A native of Ohio, John M. Sanders was born in Spring Valley, Greene county, on the 24th of November, 1861, his parents being Jesse P. and Catherine A. (Stoker) Sanders. The father, also a native of Greene county, was a son of Hiram Sanders, who removed from the Empire state to Ohio, in 1812. Jesse P. Sanders was for many years proprietor of a hotel at Spring Valley, and thus became widely known to the traveling public. His later years were passed in Montgomery county upon a farm, where his death occurred at the ripe old age of seventy-seven years. His widow still survives him, and is now living with her son in Tippecanoe City.

John M. Sanders spent his boyhood days in his native village, attending the schools there and assisting in the work of the hotel. He was married on the 12th of August, 1885, in Tippecanoe City, to Miss Minnie Mae Favorite, daughter of U. J. Favorite, after which he operated the homestead farm in Montgomery county until 1894. He still owns that property, comprising ninety-five acres, and its rental adds materially to his income. Upon his retirement from the farm he became connected with the grain trade in Tippecanoe City, purchasing the elevator and warehouse, the former having been erected soon after the building of the railroad. Later a grocery store was converted into a grain establishment. The elevator now has a capacity of three thousand bushels of grain, and Mr. Sanders deals in all kinds of grain and seed, also grinds feed and handles both feed and hay. His business has grown to satisfactory proportions, so that he now furnishes employment to from two to four men. His methods are practical, systematic and reliable, and his indefatigable energy justly entitles him to the prosperity which has crowned his efforts.

In his political views Mr. Sanders is a Republican and earnestly advocates the principles of the party, doing all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. He takes an active part in campaign work, attends the local conventions, and for one year he served as a member of the city council, yet his labors in behalf of Republicanism have not been performed with the hope of reward. Fraternally he is a Mason, and with the exception of master has filled all the offices in the blue lodge. He has recently taken the Royal Arch degrees, and will probably in the near future be made a Knight Templar, in Coleman Commandery, at Troy. In demeanor he is unostentatious in manner, yet pleasant and genial--an approachable gentleman who enjoys the friendship of a large circle of acquaintances.