Posted on: Lee Co. Ia Obituaries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ia/LeeObits/10202 Surname: SANDERS, SCHINSTOCK, LOHMAN, MERTENS, HELLMAN ------------------------- Obituary John G. Sanders >From Lee County Newspaper John G. Sanders Passed Away Tuesday Well Know Telephone Man Expires Suddenly at his Home at Houghton John G. Sanders, general manager and owner of the Sanders Telephone Lines, passed away at his home at Houghton, Iowa, Tuesday January 25, 1927, at 8:30 AM, aged 57 years, 2 months and 15 days. Mr. Sander’s death came sudden and unexpected. He was up and about and was suddenly stricken with a stroke of paralysis, and died before medical aid could reach him. John G. Sanders was born in Marion Township on November 10, 1869, and was the son of Mrs. Mary and the late Gerhard Sanders. He grew to manhood on the farm. On May 8, 1920, he was united in marriage to Catherine Schinstock. This union was blessed with nine children. He is survived by his wife, three sons and six daughters, who are as follows: John G. Sanders Jr., Eugene Sanders, Arthur Sanders, Mrs. Joseph Lohman, Mrs. William G. Hellman, Evelyn, Margaret, Dolores, and Pauline Sanders, all of Houghton. He is also survived by two grandchildren, his mother, Mrs. Mary Sanders, of West Point; and the following brothers and sisters: Joseph Sanders of near Houghton, William Sanders of near Mt Hamill, Henry Sanders of Bremer, NB, Christ Sanders of Lindsey, NB, B.H. Sanders of West Point, S. A. Sanders of Keokuk, Mrs. Margaret Mertens of Cottonwood, Miss Mary Sanders of Riverside, Miss Elizabeth Sanders of West Point, Mrs. Charles Rice of Bowling Green, MO, and Miss Anna Sanders of St Louis, MO. Was Pioneer in Telephone. Mr. Sanders was the pioneer in the telephone business in Lee County. More than twenty-seven years ago Mr. Sanders saw the possibilities of the telephone. In 1900 Mr. Sanders, Dr W.T. Wright, John King and John Fette built a telephone line from Houghton to Mt Hamill with only a very small number of subscribers. In 1901 the German-American Telephone Co. was incorporated with J. G. Sanders as president and general manager. The company began to extend its lines the same year and a line from Houghton to West Point was built. In 1904 the German-American Telephone Co., built a line at Montrose. In 1912 the Northwestern Telephone Co., which had exchanges at Donnellson, Primrose and Hillsboro, and Southeastern Telephone Co., which had an exchange at Argyle was purchased by Mr. Sanders. In 1914 another exchange, the Salem exchange was purchased by Mr. Sanders. This exchange was operated by Mr. Sanders for five years when he sold the exchange to Salem parties in 1919. Mr. Sanders started in the business in a small way twenty-seven years ago with a very small number of phone patrons. At the present time Mr. Sander’s lines serve over 2000 patrons. The present day exchanges are located at Houghton, West Point, Donnellson, Primrose, Argyle, and Hillsboro.