Gerhard Sanders (deceased) settled in the city of Galena when it was in its infancy, and was ever after connected with its principal interests until within three or four years before his death, first as a miner, and later as a popular and successful dry-goods and grocery merchant until his retirement to private life, to his pleasant home on the outskirts of the city, to enjoy at leisure the comfortable fortune that he had amassed.

Mr. Sanders was born in Hanover, Germany. Jan. 1, 1812. He attended school in his youthful days, gleaning a very good education, and then learned the trade of a shoemaker of his father. He followed that calling in his native land until 1835. He was then a vigorous, stalwart, enterprising young man of twenty-three; and ambitious to get on in the world, he decided to turn his face toward this mecca of so many of his countrymen, and after a somewhat lengthy voyage he found himself in the United States of America. He made his way to Ft. Madison, Lee Co., Iowa, and been me an early settler there. At that time Iowa was included In the Territory of Michigan, but was soon after set off with Wisconsin, and in 1838 was organized as the Territory of Iowa, so that the first three years of his life there he spent in three Territories without removing. He took up a tract of Government land, on which he built a log house, and continued living in Iowa until 1840. In that year he crossed the border into this State and took up his residence in Galena, and turned his attention to mining in the surroundings of that place. At first he dug in the earth for the mineral like the other miners, but later he washed the earth that had been discovered by other miners. He was so successful in that that in 1847 he had gathered together enough money to enable him to embark in the grocery business, which he continued for some years, and then exchanged his stock of groceries for dry-goods, and was prosperously engaged as a merchant in that line until his retirement in 1878; he having accumulated a handsome competence by fair dealing, sound management of his business, by which he greatly increased it, and the judicious investment of his money. He was a straightforward, honorable man, of sterling worth, whose frank, warm-hearted character, commanded the esteem and respect of all about him. He possessed a shrewd, clear intellect, was prompt and systematic in his business methods, and richly deserved the prosperity that awarded his industry and frugality.

Mr. Sanders was twice married. The first time to a Miss Hellman, a native of Hanover, Germany, and a sister of J. H. Hellman, whose sketch appears in this work. That estimable woman died in Lee County, Iowa. The second marriage of our subject, which took place in 1844, at West Point, was to Miss Elizabeth Strothmann, a native of Westphalia, Germany. Her parents, Joseph and Anna Catherine Strothmann, were natives of the same place, and were there reared and married. In 1842 they came to America and settled near West Point, Lee Co., Iowa, which was then a territory. The family had set sail from Bremen in November. 1841. and had landed at New Orleans in February. 1842, coming thence up the Mississippi to St. Louis. where they waited for river navigation above that point to open, and then proceeded to Ft. Madison. Iowa; there being no railways on which they could travel at that time. Mr. Strothmann bought a farm near West Point, and there was a house on it containing two rooms, the main part of the house being built of logs, and the other room was a frame addition. Mr. Strothmann bought other land, and at the time of his death had a valuable farm. The brother of our subject still resides on the old homestead. Mrs. Sanders remained in her parents' home until her marriage. She has six children living, namely: Henry in Dakota; Frank J. in Denver. Col.; George in Galena; John in Phoenix, Ariz.; Andrew at Galena; Mamie K. at home with her mother. The family are all members of St. Mary's Catholic Church. Mrs. Sanders is a woman whose many excellent qualities of head and heart fully entitle her to the high respect in which she is held by all. She and her family occupy an elegant and commodious residence on Franklin street, to which they removed in 1887.

Transcribed by Christine Walters - Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889)