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Submitted: 1/23/09 • Approved: 6/17/21 • Last Updated: 6/20/21 • R140520-G0-S3
December 8, 1820 - July 11, 1864
Alfred Marion Vandagriff husband of Malinda E Vandagriff Born Dec 8 1820 died July 11th 1864. Buried on his farm on Degraff Road near Pea Ridge Arkansas
CC NOTE: Reportedly killed by Bushwhackers while plowing
CC Note: Posted by Wilma Fields
Posted with permission & photographed by Trey Weaver
Thought I'd share what happened to my 3rd great grandmothers' husband... In a field (just a field; not a cemetery or graveyard), just north of Sugar Creek on the Southwest corner just outside of the Pea Ridge National Military Park, lies one lonely grave. Inside that grave is my 3rd great grandmothers' husband, Alfred Marion Vandagriff. Alfred was born Dec 08, 1820 and married my 3rd great grandmother Malinda E. Duckworth, born May 1834. Their farm was adjacent to the military park and when the civil war broke out and eventually the Battle of Pea Ridge took place, like so many others in the area, they found themselves wrapped up in something they probably never wanted to be a part of in the first place. Alfred and Melinda were supplying the Confederate soldiers with horses, food, blankets, and supplies from their farm. It is written by Melinda that they would wait for the cover of darkness and travel through the woods from their farm to feed the Southern soldiers, replace their dead horses, and nurse the soldiers wounds. Melinda wrote that the stench from the Elkhorn Tavern was so heavy with rotting flesh that she [...was forced to acknowledge a bundle of sorrowful resolutions seldom carried into effect...]. "...and the blood ran at a constant pace between the floorboards of the second floor onto the patients on the first floor."
When it was discovered that Alfred had been supplying the Confederate soldiers with horses from his farm, a group of men hid in their field and waited for the perfect opportunity to kill him. On the morning of July 11, 1864, Alfred, Melinda, their two oldest sons Jacob and Thomas were all standing near their house when the men rode up and shot Alfred in the chest. He died where he fell. Melinda and the boys ran in the house and took cover until later when it was clear to go back outside. Once safe, they went outside and buried Alfred exactly where he was shot dead; in the middle of their field.
In fairly recent years, a metal barn was built in the field near Alfred's grave. The current owner did not know what the grave was and almost built his barn on top of Alfred. My grandmother moved on after Alfred was murdered; she moved to Clifty, Arkansas and married John Scott. She and Alfred had 4 children before he was killed and then she had 7 more children with my 3rd great grandfather, John Scott. As sad as it is, if not for Alfred being shot that day, I might not be here... Trey Weaver
Contributed on 1/23/09 by jima123983
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Record #: 140520