OBITUARY: John L. Sandford, 2 Feb 1873 - Smith County, TX Submitted by Vicki Betts 10 Oct 2002 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************************** TEXAS CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, May 7, 1873, p. 13, c. 3 Sanford.—Died, at his father's residence, near Jamestown, Smith county, Texas, on the 2d day of February, 1873, John L. Sanford, aged 28 years and 7 months; disease, cerebrospinal meningitis. The subject of this notice was born in Putnam county, Georgia, July 4, 1844. His father immigrated to Smith county in the winter of 1851, consequently the greater portion of his life was spent in Texas. Johnny (as he was familiarly called) was a young man who was beloved by all who knew him, and I doubt not that should even a mere acquaintance see this notice, he will regret to hear of his death; but those who knew him best, loved him most. Possessed of an untiring energy, he knew no such word as fail to anything he undertook to accomplish. Difficulties only stimulated him to greater action. Strictly honest and truthful from childhood, even until the day of his death, his veracity was never called in question. Since the war he had devoted his whole energy and labor to the support of an aged father and mother, anticipating their wants, and supplying them with an affectionate regard. The writer of this has often urged upon him the claims of Christianity, and he would always say it was his intention to make suitable preparation for eternity at some future day. But, alas! like so many others have done, and are still doing, death came before the time arrived which he had set apart to commence serving God. I have seen him deeply affected by the warnings of the Spirit, but fear there was no new birth. We can only trust our Savior's mercy and long suffering. As he was delirious all the time of his illness, we had no opportunity of talking to him about his future state. But he is gone, and we can only trust that, ere his spirit gook its flight, God, for Christ's sake, pardoned his sins. He died as he had lived—the embodiment of a true and upright manhood in all save a good, earnest Christian. May God have mercy on us all. One Who Loved Him.