McIntyre H. Sandlin

McIntyre Herbert Sandlin (February 1870 – October 31, 1955), was a Democratic politician from Minden in Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana.

McIntyre H. Sandlin
Mayor of Minden, Webster Parish, Louisiana, USA
In office 1894–1896
Preceded by	J. F. Hill
Succeeded by	Hugh A. Barnes
Louisiana State Representative for Webster Parish
In office 1896–1900
Preceded by	J. T. Hill[1]
Succeeded by	W. W. Hicks
Webster Parish Assessor
In office June 30, 1908 – January 1, 1937
Preceded by	O. P. Clement
Succeeded by	William R. Garrison
Personal details
Born	McIntyre Herbert Sandlin February 1870 Claiborne Parish near Minden, Louisiana, USA
Died	October 31, 1955 (aged 85) Alexandria, Rapides Parish Louisiana
Resting place	Minden Cemetery
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic Party
Relations	John N. Sandlin (brother) A. M. Leary (cousin)
Children	Mary Grace Sandlin
Parents	Nicholas J. Sandlin Irene McIntyre Sandlin
Occupation	Public official

Family background

Sandlin was the older of two sons of Nicholas J. Sandlin, originally from North Carolina, and the former Irene McIntyre (1840–1922), a Louisiana native and the daughter of Dr. Alexander McIntyre, one of the first physicians in Webster Parish. Nicholas Sandlin served in the Army of Northern Virginia under Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson and was wounded and taken prisoner in the American Civil War. In Louisiana, he was active in the overthrow of the Carpetbagger government. He was district attorney of a tract of land stretching from the Red to the Ouachita rivers.[2] Years later, he represented Webster Parish in the state legislature from 1892 to 1893[3] but stepped down to accept appointment from U.S. President Grover Cleveland as the postmaster at Minden. The former Nicholas J. Sandlin Camp near Minden was named in his honor by the organization, Sons of Confederate Veterans."[2]

McIntyre Sandlin's younger brother, John N. Sandlin, was a district attorney, judge, and a member of the United States House of Representatives for Louisiana's 4th congressional district.[2] He had a daughter, Mary Grace Sandlin. He was a Baptist.[4]

Career

Sandlin was born on a farm near Minden a few months prior to the creation of Webster Parish from its eastern neighbor, Claiborne Parish. In 1894, at the age of twenty-four, he was elected the mayor of Minden, the seat of government of Webster Parish. After two one-year terms as mayor, Sandlin was elected in 1896 to the Louisiana House of Representatives, a position which he filled for one four-year term until 1900.[3] From 1908 to 1937, he was the Webster Parish tax assessor, having served until his primary defeat by William Richard Garrison (1882–1946). In the assessor's runoff race, Garrison led with 2,918 votes (56.1 percent) to Sandlin's 2,287 (43.9 percent).[5] Thereafter, Sandlin was a member of the Webster Parish Democratic Executive Committee.[4]

In the 1940 Democratic primary election for mayor of Minden, Sandlin tried to return to an active political role by winning back the office he had held briefly in the 19th century. He led a three-candidate field with 668 votes. He then entered the runoff election with the runner-up, the young Minden attorney Floyd D. Culbertson, Jr., who finished with 596 ballots. Incumbent Mayor David William Thomas was eliminated with his third place finish, 345 votes.[6] In the second round of balloting, Culbertson defeated Sandlin, 827 to 780 votes.[7]

In 1934, the Minden Signal-Tribune called Sandlin "probably the most widely known man in Webster Parish. He is committed to every progressive movement in the parish."[8]

Sandlin died at the age of eighty-five in a hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana. Along with his parents, brother, and numerous other Minden mayors, Sandlin is interred at the historic Minden Cemetery.[4]

References

1. The state House listing is "J. T. Hill"; the city of Minden mayoral listing is "J. F. Hill". This may or may not be the same person.
2. "John N. Sandlin, member of Congress". usgwarchives.net. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
3. "Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812 - Current: Webster Parish" (PDF). house.louisiana.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
4. "Former Mayor Buried Thursday", The Minden Herald, November 3, 1955, p 1
5. Minden Signal-Tribune and Springhill Journal, March 3, 1936, p. 1
6. Culbertson and Sandlin to Be in Runoff for Mayor of Minden", Minden Herald, January 19, 1940, p. 1
7. "Culbertson Is Named Next Mayor of Minden in Tuesday's Balloting", Minden Herald, February 23, 1940, p. 1
8. "M.H. Sandlin Has Served Parish in Many Capacities", minden Signal-Tribune and Springhill Journal, December 31, 1934, p. 2

Political offices
Preceded by J. F. Hill	Mayor of Minden, Louisiana McIntyre H. Sandlin 1894-1896	Succeeded by Hugh A. Barnes
Preceded by J. T. Hill	Louisiana State Representative for Webster Parish McIntyre H. Sandlin 1896-1900	Succeeded by W. W. Hicks
Preceded by O. P. Clement	Webster Parish Assessor 1908-1937	Succeeded by William R. Garrison