10/07/2026
Sarah Douglas Granger
Sarah was born in Brandon, VT on October 29, 1811. Her Father was a physician of Scottish origin and descended from William Douglas who came to Boston around 1650. The doctor’s mother was an Arnold and descended from Governor Arnold of Rhode Island fame.
Sarah had a younger brother, Stephen A Douglas, who was born in Brandon on April 23, 1813. He was later to become the world-famous U.S. Senator from Illinois and ran for the presidency against Abraham Lincoln.
Their father died when Sarah was only five, leaving the widowed mother to make her own way as best as she could. She went to live with a bachelor brother of theirs who lived on a farm known as the Arnold District. Here Sarah and her brother shared a farming life until they were in their mid-teens. The uncle had seen to it that Sarah was able to attend the Brandon Academy but after he married there were just not enough funds to send Douglas. He was to receive his higher education in nearby Canandaigua NY.
Noted widower, Gahazi Granger and his son Junius N Granger were traveling in New England and met Sarah and her mother. Father and son Fell in love with mother and Daughter, but the son was the first to claim his bride. On St. Valentines day 1830, Sarah was married to Junius Granger at her home in Brandon Vt. Her wedding trip consisted of a sleigh ride of about 200 miles to her home just outside of Clifton Springs where she had lived most of her life.
Junius became a Judge and spent several years as a recorder and examiner in the general land office in Washington DC. During part of this time, Sarah’s brother Stephen was also in Washington and serving as the Senator from the state of Illinois. He was a widower for part of the time he was in the Senate. During the five years that Junius served in Wahington Sarah managed her brother’s household as well as her own. For social events of the day, it was most important for any senator to entertain and receive guests.
Sarah did not let the many demands of her time deter her from her work that could be useful and beneficial to her community. Her civic work and duties were not overlooked; in 1885 she became the first woman Postmaster of Clifton Springs receiving her appointment from President Arthur. She served it that capacity until 1889 during the Presidency of Grover Clevland and it was said in the 1893 edition of the county history that she was bright and spry at the young age of 80.
She is described by her contemporaries as possessing the intelligence and ability that made the Douglas name nationally prominent. She remodeled her home outside of Clifton Springs in the Southern Plantation Style and kept three spacious living rooms across the front, 11-foot ceilings throughout and a kitchen all across the rear of the home.
In her 85th year, she fell into poor health ana on June 2nd, 1897 she suffered a stroke which caused a paralysis from which she never recovered. On Tuesday Morning June 8th she passed on at home.
