Sandford C. Faulkner

Sandford C. Faulkner (March 3, 1803 – August 4, 1874), better known as Sandy Faulkner, was an American planter, raconteur and fiddler who personified the mid-19th century folk song "Arkansas Traveler," for which he received writing credit. It has since gone on to become the official state historic song of Arkansas.

Sandford C. Faulkner
Faulkner in uniform, c. 1862
Born	(1803-03-03)March 3, 1803 Georgetown, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	August 4, 1874(1874-08-04) (aged 71) Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Resting place	Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. 34°44′16.7″N 92°16′44.2″W
Occupations	planter raconteur fiddler
Notable work	"Arkansas Traveler"
Political party	Democratic
Board member of	Real Estate Bank of Arkansas
Spouse	Evelene M. Peak ​ (died 1871)​
Children	4
Parents	Nicholas Faulkner Sally Fletcher
Military service
Allegiance	Confederate States
Branch	Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Captain
Commands	Little Rock Arsenal (1862–63) Marshall Ordnance Depot (1863–65)
Wars	American Civil War Trans-Mississippi Theater

Biography

Sandford C. Faulkner was born in Georgetown, Kentucky, on March 3, 1803 to Nicholas and Sally (née Fletcher) Faulkner.^[1] He was responsible in large part for the story forming the basis of the "Arkansas Traveler,"^[2][3] which was the official song of Arkansas from 1949 to 1963, and the official state historic song of Arkansas since 1987.^[4] During the American Civil War, Faulkner served as an artillery officer detailed to ordnance duty in the Trans-Mississippi Department of the Confederate States Army.^[5]

From November 1862 to August 1863, Faulkner served as the commanding officer of the Little Rock Arsenal. In late September 1863, The Little Rock facility relocated to Tyler, Texas, and was redesignated Tyler Ordnance Works. On October 1 of the same year, the Little Rock ordnance stores were turned over to Lieutenant-Colonel G. H. Hill, officer in charge at Tyler.^[6] Faulkner was then assigned as commanding officer of the ordnance depot at Marshall, Texas, and served there to the end of the war.^[7]

Honors

Faulkner County, Arkansas (established 1873) is named after him.^[8]

Notes

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Archives and Records Administration.