Jesse's mother, Berl, was born in Mississippi; his father was born in South Carolina. They had two sons: Daniel Neal Sandifer, who stayed in Mississippi and married Amanda E. Guyner; and Jesse Thomas Sandifer, Jr. They also had two daughters: Frances "Fanny" Sandifer, who moved to Freestone County, Teague, Texas, and had one daughter, Addie, who became a school teacher, and Jo Anna "Jo" Sandifer, who also moved to Teague.
Fanny, Addie, Jo and Jesse are all buried in Salem Cemetery .
Unfortunately, not many are around who knew Grandpa Jesse, but it has been said that he had a kind gentle voice. Once, while he was still at the dining table, the four youngest girls, Addie Lee, Ida Bell, Sarah Ethel and Laura Mae, were in the fireplace room getting into Grandpa's tobacco. Grandpa called out, very softly, "You little girls get out of my tobacco." (Sue Little)
Grandpa had a small dog, reddish in color, named "Fox." Fox was afraid of thunder and lightning. Whenever a storm was occurring around bedtime, Grandpa always made sure someone left a window up so Fox could come in the house. (Sue Little)
Grandpa was ambidextrous. He apparently suffered from asthma and may have been a diabetic. (Sue Little)
Grandpa left home in 1861 at the age of 14 to live with his brother Dan Sandifer and his wife. (Sue Little)
The surname Sandifer is a very rare name comparatively speaking, and appears to be locational in origin. Research indicates that it can be associated with the English, meaning "one who came from, or lived near, Sandford." Some say the name came from people who lived near a sandy ford on a creek or river.
Jesse Thomas Sandifer married Sarah Elizabeth "Bettie" Sartor on December 7, 1879.
She was 18 and he was 32. She lived to be 86 and he died at age 61. Both are buried in Salem Cemetery off Hwy. 84, outside of Teague, Texas. They lived in Hamilton, Mississippi, near Aberdeen, in Lamar County, Alabama, and came to Mexia, Texas, by train on December 20, 1894. (Olin Seely and Sue Little)
Jim Sandifer, a son, said the family came to Texas in 1895 because "all of the good stove timber had been cut out and sold where they lived in Mississippi." Times were very hard in the old south in those days, and evidently Jesse Sandifer had depended upon working in the woods during winters to supplement their income from farming. (Told to Olin Seely by Uncle Jim Sandifer)
To this union the following children were born:
Mamie Allen Sandifer (January 28, 1881 - July 28, 1971)
Born in Mississippi, buried in Salem Cemetery
Stevie Jesse Sandifer (February 8, 1883 - September 23, 1953)
Born in Mississippi, buried in Mexia Cemetery
James Berl " Jim" Sandifer (December 22, 1886 - September 24, 1972)
Born in Mississippi, buried in Salem Cemetery
Robert Houston Sandifer (July 29, 1889 - November 5, 1902)
Born in Mississippi, buried in Salem Cemetery Died at age 13 of spinal meningitis
John Thomas Sandifer (December 21, 1891 - July l, 1961)
Born in Mississippi, buried in Salem Cemetery
Infant girl stillborn in Mississippi, date unknown
Buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery in Monroe County, Mississippi
Addie Lee Sandifer (April 19, 1895 - November 24, 1963)
Born in Freestone County, Texas, buried in Salem Cemetery
Ida Bell Sandifer (June 12, 1897 - December 12, 1982)
Born in Freestone County, Texas, buried in Union Cemetery
Sarah Ethel Sandifer (September 21, 1899 - February 22, 1986)
Born in Freestone County, Texas, buried in Salem Cemetery
Laura Mae Sandifer (August 12, 1902 - March 10, 1965)
Born in Freestone County, Texas, buried in Union Cemetery
Back in the days of their marriage their lives were hard and the work was endless. They had no electricity, plumbing or central air conditioning or heating, no refrigerator, radio or TV, telephone or vacuum cleaner. They hauled all the water from a well or spring and used wood stoves for heat.
Lots of houses were buil
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Jesse Thomas Sandifer Family