Mattie was the daughter of Clara Irwin and Milton Saffold. I found the photo in question of Milton Saffold among my mother’s possessions and sent it to Vivian Saffold several years ago. Written on the back of the photo was “Judge Saffold.” My mother received the photo from her sister-in-law who was an avid keeper of family memorabilia. Whether or not it is Milton Saffold can only be assumed. The identity of my grandmother’s father is my family’s oral history passed on to me in 1955 and repeated often through the years. You may ask what documentation I have since Milton and Clara were not man and wife. I can tell you that Mattie’s brother, Frank Saffold, listed his parents as Clara Irwin Saffold and Judge Milton Saffold in the records of Phillips Exeter Academy, Andover, Mass. 1896, and the NYC directory of 1894 lists Clara Irwin Saffold as “widow of Milton Saffold.”
Milton Jefferson Saffold and his descendants (both white and mixed-race) are one of the most intriguing stories in Saffold family history. I have always wondered why he abruptly decided to move to California shortly after his youngest child, Frank, was born. Records show that he died in San Francisco on July 5, 1879. Does anyone know where he is buried?
I have researched Milton Jefferson Saffold and his wives (including Clara Erwin, whom he never married). I am interested in the documentation that the above photo is actually Milton Jefferson. I have the photo, but no proof that it is indeed M. J. Saffold.
I am the great grand daughter of Milton Jefferson Saffold. My great grandmother was Clara Erwin, who was a slave until she was ten. My grandfather, Frank Erwin Saffold, passed for white and never told my mother and grandmother about his mother. I just found out about my real ancestry this summer. Can we talk about this side of the family here? Marcia
“Milton Jefferson married (1) Martha James Harrison, daughter of Colonel Edmund Harrison and (2) Eleanor Georgia Whiting, daughter of John and Elizabeth Whiting of Montgomery.”
Why would his family keep his last name??