James H. Sandifer, owner and proprietor of the El Dorado Transfer Company, and local agent for the Standard Oil Company, is one of the progressive and enterprising business men of El Dorado. He is a native of Somerset county, Kentucky, born September 6, 1869, and is a son of George M. Sandifer. (For a more complete history of the Sandifer family see sketch of W. H. Sandifer, which appears in this volume.) James H. Sandifer was about eight years of age when he came to Butler county with his parents and here grew to manhood and was educated in the public schools. He began life in the employ of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company, and in that connection also worked for the express company. He was located at Wichita about a year, during which time he was employed in the ticket office of the Missouri Pacific Company and for nine years he was employed in the El Dorado office of that company, during which time he worked under Russell R. Harding, A. H. Webb and William T. Kyle.

After being in the railroad service for ten years Mr. Sandifer resigned and engaged in the transfer business at El Dorado, and about the same time, he became local agent for the Uncle Sam Oil Company, and after that firm went out of business, he was agent for the Sunflower State Oil Company until 1909 when he became local agent for the Standard Oil Company, and has since capably filled that position. During all this time he has conducted his transfer business which has had a substantial growth and development and has become one of the important business enterprises of El Dorado. Mr. Sandifer uses six teams and a motor truck in connection with his transfer business and employs a great many men, never having less than six on his pay roll and frequently several times that many.

Mr. Sandifer was married to Miss Bertha C. Allen, a daughter of Chris and Ellen B. Allen. Mrs. Sandifer was born in Burlington, Iowa, and came to Butler county, Kansas, with her parents when she was a child. She was reared and educated here and is a graduate of the El Dorado High School. Her father was successfully engaged in the plumbing business here for a number of years, and is now de-

ceased, and her mother resides in El Dorado. To Mr. and Mrs. Sandifer have been born six children, as follows: James, a student in Kansas University; Robert, collector for his father, and is a graduate of the El Dorado High School; Ellen, a student in the El Dorado High School; Carrie Ethel, died at the age of two years; Mary Bell and Winifred. James is taking the electrical engineering course and Robert has given special study to wireless telegraphy, and is one of the experts in that line of work in the State. He has constructed a wireless apparatus and sends and receives messages over a large scope of territory.

Mr. Sandifer is a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, of which he is local manager and past member of the council. He is one of the substantial citizens of El Dorado and Butler county.

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