An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., 
The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 411-412
	
	JOHN SANDERS, one of the pioneers of the great State of Washington, was born
in Monroe county, Indiana, August 26, 1832. There he was reared and educated,
attending the common school of the county, and remaining until he was
twenty-four years of age. His father, Joseph Sanders, was a native of Kentucky,
and married Sarah Frits, a young lady from Virginia. Mr. Sanders went to Indiana
when a young man, before that territory had been admitted to Statehood, living
there until 1858, when he removed to Arkansas, and there remained until 1862,
when he crossed the plains to Washington Territory, and died in 1890, at the age
of seventy-seven years. Mrs. Sanders died in 1876, soon after reaching their new
home in the West, aged sixty three years. They had nine children, and John was
the oldest of the family.
	Our subject was reared on a farm and lived at home with his parents until he
was twenty-three years old, at which time (1855) he married Miss Rebecca
Meredith, who was a native of Ohio. After marriage they removed to Arkansas, and
in 1862 removed with the elder Mr. Sanders to Washington. They had much trouble
with the Indians on the journey across the plains. Although there was a large
train, one of the party was killed, and about half of the stock was run off. Our
subject arrived in Washington just in time to take a hand in the Indian wars of
1865-í66. Taking up a claim of 160 acres on Dry creek, in Walla Walla county, he
lived here improving his farm until 1888, when he sold the place and bought 320
acres of fine land, four and one-half miles nearly east of Walla Walla. This
land has increased in value until now it is worth $20,000.
	Our subject and wife have had a family of seven children: Joseph H., living
in Lincoln county; Sarah J., wife of R.G. Clancy, living in Dixie; Anna, wife of
Joseph Vanscock, near Dixie; Lydia U., wife of James Aylnard, in Umatilla
county, Oregon; James S., in Lincoln county; Jerome and Frances M.
	When Mr. Sanders arrived in Washington, he had nothing but a team and was
$50 in debt. He has worked unceasingly and now has an abundance to live upon the
rest of his days. He has been a prominent man in the county, filling several
important positions, one of them being that of County Commissioner. Politically,
he is a Democrat, taking an active interest in the public affairs of the
community.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in October 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.