SANDERS-James A. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

James A. SANDERS, the popular Justice of the Peace in Jackson Township, and for many years a well known farmer in Ft. Co Ind is in the widest significance of the term a respresentative and progressive citizen and has long been actively identified with the political interests and general welfare of the county. Always ready to give his energetic assistance in the march of improvement, his ability was recognized by his appointment and subsequent election in 1880 to the responsible position of Trustee of Jackson Twp. As Trustee he served two terms and two years each and gave to the conduct of public affairs thorough and efficient attention. The paternal grandparents of our subject were William and Elizabeth YIELDING Sanders. They were both antives of NC and early left their children orphans. Their two daughters grew up in Tenn, and afterward located in Mississippi. Their only son, Joel M, born in 1813 in Franklin Co, Tenn was bound out when but a little boy and in 1827 went to Parke County, and there remained, growing up to manhood and in the same county afterward made a home of his own. In Feb 1841, he married Miss Susan M. ALLEN, who was a native of Va, and born in Scott County, Old Dominion, 1818. She survived her marriage but six years and dying, left to the care of their father two motherless little ones, our subject, James, who was born Nov. 23, 1841, and his brother, David T. The bereaved husband and father survived many yers, and continued successfully engaged in farming duties. He was a staunch and prominent Democrat in Parke County and widely known and highly respected. His son David T. died in 1874, and left a widow and 3 children, two of whom yet survive, and are WIlliam H. Sanders and Minnie J. the wife of David Allen of Parke Co. Our subject received a good education in the common schools of the neighborhood and completed his studies in the academy. In 1865 James Sanders and Miss Manda MYERS were united in marriage. Mrs. Sanders is a daughter of John and Catherine FINE Myers, who located in the county in 1830 and who are prominent in business, social and church work. Our subject and his estimable wife have a family of four children: Susan is the wife of John GRAY of Montgomery County, Ind; David W. was named in honor of his uncle; Mattie and Roy complete the list of merry children who brought happiness into their parents' home. Three sons and daughters are taking an active interest in life's duties and together with their father and mother are an important element in the various benevolent and social enterprises of their immediate locations. Mr. Sanders owns a highly improved farm of 80 acres of valuable land. A lifelong farmer, he well understands the duties and work of general agriculture, and the excellent improvements and good buildings on his farm indicate the thrift and wise management of the prosperous owner. In the conduct of his office of JP our subject has given general satisfaction by his impartial and judicial rulings. Fair-minded, honest and energetic, Squire Sanders, as he is familiarly designated, is acknowledged to be fully equal to all the sometimes perplexing, duties which frequently are his portion in the daily conduct of his business. Our subject cas his first vote for George B. McClellan in 1864, and has been as strong a Democrat ever since as was his father before him. He was at one time candidate for the State Legislature but was defeated by a small majority. Mr. Sanders is an ardent admirer of Thomas A. HENDRICKS, whose wise judgment and spotless character have commended him to thousands of political friends. Our subject is a Master Mason, and conscientiously endeavors at all times to live up to the high standard of its honorable requirements.