A Wilson Family Tree
Notes for Micajah Carr (Mike) Sandidge
"History of Saline County, Missouri", Missouri Historical Co., St. Louis, 1881, pp. 773-774:
MICAJAH C. SANDIDGE, county recorder, P. O., Marshall. Was born in Hart county, Kentucky, April 13, 1835, and moved with his parents to this county, and settled six miles south of Marshall, where he was raised on the farm, and educated in the schools of the neighborhood. At the age of fifteen he clerked in a sto[r]e in Marshall, until 1857, when he went to Lanesville, Kentucky, and clerked two years in a grocery and commission house. In 1859 his father died, and he returned to Saline county, Missouri, and took charge of the farm. In 1861, he joined Capt. Crews' company, M. S. G. [Missouri State Guards -- Confederate], and was in the battles of Wilson Creek and Lexington, and was discharged at the end of six months. In August, 1862, he enlisted in company D, First Missouri cavalry, Jo. Shelby, colonel; then Gordon. This company was afterwards made General Marmaduke's escort, and was in the battles of Coon Creek, Newtonia, Prairie Grove, Helena, Little Rock, and Jenkins' Ferry. In May, 1864, he was sent in the Federal lines as a spy, taken prisoner, and sent, first to the Arkansas penitentiary, at Little Rock, then to Rock Island, Illinois, where he remained until February, 1865, then sent to New Orleans, and then exchanged on April, 1865; went to Shreveport, joined his command, and surrendered in June. In March, 1866, he returned to Saline county, Missouri, and sold goods for Q. O. Striker, in Marshall, and then went to farming until 1875. He then sold his farm, and engaged in milling for three years, and in 1878 was elected county recorder for four years. On the 5th of December, 1869, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Mayfield, daughter of Dr. Thomas Mayfield, of Barren county, Kentucky. She died January 25, 1875, leaving three children: John T., Elizabeth A. and Micajah C. He was again married, March 5, 1879 to Mrs. Jennie S. Sappington, daughter of Captain Mason Brown, killed at the battle of Boonville in 1861. They have had two children, only one Ida C., living.
"History of Saline County, Missouri" says on p. 329 that it was at the battle of Jenkin's Ferry that he was taken prisoner.
There is a letter written by B. H. [Benjamin Harrison] Wilson in the Union Provost Marshals’ File of Papers Relating to Individual Citizens (Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, MO; searchable index online at http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/provost/) that says:
I saw Charles Q. Shouse of Pettis County, Mo., in regard to John N. Parker, alias Micajah C. Sandidge (now a prisoner at Rock Island, Ill.), having taken the Oath of Allegiance to the United States in 1862. He says he was present when Sandidge took the Oath. I have not been able to get into Saline to learn of others who know anything about it.
[Apparently, as a spy Micajah had taken the alias of John Parker; I’m not sure if the middle initial is N; it’s hard to read in the letter.]
Middle name of Carr is from My Southern Family (other sources just had initial "C"). Middle name of Carr is also given on daughter Louise Champlin's death certificate. Note that he was likely named for his father's older brother, Micajah Carr Sandidge, who died in 1832.
A couple of sources (including the Hal Wood information) list Micajah as son of Aaron Burr Sandidge instead of John W. Sandidge. However, information from Park Ridge Cemetery in Marshall, MO, lists his parents as Jno. W. & Maria L. Sandidge. Also, the probate case files of John W. Sandidge and Marie L. Isbell make this quite clear.
According to the Hal Wood information, he was elected Saline County recorder in 1878, 1882, 1886, and 1890, and he died in office in 1891.
In the Ridge Park Cemetery register, under birth date it says 55-11-17. There are a few other entries where they give age instead of birth date, and I think that is what this is: 55 yrs, 11 mos, 17 days. This works out to a birth date of 13 May 1835. In “History of Saline County” it gives his birth date as 13 Apr 1835, so it doesn't quite match. The obituary below also says April 13, so that is probably the better date. Note that his headstone at Ridge Park Cemetery says 1855 for his birth. My best guess is that the stone was made when Micajah Jr. died in 1945, someone read 55-11-17 and thought that meant he was born in 1855, and nobody at that time knew any better.
The Diary of W. S. Myers, Miami, Saline, MO, 1891 (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~meredythspages/diary1891.htm) has the following note for Micajah:
Thurs., Apr. 30.
Mr. M. C. Sandidge, Sr., died tonight at 10:15 o’clock. Mike and Mrs. Isbell went over tonight. Mrs. Dunlap died this eve at 5:30 o’clock. Fay and I ran off one-hundred eighteen “funeral notices” tonight. It was 15-minutes after 11 o’clock when we quit.
[Mrs. Isbell would be Maria Isbell, Micajah's mother. Mike is probably Micajah Jr., who was living with Maria in the 1880 and 1900 censuses.]
A long and effusive obituary was in the Saline County Weekly Progress, 8 May 1891, p. 1 (obtained from Newspapers.com) [note that the editor of the Progress was Robert S. Sandidge, Micajah's cousin]:
A NOBLE MAN GONE.
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A VERY POPULAR COUNTY OFFICER OF SALINE PASSES TO THE BEYOND.
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More Sincere Sorrow to the Public at Large Than has been Caused For Many a Day--"Every body Knew Mike" but Now He is Gone.
