Greenbrier County, WV - Biography on James H. SYDENSTRICKER ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Darla Ruebush, , June 1999 ************************************************************************** Biography on James H. SYDENSTRICKER Taken from the newspaper, "The Odessa Democrat", Odessa, Lafayette County, Missouri, Friday, 23 Nov 1923, Vol. 41, Front page. HIS HORSE SHOT UNDER HIM OLD CONFEDERATE SOLDIER HAD EXCITING EXPERIENCES IN CONFLICT. There are no better citizens in Lafayette county than James. H. Sydenstricker, who lives at Second and Chestnut streets in Odessa. He was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia (now West Virginia) October 27, 1841, therefore he was eighty-two years old last month. Mr. Sydenstricker is a son of Michael and Hannah (Hapstonstall) Sydenstricker, a native of Germany, who in an early day came to America and settle in Virginia. James H. Sydenstricker grew up on a farm in Virginia and early began to make his own way in the world and received his education in the log school houses of that period. When the war between the States began he espoused the cause of the South and in June 1861 he enlisted in Company D. fourteenth Virginia Cavalry, and was an active participant in the battles of Cannafax Ferry, Roanoke, (N.C.) Fisher's Hill, Winchester, Martinsburg, Gettysburg, Spencerville, Opequon, Harrisburgh and Front Royal. He was captured in November, 1864, and taken to Point Lookout, Maryland, and discharged from prison the latter part of May, 1865. Constantly exposed to danger and privations, Mr. Sydenstricker was fortunate in never being wounded, but he was captured four times during the time he served the Confederacy. He was a Corporal when taken prisoner first at Roanoke, North Carolina. After 14 days he was exchanged. Later he was captured at Lewisburgh but escaped; then made a prisoner at Lynchburgh, but again escaped, and in the last encounter had six bullet holes shot through his overcoat and his horse shot from under him. At the close of the war Mr. Sydenstricker entered upon the duties of farming until 1866 when he went to Carrollton and worked in a furnace for six months, making oil. In July, 1866, he went to Vinton county, Ohio where for three years he worked on a farm. In September 1869, Mr. Sydenstricker came to Missouri and located in Lafayette county, near Mayview. Here he bought a farm and by working hard soon began to prosper. Mr. Sydenstricker was married to Miss Sarah E. Whitsitt, a native of Jassemine county, Kentucky, and a daughter of Preston and Catherine (Hunter). The Whitsitt family came to Lafayette county in 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Sydenstricker have 7 living children as follows: Rev. S. V. Sydenstricker of Fulda, Minnesota, Clemmons Sydenstricker, Albert Sydenstricker, Mrs. Ed Stanfield, Mrs. Frank Ramsey, Mrs. G.C. Peerson and Mrs. Will Hannah, all of this section. They also have 15 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Since 1871 Mr. Sydenstricker has been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and on September 15, 1880, he was ordained a ruling elder of that denomination and is still holding that office. He is always ready to aid his church in any way possible.. Politically Mr. Sydenstricker is an ardent Democrat and although past 82 years of age, he still takes great interest in all things pertaining to the good of his community.