Henry Sandlin was the oldest child and was born in Monroe County, Mississippi. Little is known of his life as a boy but it is certain that he learned to farm. His father was a prosperous farmer and being the oldest, Henry probably had a lot of responsibility. When he grew to be a young man, he began farming on his own. It is not known how he met his wife, Sarah Angeline Davis, who was at that time living in a town called Farmers, in Oklahoma. They were married in Poteau, Oklahoma on May 27, 1902.

The Sandlin’s had a large farm-they raised crops and Sarah worked out in the fields right alongside Henry when she could. They raised hogs, cows and chickens. On Saturday, probably about once or twice a month everyone would head for town by horse and wagon, leaving early in the morning and staying all day. They would sell what ever they had, including vegetables, pork, chickens, eggs, etc. and buy supplies that they needed.

The 1920 census shows the family to be at Hartford, Arkansas. But in 1921 they moved to Oklahoma, settling in a community near Stigler, probably Lafayette. In 1934 they were in Panama. Henry was described as a friendly type person as long as things were going his way. He probably did not have much sense of humor and was a “workaholic” He was usually dressed in a plaid shirt and overalls, looking like the farmer that he was. (see photo at right). Henry liked horses.

In 1938 Henry, having lost everything in the depression, left the family and lived the rest of his life near some of his brothers and sisters. He died in Poteau, Oklahoma and is buried at the Hartford Memorial Cemetery, Hartford, Arkansas.