John H. Sanders -- Among the men who have helped to bring Clayton County to its present prosperous condition may be mentioned the subject of this sketch. He was born in Essex County, N.Y., March 10, 1823, and in May, 1857, left there and came to Iowa and settled in Grand Meadow Township. He had been engaged in the iron-ore business in the East and he traded that for 200 acres in this township. He also bought other lands amounting to about 400 acres. He experienced many of those trials incident to pioneer life; one was, he had just purchased two cows, paying $40 for them, and they disappeared very mysteriously, and were never found. He was married to Julia J. Clark, on April 12, 1848. She was born in Ferrisburg, Vt., June 2, 1827. Seven children have been born unto them, viz.: Herbert, Ellen A., Elvira C., Addie M., John, Sarah P., and May R., who died Jan. 15, 1878. In 1868 Mr. Sanders moved to Postville, where he resided until 1878, then located on his present farm in Grand Meadow Township. He has been engaged in various branches of buisness in connection with farming, and is now superintending the erection of a fine stone house in Postville for his boys. He helped to organize all the school districts, and the first school held in his district was at his house, Miss Julia A. Sheldon, teacher. He was one of ten Democrats who voted in the township in 1858. Mr. Sanders is at present engaged in money loaning. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 834-835 |