Obituary of Nathaniel L. SANDERS, Madison Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Lynn Gibson Date: 22 Nov 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** Nathaniel L. SANDERS - Broken Arrow Ledger, Thursday, February 10, 1927 "Nat. L. Sanders" This community was sorrowfully shocked last Saturday morning with the announcement from Tulsa that Nathaniel (Nat) L. Sanders had unexpectedly passed away at his desk in the office of the country assessor where he occupied the responsible position of chief deputy. The summons came entirely without warning. While known to have a slight heart affection, it was not sufficiently severe to cause apprehension among members of his family or others with whom de daily associated. Saturday morning he was on duty at his desk as usual and entered into conversation with his official associates in a light-hearted and jovial mood. He had taken a seat on one of the office tables surrounded by his subordinates. Leaning forward to spit in a cuspidor, he suddenly toppled to the floor and died almost instantly without having uttered a word. Nat Sanders was for many years a highly respected and much honored citizen of broken Arrow. His residence here dated back to the very organization of the town and continued without interruption until about four years ago when he removed to Tulsa. During all these years he was prominently identified with the official, business and civic life of the city. His residence in Tulsa county commenced at the little inland town of Elam in May, 1901, coming there in a wagon with W. N. Williams, M. C. Williams and W. T. Brooks with whom he associated himself in the mercantile business and all of whom survive and are still prominent in this city. With the advent of the railroad and the platting of Broken Arrow townsite the firm moved its business here from Elam. A few years later Mr. Sanders disposed of his interest in the firm to R. C. Knight, but later returned to mercantile pursuits by organizing the company known as the Sanders-Lancaster Company. At the solicitation of friends he later became a candidate for County Commissioner and was elected, and served his constituency faithfully and well during a term of two years. With the advent of the democratic administration of President Woodrow Wilson he accepted the appointment of postmaster of Broken Arrow and administered the office creditably and acceptably for a period of eight years. Although the last four years of his life were spent in Tulsa he still retained property interests in Broken Arrow as well as a lively interest in community affairs. Among his possessions are the two brick business structures at the northwest corner of Main street and Dallas avenue, the postoffice building, residential property and a farm southeast of the city. Deceased was born in Greenville, Texas, March 16, 1865 but spent his youth in Huntsville, Ark, where his parents had removed when Nat had attained the age of three years. He spent three years in the University of Arkansas, later taking a special course in banking an book-keeping in a St. Louis business college. Then followed 14 years in general merchandising in his home town of Huntsville. His first official trust was a deputy revenue collector, receiving the appointment at the hands of President Cleveland. This position he resigned after four years service to become cashier of the First National Bank of Huntsville. He was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Berry of Huntsville in 1884 and to this union five children were born all of whom with the widow survive and reside in Tulsa county. One brother, A. B. Sanders of Webber Falls, Okla, and a sister, Mrs. J. T. Hight of Fayettesville, Ark, also survive. Fraternally Mr. Sanders was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Scottish Rite and the Shrine; a member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America and Woodmen of the World. His religious affiliation was with the Presbyterian church. Funeral services were conducted from the Presbyterian church in Broken Arrow at 2:30 o'clock Monday afternoon, following brief services at the family residence in Tulsa. The great throng present at the church was a splendid tribute to the esteem in which this pioneer citizen, friend and neighbor had been held by the community during his life time. It was one of the most largely attended funerals held in Broken Arrow for many years. The services were in church of Rev. C. W. Kerr, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, Tulsa, assisted by Rev. Armstread H. Stephens of Broken Arrow church of the same denomination and of which the deceased had been many years an active member. The pallbearers were County Assessor D. A. Rowe and five deputies formerly associated with the deceased in the conduct of the assessor's office in Tulsa; W. A. Robbins, T. J. Flack, Dale Reynolds, J. A. Carter and S. A. Holt. Interment was in Oak Grove cemetery where the Broken Arrow Blue Lodge of Masons, assisted by Tulsa Masons, conducted the Masonic ritual for the dead. All business in Broken Arrow as suspended during the hours of the funeral service. In Tulsa, county and city offices closed from 12:30 until 2:00 p.m. as a tribute of respect to a citizen, an honorable public official, trustworthy business man, considerate husband and father, a genial friend and neighbor -- whose salutation from Him on high may well be: "Well done, my good and faithful servant; enter thou into the Kingdom of the Lord." [Transcribed and Submitted by Sherry Healy.]