Career
Sanborn was born on January 17, 1853 in Swanton, Vermont. He attended Muskingum College before moving to Stevens Point, Wisconsin in 1876. In 1893, he moved to Ashland, Wisconsin.
Previously, he was District Attorney of Portage County, Wisconsin.
Sanborn was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1888 and 1912. He served in the Senate from 1905 to 1912.