J. B. Sandusky, born November 6, 1844, died April 11, 1911, Maple Grove Cemetery, Nicholasville, Jessamine County, Kentucky.

Jeremiah B. Sandusky is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Nicholasvile, Jessamine County.  But that is not where his story begins.  He was born in Wayne County November 6, 1844, to Jacob Sandusky, born in Clinton County, and Elizabeth Burnett, born in Wayne County.  Jeremiah shows up in the 1850 census as a six-year-old.  His parents are 49 and 37.  Six other children live in the family – Granville, 17; James J., 12; Isaac, 10; Polly A., 4; and twins Lauretta and Viana, 1.  William was born two years later.  Ten years later in 1860 the two older boys have left the family home, the rest of the children live with their parents.

Jeremiah B. Sandusky, along with J. T. Hall and J. T. Goddard, as his security, applied for a marriage bond January 15, 1876, to marry Elizabeth E. Cooper, daughter of Rev. William Armstrong and Sarah Cooper.  The couple was married the next day at her father’s home, witnesses Jacob Cooper and Laborer Lloyd.  Silas C. Jones was the minister who performed the service.  It was a first marriage for both, Jeremiah was 31 and Lizzie was 25.

Six children were born to the couple:  Sally E., 1877-?; Jacob Schuyler, 1880-1953; Linnie, 1883-1974; the twins, Walter, 1889-1973; and Cleo Patra, 1889-1979; and Granville, 1891-?

In 1903 there was an interesting article in the newspaper citing the oil fever of the residents of Wayne County.  A portion relating to the Sandusky family follows.

The Lexington Leader, Fayette County, Kentucky

Thursday, August 27, 1903

Wayne County

Enjoying a Renewed Attack of Oil Fever

Great Need of Better Transportation Facilities – Pipe Line Extensions – Increased Values of Property – Sudden Rise to Affluence

Wayne County people still have oil fever and the developments of the last year or two furnish them justification for a revival of the belief that the county will prove the best oil territory in the State.

That this is also the opinion of outside capitalists, is shown by the fact that oil men from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Massachusetts, West Virginia and other states are still securing leases and pushing operations.

Many stories are told of the sudden rise to affluence of natives of the county and many of these are true.  J. B. Sandusky owns a rocky farm of about 250 acres on Beacon Creek.  He had a hard time to support a family and five years ago would have been very glad to sell out for $1,500 or so.  He leased his land to an oil company that agreed to give him one-tenth of all oil that might be found and besides pay him a cash bonus.  Shortly after this company commenced operations a well was drilled that flowed at the rate of 200 barrels a day, and it is still pumping.  At present there are nearly 30 wells on this farm alone and new ones are going down all the time.  All of them are producers.  Sandusky’s present income is estimated at $800 a month and he is fast accumulating a surplus of generous proportions.  In fact, he is getting more money than he knows what to do with.  He has already bought a large farm in another part of the county and is talking of taking the whole family east on a pleasure trip.  At present, however, he may be seen every day working around the old farm like any other laborer.  He has not yet accustomed himself to the change in his fortunes and it is probable that he will never again be as happy as he was before the rattle and bustle about the oil wells came to make such a change in his natural condition.  Oil wells are pumping all around his house and farm and the roads are cut up by heavy hauling so that they are almost impassable even in the summer time.

How interesting that even though the extra money was nice, it didn’t necessarily bring peace and contentment.  Perhaps that’s why we find the family living in Jessamine County in 1910.

Jeremiah B. Sandusky passed away April 16, 1911.  His death certificate lists his parents, Jacob and Elizabeth Burnett Sandusky.  He was 66 years, 6 months and 11 days old.  He was buried in Nicholasville.

The Lexington Leader, Fayette County, Kentucky

Tuesday, April 18, 1911

J. B. Sandusky

Nicholasville, Ky., April 18 – J. B. Sandusky, aged 66 years, a farmer, died Monday of a complication of diseases.  He is survived by his wife and six children.  Mrs. Linnie Sorrel of Harrodsburg; Schuyler Sandusky, of Monticello; Walter Sandusky and Miss Sallie Sandusky of Kansas City; Cleo and Granville Sandusky, of this county.

Elizabeth Cooper Sandusky lived another 26 years after the death of her husband.  In the 1940 census we find her living in Harrodsburg, Mercer County, next door to daughter Linnie, son-in-law Melville C. Sorrell, and grandson, Melville C.

Elizabeth died October 3, 1947, in Harrodsburg, of infirmities of age – she was 97 years old!  Her death certificate lists her parents, W. A. Cooper and Sallie Cooper.  It says she was buried in Nicholasville, probably at the side of her husband, but I do not have a photograph of her stone.

The Advocate Messenger, Danville, Boyle County, Kentucky

Thursday, October 9, 1947

Rites Are Held For Mother Of 6

Mrs. Sandusky, 97, Had Fallen In Harrodsburg

Funeral services were held at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon at Harrodsburg Baptist Church, with the Rev. S. P. Burkhalter, pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church in MercerCcounty, and former assistant pastor at the Harrodsburg Baptist Church, officiating, assisted by Dr. V. L. Stanfield of Baptist Seminary, Louisville, for Mrs. Elizabeth E. Sandusky, 97, mother of a minister, a welfare worker, a lawyer and three doctors, who died at 1:25 o’clock Friday afternoon at her home on Cane Run Avenue, Harrodsburg.

Her last illness was the result of a fall sustained some time ago.

Mrs. Sandusky was a native of Wayne County, a daughter of W. A. and Sallie Cooper, and was born April 1, 1850.

She was the widow of J. B. Sandusky, retired farmer, who died in 1911.  The couple went to Mercer County many years ago from Somerset.

Surviving Mrs. Sandusky are Judge J. S. Sandusky of Somerset; Dr. Sarah Sandusky Eades of Monticello; Dr. C. P. Sandusky of Arcadia, Fla.; Dr. W. C. Sandusky of Holly Springs, Miss.; the Rev. G. C. Sandusky of Cloverport and Mrs. Linnie Sorrell of Harrodsburg, head of welfare work.

Pallbearers included W. B. Morris, Glave Vivion, J. K. Powell, H. R. Barrick, Hobart Gardner and George Keightly.