John Sanderson was a private of Company K, 58th Ohio Infantry. In April 1865, the 58th Ohio was stationed near Vicksburg, MS. On April 24, one captain, one sergeant, two corporals, and 18 privates were assigned to act as a guard unit for the transport of over 2,000 recently released Union prisoners-of-war on the Mississippi steamboat Sultana. 2:00 a.m. on April 24, 1865, when the Sultana was seven miles north of Memphis, TN, her boilers exploded. Over 1,500 people lost their lives. Private Sanderson was one of the lucky ones that survived.
(Bio provided by an unknown source.)
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Links to parents sent by C B (49745185)
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Microfilmed cemetery records at the Kansas State Historical Society Archives:
John Sanderson
buried: Dec. 20, 1914
#508
age: 69
relative: Mrs. J.J. Conner, Daughter
undertaker: Penwell
Block 11, Lot 16, Grave 1
Topeka Daily Capital, Friday, Dec. 18, 1914, page 5:
Husband And Wife Found Dead Alone
Mr. and Mrs. John Sanderson Are Asphyxiated by Gas Fumes in Their Home on East Eighth Street
Daughter Makes Discovery
Mrs. John J. Conner, of 321 Van Buren street, went to call on her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Sanderson, at 318 East Eighth street, yesterday morning about 9 o'clock, and found the aged couple dead. Mr. Sanderson had been in poor health for nearly two years.
On the front porch Mrs. Conner found four copies of the morning paper -- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday's editions were lying there, untouched. She opened the door.
A strong acrid odor of natural gas drove her back. She gasped for breath, but left the door open. Finally she was able to go inside. On a couch in the living room her father lay dead. Sitting in a rocker just the other side of the stove, was her mother, dead. Two bird cages hung near one of the windows. In each was a little canary, stiff and cold. There was nothing living in the room.
Son Sees Them Last
The last persons to see the aged couple alive were their son, Al Sanderson of 135 Van Buren street, and their daughter, Mrs. Conner. They were with their parents for some time last Sunday afternoon. The old couple lived alone in the little yellow house on East Eighth street. They had been dead probably since early Monday morning. They had only the two children, who always made it a point to call on "father and mother" two or three times during the week.
"Father had been in failing health for the last two years, " said the son. "Mother frequently sat up to ----" he glanced at the peaceful, quiet, little figure in the rocker, and choked. None of the persons asked what mother had been accustomed to do. Sitting in the rocker, waiting to minister to the wants of her life partner, the gas had quietly dulled the sensibilities of both.
John Sanderson was a veteran of the Civil war, serving his country four years in the 58th Ohio volunteer infantry. The Sandersons came to Kansas from Ohio nearly forty years ago. They lived in Osage county, and at Holton before coming to Topeka 25 years ago.
John Sanderson was one of three men who escaped from the Sultana toward the close of the Civil war, when that ship was wrecked by an explosion on the Mississippi river, near Vicksburg in March 1865. Between three and four hundred Union soldiers who were being transported north lost their lives. Mr. Sanderson was 69 years old and his wife 66.
Member Lincoln Post
Mr. Sanderson was a member of Lincoln Post No. 1, G.A.R., and was commander of the post in 1905. Mrs. sanderson was a member of Lincoln Circle No. 1, Ladies of the G.A.R.
Captain P.H. Coney said yesterday that it was because of Mr. Sanderson's heroic efforts to save the lives of others and himself, when the Sultana was sunk, that his pension was increased about two years ago from $12 to $30 a month. The increased pension was the result also of the work by Senator Charles Curtis and Captain Coney. Mr. Sanderson was for about eight years janitor at Lowman Hill school in Topeka.
Mrs. Conner had gone to the home of her parents yesterday morning to take a pair of shoes to her mother. She went into the room and called "mother" several times, but here was no answer. She approached the lifeless form and touched it. The aged woman's hands were cold and stiff.
Rushes From House
Mrs. Conner gave a scream and rushed from the house, calling to W.E. Anderson, stenographer in the county attorney's office, and Tom Rowles, who is serving as a juror in district court. The two men were near the house on their way to the court house. They rushed to the house and viewed the bodies. The gas fumes were suffocating and the men remained in the house but a moment.
Mr. Anderson and Mr. Rowles took Mrs. Conner into a house next door and Mr. Anderson called the coroner, Al Sanderson, and Mr. Conner. Coroner J.H. Rinehart was not in his office and Dr. O.F. Marcotte went to the death chamber, the coroner arriving later. He said that death was plainly caused by the escaping gas and that no inquest will be held unless the relatives request that action. Funeral arrangements have not been made, but the services will probably be held at the home on Sunday.