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On Thursday night April 30, at ten o'clock there fell asleep in this city, a man perhaps more warmly beloved, by more men, than any other man, perhaps, that ever lived in Saline county. At least he was remarkable in that way. There was something in him that made men grapple themselves to him with hooks of steel. He was elected four times in succession to the best office in the county, just because his friends wanted it so. Now what was the cause of all this devotion? It is not far to seek. M. C. Sandidge had a heart that held the world. He was tender as a child and warmhearted to all humanity, but to his friends he was the prince of good fellows. When they were in trouble they went to him as naturally as if some peculiar relationship existed between them, and when it came time to "elect Mike" it was pathetic the love they showed him. Having passed through unusual trials as a confederate soldier, the fraternal feeling was burned into him deeper, but he always was one of those who loved his fellow men. If, according to Abou Ben Adam's dream he who loves his fellow man leads all the rest on the golden records of the brighter world, then "Mike," as everybody called him, even if he had known him only a few minutes, will not fail to find hosts of friends now that he has crossed the dark river. Our late Recorder had something of a leadership in him like nothing so much as being chief of a clan. The clan of those who loved a brave warmhearted man, whose heart was ever flowing with pity and kindness. As long as he could procure a cent in any way it was shared with a friend. He would naturally prefer to do a good deed to others than to injure. There was something kindly in his heart that belonged there. We have known of instances where the deceased was hard up and needed every cent of his salary, when he would go to a grocery store and say of a certain man "this poor devil is destitute, please let him have something for his family till he can get work. I am poor as I can be myself, but I can't let his family suffer." If Mr. Sandidge's salary had been a million, he would have not had a cent at the end of the year, and he did not live high either. But his heart was soft and he could not listen to the suffering of one of his friends. On frequent occasions he said Tom or Jim (or whoever it was.) "I haven't got a cent but I will go out and try to borrow it for you."
If ever good-heartedness and joy came back when one is taken from earth it now does. Everybody thinks of some kindly service, noble act of generosity, and while his eyes grow moist he says "Poor Mike." Some little child asked once why it was that folks who liked any body called him "poor" when he died.
Inscrutable tendency of human heart--the pity that wells up that such a kindly son of nature should be taken away. One so full of life, humanity and brotherhood. The world feels cold to lose him, "Poor Mike." He will be buried by the Masons after three o'clock to-morrow, Saturday, at Ridge Park Cemetery. His funeral at his residence on Jefferson street at 3 o'clock, by Rev. Joshua Barbee an old friend of the deceased. Mr. Sandidge was born in Hart county Kentucky on April 13th, 1835, thus making him within 13 days of being 56 years old when he died. He did not look his age, as he is remembered in his days of health. He was so active, lively and vigorous that no one took him to be more than between forty and fifty. When he came here with his parents he settled 6 miles north of Marshall. Then clerked in a store in Marshall till 1857, then went to Lanesville, Kentucky, and clerked in a grocery and commission house. In 1859 [should be 1857] his father died, and he returned to Saline and took charge of the farm. In 1861 he joined Captain Crews' company M. S. G. and was in the battle of Wilson's creek, and Lexington, and was discharged at the end of 6 months. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company D. First Missouri, Joe Shelby, Colonel, then Gordon. This company was afterwards made General Marmaduke's escort, and was in the battles of Coon Creek, Newtonia, Prairie Grove, Helena, Little Rock and Jenkins Ferry. In May 1864, he was sent in the Federal lines as a spy, taken prisoner and sent, first to the Arkansas penitentiary at Little Rock, then to Rock Island, Illinois, where he remained until February, 1885 [should be 1865], then sent to New Orleans, and then exchanged on April 1885 [should be 1865]; went to Shreveport, joined his command and surrendered in June. In March 1886 [should be 1866], he returned to Saline and sold goods for I. O. Striker, in Marshall, and then went to farming until 1875. He then sold his farm and engaged in milling for three years, and in 1878 was elected county Recorder which office he held until the day of his death, having been elected four times and being in the 13th year of his official life when he died with more than 3 1/2 more years to serve. On the 5th of December 1869, he was married to Miss. Elizabeth Mayfield, daughter of Dr. Thomas Mayfield of Barren county, Ky. She died January 25th, 1875; leaving three children; John T., Elizabeth A. and Micajah C. He was again married, March 5, 1879, to Mrs. Jennie S. Sappington, daughter of Capt. Mason Brown, killed at the battle of Boonville in 1861 and leaves three children by her [actually, four]. He has played his part and lived his days, and the tears shed over his loss, now are the only commentary of his life. May that heart which beat so strong for humanity, gain a long sweet rest, and beat again to the elevated song of that redeemed humanity, whose joy such a heart as his would fully understand and feel.
[A few minor typos corrected. After the obituary, there were published several resolutions of County officers in memory of Recorder Sandidge, but they are not included here.]
1850 census
Image 60 on Ancestry.com (Saline Co., MO)
Listed as Micajah C. Sandridge. Attended school within the year.
1860 census
Images 1 and 2 on Ancestry.com (Black Water Twp., Saline Co., MO)
Listed as M C Sandidge
1870 census
Images 106 and 107 on Ancestry.com (Saline Co., MO)
Listed as M. C. Sandige. Value of real estate listed as $3000, value of personal estate listed as $1500. Household consisted of Micajah (M C), Rebecca (this should be Elizabeth), and William P. Sandidge; and Dicey Sandige (domestic servant).
Note: Some of the information in these pages is uncertain. Please let me know of errors or omissions using the email link above. ...Mike Wilson
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