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MOSES SANDERS, one of the oldest native-born citizens of Silver Creek Township, Greene County, still sojourns at the homestead where he has spent the greater part of his life. It lies on the Sanders-Smith Pike, one mile southwest of Jamestown and is one of the most valuable farms in that vicinity. This comprises four hundred acres of choice land, well improved and furnished with substantial buildings. Mr. Sanders by a course of industry and economy has become well-to-do, with more than a sufficiency of this world’s goods to defend him against want in his old age.
The subject of this notice was born December 15, 1822, and was the son of William and Elizabeth (Linders) Sanders who were natives of North Carolina and of English descent. William Sanders was reared to manhood on a farm, but after marriage emigrated to Kentucky where he settled on a small tract of land near Crab Orchard, and lived there until after the birth of two children. He then had the misfortune to lose his land on account of its belonging to an older claimant, and then decided on emigrating to Ohio. The journey was made on pack horses, one of which carried the wife and the two children and the other their few personal effects. The father had his gun with him and killed sufficient game for their use on the journey as they camped and cooked by the wayside.
After several weeks of tedious travel, the Sanders family landed in Ceaser’s Creek Township, Greene County, this state, and being without money Mr. Sanders traded a $60 horse for sixty acres of land upon which he settled and lived one year. Then selling out he located on another new farm in what is now Silver Creek Township, in the vicinity of Jamestown, which was then marked by only a few houses. This also comprised sixty acres upon which the parents spent the remainder of their days and upon which the father effected good improvements. he, however, added to his landed possessions and at the time of his death left nearly three hundred acres.
The father of our subject departed this life July 2, 1861. He was a hard working, honest man, and as a result of a temperate life and good habits, was hale and hearty at the time of his death although eighty-five years old. He was for many years connected with the Missionary Baptist Church and in politics, during his younger years, belonged to the Whig party. Upon its abandonment he wheeled into the Republican ranks. The wife and mother preceded her husband to the silent land, her death taking place March 9, 1859. She was then seventy-nine years old. She was of the typical pioneer mothers, possessing all the womanly virtues, devoted to her family, kind and charitable, and always lent a helping hand to those in need. She was a member of the same church as her husband. Of their congenial union there was born a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, of whom two sons and two daughters are yet living. The entire twelve lived to mature years and eleven were married.
Moses Sanders was one of the younger members of his parents’ family and spent his early years in the manner common to the sons of pioneer farmers, acquiring a very limited education in the primitive schools and assisting in the development of the new farm. After reaching man’s estate, he set about the establishment of a home of his own, taking unto himself a wife and helpmate, Miss Elizabeth Harness.
Mrs. Sanders was born January 18, 1829, in New Jasper Township, to John and Elizabeth (Peterson) Harness, who were most excellent people and spent the greater part of their lives in that township. Mr. Harness died in 1862. His wife survived him for a period of twenty-one years, her death taking place in 1883. Both were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They were natives of Virginia, whence they emigrated with their respective parents to Ohio, the two families settling in New Jasper Township and becoming well-to-do, building up good homesteads from the wilderness. Mr. and Mrs. Harness were the parents of five children and one son died in the army during the Civil War. The remaining four are still living, married and settled in comfortable homes.
The wife of our subject was carefully reared by her excellent parents, receiving such education as the pioneer schools afforded and becoming familiar with all useful household duties. She remained with her parents until her marriage and is now the mother of four children. The eldest, John William, married Miss Emma Brickel and they live on a farm in Silver Creek Township; Sarah J. is the wife of Jacob Patterson, a farmer of Delaware County, Ind.; James H. and A. Clinton remain at home and assist their father in the farm work.
Mr. and Mrs. Sanders are prominently connected with the Missionary Baptist Church in which Mr. Sanders officiated as a Deacon and Trustee, which offices he has held for the long period of thirty years. Politically, like his honored father, he is a Republican of the first water. He is one of the County Commissioners who are constructing the Sanders-Smith pike, running from Jamestown to Paintersville, and which forms an admirable highway greatly appreciated by the people of this region. Socially he is a Master Mason, belonging to Lodge No. 352, at Jamestown.