NATHANIEL SANDFORD                            

The Oswego Independent, Friday, June 18, 1920

Died:  June 11, 1920

NATE SANDFORD DEAD.

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Well Known Oswego Pioneer Passed

Away After Brief Illness at Ripe

Old Age Last Friday---A Civil

War Veteran.

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  Nathaniel Sandford, one of this communities best known and early citizens, died at his home just at the south limits of the city on the College road, at three o’clock last Friday afternoon, at the age of 84years, 8 months and 11 days.  His last illness was brief.  He had been enjoying his usual good health for a man of his age up until the day previous to his death.  In doing some work in his garden and about his home, he had rather overtaxed himself and had rather a bad attack, but rallied alright and by evening was able to be out around the premises again.  Friday morning he was indisposed again, however, and his condition gradually grew worse until his death.

  Funeral services were held from the family home at, two o’clock, Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev. J. H. Lamb, pastor of the Presbyterian Church.  The funeral services proper was in charge of the Oswego Commandery Knights Templar, No. 7, of which the deceased was a charter member.

  Adams Lodge No. 68, A. F. & A M., was also there in a body and assisted.  The Knights Templar funeral service was used at the home and the burial program at the cemetery.  The members of the order were in full uniform.  Burial was made in Oswego cemetery.

  Deceased was born in Edgar County Illinois, on the Old Sandford homestead, near the city of Paris, on Sept. 30, 1835.  From the time of the birth to the breaking out of the civil war he was getting his schooling, both in books and practical farming and stockraising, near Paris.  On April 15, 1861, President Lincoln issued his Proclamation, calling for 75,000 troops to enforce the laws and protect the government.  On the 17th of April a company was organized at Paris, Ills., of which Young Nathaniel Sandford was one of the Lieutenants.  This company was mustered into the regular service as Company E, 12th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.  The first enlistment was for only three months.  At the expiration of this time the company all re-inlisted, except Mr. Sandford.  Instead, he remained at home and raised another Co. which he took to St. Louis where it was mustered into the regular service, but because of some political reason, Mr. Sandford was not retained as captain.  He returned to Paris again, but in the fall of 1862, the position he had held with the 11th Illinois Vol. Inf., became vacant.  He was offered the position and accepted, reaching the Company at Corinth, Miss., just the day before the battle there.  His commission not having arrived he could not be mustered in, but notwithstanding this he took a musket, fell into ranks and went into battle, and was badly wounded in the knee, injuring him for life and closing his career as a soldier.

  During the remainder of the war he and his father engaged in stockraising and buying on their farm near Paris.  To his dying day he bore the marks of his sacrifice for loyalty and devotion to his country, and faithful friends bowed their heads in grateful tribute of appreciation for his work as a soldier and as a citizen.

  On September 30, 1868, he was married to Ella Cornelia Johns, at Vermillion, Illinois.  Two years later the young couple came west to Oswego, Kansas, where he began as a grocer in partnership with the late Henry C. Draper.  After three years in this business and partnership, he sold out his share and took up the business of growing and shipping fruit.  With the exception of the years between 1880 and 1884, during which time he was in the hardware business at Terra Haute, Ind., with his brother-in-law, he continued in this business at Oswego until about 20 years ago when he retired from active business, living in his beloved home at the edge of town.

  For fifty years he has been a citizen of this community.  In this time he had revealed himself so that he was known far and wide.  Everyone knew Uncle Nate Sandford.  In these years he had manifested a clean and honorable life worked for all the things that were worth while and good, raising a family, directing his children in the way they ought to go, so that one of his joys was the capable, worthy and industrial family of children, who loved him as much as he loved them.

  Soon after moving to Indiana in 1880, he endured the grief of having his beloved wife taken from him in death.  Death also brought sadness into his life at two other times in the history of his family life.  A little baby boy was taken in infancy, and in 1903, Mary, his youngest daughter, suddenly was called home by a loving God.  There is left to mourn his loss in his home circle, three daughters, Ada May, of St. Louis, and Anise and Laura of Oswego, and one son Charles Samuel Sandford, of Kokomo, Indiana.  Besides these there is a wide circle of other relatives and friends who mourn his going.

  He was identified always with the work of the G. A. R. and his few remaining comrades were at the funeral in a body.  He was a man who loved the outdoors.  While he was an industrious business man, yet he never lost an opportunity to enjoy God’s bid out-of-doors.  And he enjoyed more than the mere hunting and fishing---he loved the trees and the flowers and the fruit---the streams, winding their way among the hills.  It all thrilled and gladdened his soul, and refreshed his zeal for living.  He was not fortunate enough to amass a large amount of this world’s goods, but he certainly enjoyed a great fortune in his ability to enjoy to the full the realms of nature.  He was unselfish in his enjoyment of life.  He delighted in having his friends go with him into the woods or along the streams there to commune together in the charming atmosphere of the outdoors.  He was widely known for his generous spirit of hospitality and considerate friendship.

  Mr. Sandford has been a member of the Masonic Fraternity nearly ever since his arrival in Oswego, having joined the Blue Lodge in 1872, and was one of the three remaining charter members of Oswego Commandery No. 7, this charter having been granted May 5, 1875.  He has always been in good standing in these orders and so long as his health permitted always took a prominent part in the work.  He made a profession of his faith in Jesus Christ when but a boy, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church near Paris, Ills.  His church membership always remained there, but he lived always loyal believer in his Great Lord and was a true friend of the church.  It is no surprise to learn that his favorite song was the familiar hymn “By Sweet Siloam’s Shady Hill,” one that breathes the very spirit of the out doors.  He stopped to live and God richly blessed him in it.  Possibly more of us should follow his example and stop oftener to really live and enjoy the world that God has so gloriously endowed us with.

Card of Thanks.

  We wish to extend our sincere thanks to friends and neighbors for their kindness and sympathy in the death of our father.---The Misers Sandford.