Sandusky, William H. (William Harrison), 1813-1847

William Harrison Sandusky was born in Columbus, Ohio, on 1813 January 29, the son of John and Elizabeth Clarno Sandusky. Among his ancestors was the namesake of Sandusky, Ohio. William came to Texas in 1838 and settled in Austin. An artist, surveyor, and draftsman in the General Land Office, he helped survey and map the new capital of the Republic of Texas and later served as registrar of the agency. In 1840, Sandusky was chosen to be President Mirabeau B. Lamar’s personal secretary, a position from which he resigned the following year due to ill health. Per his request, Sandusky was then appointed draftsman for a survey of the coast and harbors of Texas. He married Pennsylvania native Jane McKnight (b. 1816) on 1842 July 21. The couple had three children and resided in Galveston, where Sandusky worked making maps, charts, landscapes, and plans of cities and towns. In 1845 January, he was appointed to the position of Import Inspector in and for the District and Port of Galveston. William Sandusky died of illness on 1847 January 18 at the age of 33; his wife married E. Walbridge in 1850.

References

Pinckney, Pauline A. “William H. Sandusky.” Handbook of Texas Online . http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fsa25 .

William H. Sandusky biographical file, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, San Antonio, Texas.

From the guide to the William H. Sandusky Papers Doc 5203., 1838-1894, (Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library at the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas)