Posted on: Lee Co. Ia Biographies Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ia/LeeBios/10070 Surname: SANDERS ------------------------- Taken from Portrait and Biographical Album of Lee County, Iowa Printed 1887 Pages 328-329 GERHARD SANDERS, a successful farmer and cattle dealer of Marion Township, is one of the most prominent and intelligent residents of this section, and in his department of the business’ world has uniformly met with success. He is one of the factors of that useful element which has contributed so much to the development and prosperity of the Great West, having been born in the Empire of Germany, and descended from a line of excellent ancestry. He first open his eyes to the light in 1840, and in accordance with the laws and customs of his native land, was placed in school at the early age of six years, and continued until fourteen. He was then employed upon a farm, following agricultural pursuits for three years in his native country. When seventeen years old, not being satisfied with his condition or prospects in the land of his birth, he resolved to emigrate to the New World. He accordingly boarded a sailing-vessel, and after a prosperous voyage landed in the city of New Orleans. From this place he came to Ft. Madison, Iowa, and thence to Marion Township, where he resumed his old-time occupation on a farm, and followed this for nine years. Upon arriving in Marion Township, in 1857, Mr. Sanders was in debt to the extent of $36, which he borrowed from a friend in Germany before sailing for the United States. This debt he paid in full, and in 1858, after having worked industriously and saved his earnings, he found himself with the sufficient means to purchase a small tract of land. He secured thirty-five acres, and began farming on his own account, applying himself diligently to the improvement and cultivation of his land, and was rewarded with success. As his means accumulated he added to his first purchase, and is now the owner of 280 acres, all finely improved and in a high state of cultivation. This is situated on section 7, and with its handsome farm residence, good barns and outbuildings, and tasteful surroundings, forms one of the prettiest spots in the landscape of Lee County. A portion of his land is devoted to pasture, and he fattens from two to three carloads of cattle annually. Of these he now has a herd of forty head, and exhibits some of the finest animals in this section. He has also been very successful in raising hogs, and although the cholera has raged among the farmers around him his animals have happily escaped the scourge for the past seven years, owing probably to the good care taken of them and their cleanly surroundings. Besides the barns and cattle-sheds on the farm of Mr. Sanders, he has a costly and valuable wind pump for hoisting water for his stock and for other farm purposes. He is the principal stock shipper of this township, and the proceeds of his operations in this branch of agriculture yield him a handsome income. He has not been without his drawbacks, having for a period of eight years been in feeble health, but finally regained his strength and prospered as before. The marriage of Gerhard Sanders and Miss Mary Huchton was celebrated in St. Paul, this county, in 1866. Mrs. Sanders is the daughter of Christ Huchton, one of the pioneer settlers of Lee County, and was born in this county in 1852. She is a lady of rare virtue, greatly esteemed in the community, as an excellent wife, mother, neighbor and friend. Of her union with our subject there were born eight children, six boys and two girls-Maggie, John, Mary, Joseph, Henry, William, Barney and Christ. Mr. Sanders and his family are members of the St. James’ Catholic Church at St. Paul. In politics he votes the Democratic ticket. A lithographic view of Mr. Sanders’ residence is shown on another page of this volume.