Topeka Daily Capital, Friday, Dec. 18, 1914, page 9:
The funeral of Mr. and Mrs. John Sanderson will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from Penwell's chapel. Burial will follow in Mt. Auburn cemetery.
(Bio provided by an unknown source.)
*************************
Links to parents sent by C B (49745185)
*************************
Microfilmed cemetery records at the Kansas State Historical Society Archives:
John Sanderson
buried: Dec. 20, 1914
#508
age: 69
relative: Mrs. J.J. Conner, Daughter
undertaker: Penwell
Block 11, Lot 16, Grave 1
Topeka Daily Capital, Friday, Dec. 18, 1914, page 5:
Husband And Wife Found Dead Alone
Mr. and Mrs. John Sanderson Are Asphyxiated by Gas Fumes in Their Home on East Eighth Street
Daughter Makes Discovery
Mrs. John J. Conner, of 321 Van Buren street, went to call on her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Sanderson, at 318 East Eighth street, yesterday morning about 9 o'clock, and found the aged couple dead. Mr. Sanderson had been in poor health for nearly two years.
On the front porch Mrs. Conner found four copies of the morning paper -- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday's editions were lying there, untouched. She opened the door.
A strong acrid odor of natural gas drove her back. She gasped for breath, but left the door open. Finally she was able to go inside. On a couch in the living room her father lay dead. Sitting in a rocker just the other side of the stove, was her mother, dead. Two bird cages hung near one of the windows. In each was a little canary, stiff and cold. There was nothing living in the room.
Son Sees Them Last
The last persons to see the aged couple alive were their son, Al Sanderson of 135 Van Buren street, and their daughter, Mrs. Conner. They were with their parents for some time last Sunday afternoon. The old couple lived alone in the little yellow house on East Eighth street. They had been dead probably since early Monday morning. They had only the two children, who always made it a point to call on "father and mother" two or three times during the week.
"Father had been in failing health for the last two years, " said the son. "Mother frequently sat up to ----" he glanced at the peaceful, quiet, little figure in the rocker, and choked. None of the persons asked what mother had been accustomed to do. Sitting in the rocker, waiting to minister to the wants of her life partner, the gas had quietly dulled the sensibilities of both.
John Sanderson was a veteran of the Civil war, serving his country four years in the 58th Ohio volunteer infantry. The Sandersons came to Kansas from Ohio nearly forty years ago. They lived in Osage county, and at Holton before coming to Topeka 25 years ago.
John Sanderson was one of three men who escaped from the Sultana toward the close of the Civil war, when that ship was wrecked by an explosion on the Mississippi river, near Vicksburg in March 1865. Between three and four hundred Union soldiers who were being transported north lost their lives. Mr. Sanderson was 69 years old and his wife 66.
Member Lincoln Post
Mr. Sanderson was a member of Lincoln Post No. 1, G.A.R., and was commander of the post in 1905. Mrs. sanderson was a member of Lincoln Circle No. 1, Ladies of the G.A.R.
Captain P.H. Coney said yesterday that it was because of Mr. Sanderson's heroic efforts to save the lives of others and himself, when the Sultana was sunk, that his pension was increased about two years ago from $12 to $30 a month. The increased pension was the result also of the work by Senator Charles Curtis and Captain Coney. Mr. Sanderson was for about eight years janitor at Lowman Hill school in Topeka.
Mrs. Conner had gone to the home of her parents yesterday morning to take a pair of shoes to her mother. She went into the room and called "mother" several times, but here was no answer. She approached the lifeless form and touched it. The aged woman's hands were cold and stiff.
Rushes From House
Mrs. Conner gave a scream and rushed from the house, calling to W.E. Anderson, stenographer in the county attorney's office, and Tom Rowles, who is serving as a juror in district court. The two men were near the house on their way to the court house. They rushed to the house and viewed the bodies. The gas fumes were suffocating and the men remained in the house but a moment.
Mr. Anderson and Mr. Rowles took Mrs. Conner into a house next door and Mr. Anderson called the coroner, Al Sanderson, and Mr. Conner. Coroner J.H. Rinehart was not in his office and Dr. O.F. Marcotte went to the death chamber, the coroner arriving later. He said that death was plainly caused by the escaping gas and that no inquest will be held unless the relatives request that action. Funeral arrangements have not been made, but the services will probably be held at the home on Sunday.
Topeka Daily Capital, Friday, Dec. 18, 1914, page 9:
The funeral of Mr. and Mrs. John Sanderson will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from Penwell's chapel. Burial will follow in Mt. Auburn cemetery.
