The pioneer wives and mothers performed no unimportant port in the settling up of Jo Daviess County, strengthening the hands of their husbands by their courage and their industry, and rearing their sons to make good and honest citizens. The lady called to notice in this biography, is the widow of Samuel Sanderson, late a well-known resident of Rice Township, and one of its earliest settlers. She was born on the other side of the Atlantic, in County Monaghan, Ireland, in 1817, and lived there until after her marriage. She and her husband then came to America, and Mrs. S. having a brother living at Warwick, Orange Co., N. Y., they sojourned there three years, coming to Galena in the fall of 1829.

The experience of Mr. and Mrs. Sanderson in the undeveloped West, was not greatly unlike that of the people around them, they enduring their full share of toil, hardship, and privation. They settled on a tract of new land, their first shelter being a log house. The husband battled with the elements of a new soil, and the wife looked after her household with few of the conveniences, and none of the luxuries which the housewife of to-day deems indispensable. Six sons and two daughters comprised the household circle, who grew up healthy and hearty, trained to habits of industry, and to be an honor to their parents. They were given a good education, and the eldest son, John, unmarried, occupies himself as a teacher; Samuel C. married Miss Harriet Bailey, of Rice Township, is a railroad man, and makes his home in Bellevue, Iowa; David married Miss Sarah Johnson, of Elizabeth, and is farming in Elizabeth Township; Sarah J. is the wife of Anthony McAllister, a school-teacher of Hanover Township; Agnes is the wife of Charles Nesbit, of Carroll County, Ill., who is a farmer; James married Miss Rachel Golden, and operates the homestead in company with his brother, Joseph, who married Miss Sarah Young.

Mrs. Sanderson is the daughter of John and Agnes (Stewart) Crawford, who were both natives of Ireland, the father born in County Monaghan, and the mother in County Cavan. Mr. Crawford died when his daughter, Margaret, was a young girl twelve years of age. The mother afterward came with her children to America and spent her last days in this township with her daughter. The parental household included six children, only three of whom are living: Stewart C. married Miss Mary J. Richey, of Galena, and is a druggist in that city; Mary is the wife of James Hannah, a farmer of Hanover Township. Mrs. Sanderson and her brothers and sisters received a good education. Her brother, John, was for some years a successful physician and surgeon of Galena, and died there. Mrs. S. is a remarkably intelligent and active lady in good health, one with whom it is both pleasant and profitable to converse.

Samuel Sanderson was occupied as a miner for a time after coming to this county, but later purchased land, and subsequently turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. In due time he was the owner of a farm of 300 acres pleasantly located in Rice Township, section 35, which his widow and sons now occupy. He was quite prominent in local affairs, holding the office of School Director, besides other positions of trust and responsibility as the township slowly developed from its pioneer state into a busy and intelligent community. For a few years after becoming a voting citizen, he affiliated with the Democratic party, but later changed his views and identified himself with the Republicans. He was personally acquainted with Gen. Grant, John H. Rawlins, E. B. Washburn, and other prominent men. Both he and his excellent wife identified themselves with the Methodist Episcopal Church many years ago. The family occupies a high position in the community, and are amply worthy of representation in a work designed to perpetuate the names and records of the early settlers of Jo Daviess County.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - From Portraits and Biographical Pg 317