Andrew W. Axford

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Andrew W. Axford

Biographical and Genealogical History of Morris County New Jersey. Illustrated. Vol. II., Lewis Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1899.

Among the representative citizens of Naughright, New Jersey, we direct attention to Andrew W. AXFORD, who has long been identified with the interests of this place-first as a blacksmith and later as a veterinary surgeon-- and who now holds the office of freeholder of Washington township.

Mr. AXFORD is of English descent. His ancestors were among the primitive settlers of Oxford, Warren county, New Jersey. Robert AXFORD, his father, was for many years a merchant of Hackettstown, Warren county, New Jersey, and late in life retired to a farm in that county, where he spent his closing years and there died. He was born in 1800, son of John M. AXFORD, and his death occurred in 1873, and his wife, whose maiden name was Jane WILSON, and who was a daughter of Andrew WILSON, of New Stone, Hunterdon county, was born in 1809 and died in 1879. They were the parents, of six children, three of whom survive, namely:

Jacob,
Robert and
Andrew W.

Andrew W. AXFORD was born in Hackettstown, New Jersey, October 28, 1845, and grew to manhood near that village, having limited educational advantages. He learned the trade of blacksmith in his native town, and continued to reside there until 1868, when he came to Morris county. This place has been his home for thirty years. He followed the trade of blacksmith until fifteen years ago, when he turned his attention to veterinary practice, and has since devoted his time to it, enjoying a successful and increasing practice. He is a member of the Veterinary Medical Association, of New Jersey, being one of the trustees of the same.

Some five years ago Mr. AXFORD became interested and active in political matters, and was about that time honored with a place on the board of election. In the spring of 1896 he was elected freeholder of his township, the duties of which office he has performed with fidelity and efficiency. He is a Democrat, and is a partisan believer in the efficacy of the doctrines of modern Democracy. Other positions of preference occupied by Mr. AXFORD are those of chairman of the Washington township bridge committee, and member of the lunacy committee of the board of freeholders in 1897, and in 1898 of the macadam-road committee.

Mr. AXFORD was married in Morris county, New Jersey, August 27, 1870, to Catherine SLATER, daughter of John SLATER, of Naughright, and their only child is William Homer, a junior in the University of Pennsylvania, preparing for the medical profession.

Fraternally, Mr. AXFORD is a Mason and a Knight of Pythias. In the local lodge of the latter he is master of finance.

This biography was scanned and contributed by Catherine Smith DeMayo.