Posted on: Lee Co. Ia Biographies Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ia/LeeBios/10079 Surname: SANDERS, SCHINSTOCK, LOHMAN, HELLMAN, LUTZ, SCHOFIELD ------------------------- Taken from Houghton, Iowa 1881-1981 Printed 1981 John G. Sanders FAMILY John G. Sanders was owner and manager of the Sanders Telephone Company. He was the son of Gerhard and Mary Sanders and had five sisters and six brothers. He was born 11-10-1869 in Marion Township just east of Houghton. John Sanders married Catherine Schinstock on May 10, 1900. He died 1-25-1927 and his wife 5-21-1947. They had nine children: Kathryn, born 5-24-1901, married Joe G. Lohman on 10-17-1921, and died 1-17-1969. Their children: Eunice of Moline, IL; Arlene is decease; Eugene of Geneseo, IL; Victor (Gus) of Geneseo, IL; LeRoy of Geneseo, IL; Mrs. Fred (Vera) Oberg of St. Charles, IL. Ceal, born 3-16-1903 married Wm. G. Hellman. She died 6-21-1944. Their children: Mrs. Charles (Jeannette) Holems of Fairfield, IA; Marvin of Houghton; Merlin of Ft. Madison; Mrs. Philip (Janice) Thomas of Ft. Madison. John G. Jr., born 10-17-1904, married Elizabeth Hellman 9-7-1926. He died 8-29-1973. Their children: Sr. Marian Sanders deceased 7-3-1974; Mrs. Robert (Evelyn) Pieper of R.R. Donnellson; Mrs. Roy (Shirley) Goodrum of Hoopeston, IL; Johnita died at the age of two years. Eugene (Gene), born 2-28-1906, of Denver, CO. He married Alice Clark n 11-25-1931. They have one daughter, Mrs. Bob (Joan) Middleton also of Denver. Evelyn, Sister Johnita Sander, born 1-16-1908, lives in San Diego, CA. Arthur W., born 8-26-1912, married Mildred Bagar. He died 3-21-1963. They have an adopted son Paul, address unknown. Mrs. Carl (Marjorie) Lohman of Elkhart, IN, married Carl Lohman on 6-16-1936. They have five children: Mrs. Ronald (Carol) Stuekerjurgen of Houghton; John (Jack) of St. Louis, MO; James of Elkhart, IN; Mrs. Bill (Kathy) Klingle of Layetteville, AK; Mrs. Jeff (Christie) Langenbaugh of North Manchester, IN. Mrs. Everett (Dolores) Lutz of Houghton married Everett Lutz 2-7-1939. They have five children: Mrs. Raymond (Marlene) Bentler of R.R. Salem; Mrs. Jerry (Sandy) Wenz of Salt Lake City, UT; Mrs. Larry (Margie) Stuecker of Pilot Grove; Mrs. Ralph J. (Christie) Dodson of Comanche; Ray of Houghton. Mrs. J.R. (Pauline) Schofield of Marietta, GA was married 7-14-19. They have five children: Sister Maryann (Paulette) of San Francisco, CA; John of Houston, TX; Mrs. Humphry Hassings of Houston, TX; Frank of Marietta, GA; Dottie Ann died at six weeks. Mr. Sanders launched the first telephone company under the name of Mt. Hamill German American Telephone Co. Lines were built to Salem, Donnellson and Cottonwood. It was the first rural telephone company in Lee County. Later the extended lines to Hillsboro, Stockport, Primrose, Argyle and Montrose which made it the largest rural telephone co. in Lee County. In World War I the name was change to J.G. Sanders Telephone Co., which it remained until after his death. Later it was sold to the Iowa and Illinois Telephone Co. Mr. Sanders also operated the first auto wrecking business in Lee Co. It was located in the Jim Conley livery barn. He also organized the men’s choir and played the organ every Sunday for over 20 years even though he never had a music lesson. Mr. And Mrs. Sanders first built and lived in the Mrs. John Nichting home, which originally stood in the place where Mrs. Darlene Bentler’s home is. They built this home in 1917. It was owned by the Sanders family until late 1947 when, after the death of Mrs. Sanders it was sold to Joe Denning. All through their married life, Mrs. Sanders cooked for and roomed both telephone operators and lineman. From the time the girls were old enough until they got married, they were operators and the boys were lineman. John and Art were managers for the two different companies until their deaths.