William H. Sandifer.—The Sandifer family is a pioneer family of Butler county, but they are more particularly a pioneer family in a broader and more comprehensive sense, dating back to Revolutionary times, and their members have been conspicuous as pioneers, soldiers and citizens of sterling worth, in connection with the history of this country for the past 150 years. The founder of the Sandifer family in America was William Sandifer who, before the days of the American Revolution, was engaged in the transfer business in his native city, London, England, and during the war with the Colonies, he was conscripted and forced into the English army. His sympathies, prior to that time, had been with the Colonies, and this act of conscription by the government did not change his views but strengthened his sympathy with the revolutionists. However, he served with the English army for a time, his command being located in South Carolina, and there is where the romance began that made the young Englishmen a full-fledged American. He met Sally Brockman, a typical American girl of colonial times, and their friendship ripened into love, and they became engaged. Soon afterwards, young Sandifer deserted from the English army and enlisted in Washington's army, and fought in its ranks for the American cause until the close of the war. He was wounded at the battle of Brandywine, receiving a

saber cut on the scalp which never fully healed. After the war he returned to South Carolina to claim his bride, believing that he had become sufficiently Americanized to marry an American girl. They were married and a few years afterwards went to Kentucky. This was shortly after that section of the country had been explored by the renowned Daniel Boone. William Sandifer and his wife spent the remainder of their lives and reared a family on the frontier of the "dark and bloody ground" of Kentucky.

One of the children born to William Sandifer and Sally Brockman was Joseph Sandifer, who was born in South Carolina, and like his father, he was a soldier and frontiersman. He served in the American army during the war of 1812, and fought under General Harrison at the battle of the Thames, where the celebrated Shawnee Chief Tecumseh was killed, and Sandifer saw the chief fall, as he was shot, and a comrade of his, named Cornwall Edwards, secured the old chief's rifle, during the battle. Mr. Sandifer often related the incident and described the gun in detail. He said it was of English make with a slight nick in the barrel, and that he often fired it himself. In later life Joseph Sandifer removed from Kentucky to Missouri. He died at Palmyra, Mo. Joseph Sandifer was the grandfather of William H., whose name introduces this sketch.

George M. Sandifer was a son of Joseph Sandifer and was born on Hanging Fork creek, Ky., July 21, 1832. He spent his boyhood days in Kentucky, and in early life learned photography and for a time was located at Somerset, Ky., and later at Liberty and Lancaster, that State. About 1858, he went to Knoxville, Tenn., where he remained about two years. Then he went to Rome, Ga., and was conducting a photograph studio there when the Civil war broke out, and he enlisted in the Third regiment, Georgia cavalry, serving in General Wheeler's division, Hardee's Corps of Bragg's army. In the early part of the war, he was promoted to quartermaster with rank of captain, and much of the time was quartermaster of General Wheeler's division. At the close of the war, he returned to Rome, Ga., where he remained for a time, when he came back to his old Kentucky home, and after remaining for a time at Stanford, he went to Somerset, Ky., and conducted a steam mill until 1877, when he came to Kansas with his family. They drove through the entire distance from Kentucky to Butler county, and settled on a farm in Prospect township, three miles east of El Dorado. Here the father followed farming until 1891, when he again engaged in photography at El Dorado. He was an expert in his work, and had an extensive patronage. He disposed of his business in May, 1905, and died December 22, of that year, at the age of seventy-three. He was a member of the Christian church and was a Knights Templar Mason. His wife, to whom he was married at Somerset, Ky., bore the maiden name of Kazira Patterson Dutton. She was a native of Somerset and a daughter of J. S. and Martha (Chesney) Dutton, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, the former a son of David Dutton, a native of Germany, and an early settler in Kentucky.

J. S. Dutton came to Kansas and located at El Dorado in 1871, where he spent the balance of his life. He died in August, 1886, and his wife passed away about the same time.

George M. and Kazira Patterson (Dutton) Sandifer were the parents of the following children: William H., the subject of this sketch; Carrie, the wife of Judge G. P. Aikman, of El Dorado; Walter, died at the age of twenty; James, El Dorado; John, died at the age of fourteen, and Henry G., of El Dorado.

William H. Sandifer was born at Liberty, Casey county, Kentucky, December 26, 1857, and received a good common school education in his native State. He came to Kansas with his parents in 1875, as did the other members of the family, and was engaged in farming and stock raising in Prospect township until 1903. He then went to California, and after spending a few months returned to Butler county, and for twelve years was superintendent of the Butler county poor farm and since 1915 has been in the employ of an El Dorado lumber company.

Mr. Sandifer was married February 20, 1890, to Miss Belle Friend, of Austin, Tex., a daughter of John S. Friend, who now resides at El Dorado, Kans. The Friend family were early settlers in Butler county, coming here in 1868, when Mrs. Sandifer was a baby. To Mr. and Mrs. Sandifer was born one child, Ruth, now the wife of F. R. Thompson, who conducts the leading book and jewelry store of El Dorado, Kans. Mr. Sandifer is a member of the Masonic Lodge, Modern Woodmen of America, the Anti-Horse Thief Association, and belongs to the Christian church.

Previous | Main Page | Biography Index | Next

Pages 467-469,