John Sanderson was a private of Company K, 58th Ohio Infantry. In April 1865, the 58th Ohio was stationed near Vicksburg, MS. On April 24, one captain, one sergeant, two corporals, and 18 privates were assigned to act as a guard unit for the transport of over 2,000 recently released Union prisoners-of-war on the Mississippi steamboat Sultana. 2:00 a.m. on April 24, 1865, when the Sultana was seven miles north of Memphis, TN, her boilers exploded. Over 1,500 people lost their lives. Private Sanderson was one of the lucky ones that survived.
(Bio provided by an unknown source.)
*************************
Links to parents sent by C B (49745185)
*************************
Microfilmed cemetery records at the Kansas State Historical Society Archives:
John Sanderson
buried: Dec. 20, 1914
#508
age: 69
relative: Mrs. J.J. Conner, Daughter
undertaker: Penwell
Block 11, Lot 16, Grave 1
Topeka Daily Capital, Friday, Dec. 18, 1914, page 5:
Husband And Wife Found Dead Alone
Mr. and Mrs. John Sanderson Are Asphyxiated by Gas Fumes in Their Home on East Eighth Street
Daughter Makes Discovery
Mrs. John J. Conner, of 321 Van Buren street, went to call on her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Sanderson, at 318 East Eighth street, yesterday morning about 9 o'clock, and found the aged couple dead. Mr. Sanderson had been in poor health for nearly two years.
On the front porch Mrs. Conner found four copies of the morning paper -- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday's editions were lying there, untouched. She opened the door.
A strong acrid odor of natural gas drove her back. She gasped for breath, but left the door open. Finally she was able to go inside. On a couch in the living room her father lay dead. Sitting in a rocker just the other side of the stove, was her mother, dead. Two bird cages hung near one of the windows. In each was a little canary, stiff and cold. There was nothing living in the room.
Son Sees Them Last
The last persons to see the aged couple alive were their son, Al Sanderson of 135 Van Buren street, and their daughter, Mrs. Conner. They were with their parents for some time last Sunday afternoon. The old couple lived alone in the little yellow house on East Eighth street. They had been dead probably since early Monday morning. They had only the two children, who always made it a point to call on "father and mother" two or three times during the week.
"Father had been in failing health for the last two years, " said the son. "Mother frequently sat up to ----" he glanced at the peaceful, quiet, little figure in the rocker, and choked. None of the persons asked what mother had been accustomed to do. Sitting in the rocker, waiting to minister to the wants of her life partner, the gas had quietly dulled the sensibilities of both.
John Sanderson was a veteran of the Civil war, serving his country four years in the 58th Ohio volunteer infantry. The Sandersons came to Kansas from Ohio nearly forty years ago. They lived in Osage county, and at Holton before coming to Topeka 25 years ago.
John Sanderson was one of three men who escaped from the Sultana toward the close of the Civil war, when that ship was wrecked by an explosion on the Mississippi river, near Vicksburg in March 1865. Between three and four hundred Union soldiers who were being transported north lost their lives. Mr. Sanderson was 69 years old and his wife 66.
Member Lincoln Post
Mr. Sanderson was a member of Lincoln Post No. 1, G.A.R., and was commander of the post in 1905. Mrs. sanderson was a member of Lincoln Circle No. 1, Ladies of the G.A.R.
Captain P.H. Coney said yesterday that it was because of Mr. Sanderson's heroic efforts to save the lives of others and himself, when the Sultana was sunk, that his pension was increased about two years ago from $12 to $30 a month. The increased pension was the result also of the work by Senator Charles Curtis and Captain Coney. Mr. Sanderson was for about eight years janitor at Lowman Hill school in Topeka.
Mrs. Conner had gone to the home of her parents yesterday morning to take a pair of shoes to her mother. She went into the room and called "mother" several times, but here was no answer. She approached the lifeless form and touched it. The aged woman's hands were cold and stiff.
Rushes From House
Mrs. Conner gave a scream and rushed from the house, calling to W.E. Anderson, stenographer in the county attorney's office, and Tom Rowles, who is serving as a juror in district court. The two men were near the house on their way to the court house. They rushed to the house and viewed the bodies. The gas fumes were suffocating and the men remained in the house but a moment.
Mr. Anderson and Mr. Rowles took Mrs. Conner into a house next door and Mr. Anderson called the coroner, Al Sanderson, and Mr. Conner. Coroner J.H. Rinehart was not in his office and Dr. O.F. Marcotte went to the death chamber, the coroner arriving later. He said that death was plainly caused by the escaping gas and that no inquest will be held unless the relatives request that action. Funeral arrangements have not been made, but the services will probably be held at the home on Sunday.
