Ralph Sandiford Man

Ralph Sandiford Man (November 21, 1825 – November 15, 1906) was an American pioneer.

Biography

Man was born in Charleston, South Carolina to John L. Man and Catherine Norton.[1] Following a bricklaying apprenticeship with his father, Man travelled west, first to Georgia, then Louisiana and finally Harrison County, Texas where he met his future business partner Julian Feild.[2]

Together Man and Feild moved to Fort Worth c 1954, establishing on a Mill on the Clear Fork of the Trinity River to grind corn and wheat. Following a drought, the moved south to the Walnut Creek, building a mill in what would become Mansfield, Texas.[3]

In 1864, Man married Julia Alice Boisseau, he sister of Feild's wife Henrietta, however she died in 1868 and he remarried to Sarah Jane Stephens.[4]

Man remained active at his mill, and died on November 15, 1906, in Mansfield.[5] His former homestead is now a museum, known as the "Ralph Man Homestead".[6]

References

  1. ^ "Ralph Sandiford Man Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  2. ^ "Story of the Man Family | Mansfield, TX". www.mansfieldtexas.gov. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  3. ^ "History of Mansfield Founders - Man & Feild | Mansfield, TX". www.mansfieldtexas.gov. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  4. ^ Association, Texas State Historical. "Ralph Sandiford Man: Co-founder of Mansfield, Texas". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  5. ^ "Wayback Machine" (PDF). atlas.thc.texas.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-06-26. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  6. ^ "Ralph Man Homestead Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved 2025-08-15.