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WILLIAM STEELE SANDERS.
Among the esteemed citizens of Grinnell township is William Steele Sanders, the owner of three hundred and twenty
acres of land and a man whose sterling traits of character have gained for him the highest respect and confidence.
He is a native son of Iowa, born at Grinnell, January 30, 1873, his parents being George Lucius and Mary (Steele)
Sanders. The father was a native of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, and the mother of Arcade, New York. They were married
at Arcade in 1870 but had both lived at Grinnell, having come to Iowa in 1863. Mr. Sanders was for a number of
years proprietor of the Sanders House and later engaged in farming. He subsequently moved to Modesto, California.
Politically he gave his allegiance to the republican party and in religious belief was affiliated with the Congregational
church.
The mother of our subject was a daughter of Alonzo and Ann D. (Tracy) Steele. Her father was born near Arcade,
New York, August 15, 1816, and became a student at Oberlin College, where he met Miss Ann D. Tracy, who was also
a student there, and their acquaintance led to their marriage. He engaged in the woolen business at Arcade, New
York, and in 1863 came to Poweshiek county, Iowa, where Professor Parker had invested in land for him, buying it
at ten dollars per acre. This land became the family homestead. Mr. Steele engaged in the lumber business at Grinnell
and later in the sale of agricultural implements, this business developing into a large hardware store, which was
conducted under the name of Craver, Steele & Austin. The company continued for twenty five years at Grinnell
and then moved to Harvey, Illinois, where they met with reverses and the business was abandoned. Mr. Steele was
an earnest member of the Congregational church and a liberal contributor toward all Christian enterprises. Originally
he was identified with the whig party but he became a republican and continued as a supporter of the republican
party during the remainder of his days. He was an active worker in politics but never sought the honors or emoluments
of office. His wife was a woman of a remarkably bright mind, a sincere Christian and a true philanthropist. Her
home was noted as a center of hospitality and kindliness. She passed away in 1853. In the family of Mr. and Mrs.
Steele were three children: Mary, who married George Lucius Sanders; Louise, who is deceased; and Myra, also deceased.
A professorship in mathematics at Grinnell College was established by Mr. Steele as a memorial to his daughter
Myra.
William Steele Sanders received his early edueation in the public schools of Grinnell and later entered Grinnell
College, from which he was graduated, in 1895 with the degree of B. S. He was attracted to agricultural pursuits
and has devoted his attention to farming, being now the owner of one of the most desirable farms of Grinnell township.
It comprises one hundred and sixty acres of the land which was acquired by his grandfather nearly fifty years ago
and one hundred and sixty acres which he purchased as a result of his own well directed labors. In connection with
the cultivation of the soil he raises and feeds stock and, as he is both scientific and practical in his methods,
the results are very satisfactory.
In January, 1899, Mr. Sanders was united in marriage to Miss Della Andrews, a natives of Ladora, Iowa, and a daughter
of Daniel Andrews, who was a resident of Grinnell for several years and is now living in California. Three children
have come to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Sanders: Lyman A., Robert R. and Mary Elizabeth.
Mr. Sanders politically is allied with the republican party and in religious belief he adheres to the Congregational
church. He has spent his entire life in Poweshiek county and through his business ability and spirit of progressiveness
he has gained a host of friends. He is a representative of the younger generation of farmers, who possess advantages
of training unknown to their fathers and occupy advanced lines in all departments of the industry. By a useful
and honorable life he has acquired a standing which is of vastly greater value than immense wealth gained through
questionable methods.
From:
History of Poweshiek County, Iowa
A Record of settlement, organization
progress and achievement
By: Prof. L. F. Parker
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Chiago 1911
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