Topeka Daily Capital, Friday, Dec. 18, 1914, page 9:
The funeral of Mr. and Mrs. John Sanderson will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from Penwell's chapel. Burial will follow in Mt. Auburn cemetery.
(Bio provided by an unknown source.)
*************************
Links to parents sent by C B (49745185)
*************************
Microfilmed cemetery records at the Kansas State Historical Society Archives:
John Sanderson
buried: Dec. 20, 1914
#508
age: 69
relative: Mrs. J.J. Conner, Daughter
undertaker: Penwell
Block 11, Lot 16, Grave 1
Topeka Daily Capital, Friday, Dec. 18, 1914, page 5:
Husband And Wife Found Dead Alone
Mr. and Mrs. John Sanderson Are Asphyxiated by Gas Fumes in Their Home on East Eighth Street
Daughter Makes Discovery
Mrs. John J. Conner, of 321 Van Buren street, went to call on her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Sanderson, at 318 East Eighth street, yesterday morning about 9 o'clock, and found the aged couple dead. Mr. Sanderson had been in poor health for nearly two years.
On the front porch Mrs. Conner found four copies of the morning paper -- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday's editions were lying there, untouched. She opened the door.
A strong acrid odor of natural gas drove her back. She gasped for breath, but left the door open. Finally she was able to go inside. On a couch in the living room her father lay dead. Sitting in a rocker just the other side of the stove, was her mother, dead. Two bird cages hung near one of the windows. In each was a little canary, stiff and cold. There was nothing living in the room.
Son Sees Them Last
The last persons to see the aged couple alive were their son, Al Sanderson of 135 Van Buren street, and their daughter, Mrs. Conner. They were with their parents for some time last Sunday afternoon. The old couple lived alone in the little yellow house on East Eighth street. They had been dead probably since early Monday morning. They had only the two children, who always made it a point to call on "father and mother" two or three times during the week.
"Father had been in failing health for the last two years, " said the son. "Mother frequently sat up to ----" he glanced at the peaceful, quiet, little figure in the rocker, and choked. None of the persons asked what mother had been accustomed to do. Sitting in the rocker, waiting to minister to the wants of her life partner, the gas had quietly dulled the sensibilities of both.
John Sanderson was a veteran of the Civil war, serving his country four years in the 58th Ohio volunteer infantry. The Sandersons came to Kansas from Ohio nearly forty years ago. They lived in Osage county, and at Holton before coming to Topeka 25 years ago.
John Sanderson was one of three men who escaped from the Sultana toward the close of the Civil war, when that ship was wrecked by an explosion on the Mississippi river, near Vicksburg in March 1865. Between three and four hundred Union soldiers who were being transported north lost their lives. Mr. Sanderson was 69 years old and his wife 66.
Member Lincoln Post
Mr. Sanderson was a member of Lincoln Post No. 1, G.A.R., and was commander of the post in 1905. Mrs. sanderson was a member of Lincoln Circle No. 1, Ladies of the G.A.R.
Captain P.H. Coney said yesterday that it was because of Mr. Sanderson's heroic efforts to save the lives of others and himself, when the Sultana was sunk, that his pension was increased about two years ago from $12 to $30 a month. The increased pension was the result also of the work by Senator Charles Curtis and Captain Coney. Mr. Sanderson was for about eight years janitor at Lowman Hill school in Topeka.
Mrs. Conner had gone to the home of her parents yesterday morning to take a pair of shoes to her mother. She went into the room and called "mother" several times, but here was no answer. She approached the lifeless form and touched it. The aged woman's hands were cold and stiff.
Rushes From House
Mrs. Conner gave a scream and rushed from the house, calling to W.E. Anderson, stenographer in the county attorney's office, and Tom Rowles, who is serving as a juror in district court. The two men were near the house on their way to the court house. They rushed to the house and viewed the bodies. The gas fumes were suffocating and the men remained in the house but a moment.
Mr. Anderson and Mr. Rowles took Mrs. Conner into a house next door and Mr. Anderson called the coroner, Al Sanderson, and Mr. Conner. Coroner J.H. Rinehart was not in his office and Dr. O.F. Marcotte went to the death chamber, the coroner arriving later. He said that death was plainly caused by the escaping gas and that no inquest will be held unless the relatives request that action. Funeral arrangements have not been made, but the services will probably be held at the home on Sunday.
Topeka Daily Capital, Friday, Dec. 18, 1914, page 9:
The funeral of Mr. and Mrs. John Sanderson will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from Penwell's chapel. Burial will follow in Mt. Auburn cemetery.
Gravesite Details
married 1866 to Elizabeth Van Horn
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