Bios of NAT L. SANDERS.
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   Nat L. Sanders, postmaster of Broken Arrow, is well known throughout Tulsa
county as one of its substantial citizens. Coming to this county before the town
of Broken Arrow was a reality he realized the many advantages it offered and
engaged in a variety of pursuits connected more or less closely with the
development and improvement of the county and the establishment of the town in
which he is now residing. Like many other prominent men of Tulsa county Mr.
Sanders is a native of another state, his birth having occurred in Greenville,
Texas, on the 16th of March, 1864, a son of Charles B. and Viola (Polk) Sanders.
The maternal grandfather was a cousin of the well known James K. Polk, eleventh
president of the United States and the grandparents on both sides located in
Arkansas in 1829 and 1830. Charles B. Sanders was born in Huntsville, Alabama,
and his wife in Huntsville, Arkansas. In 1849 the father crossed the plains to
California but later returned to Huntsville, Arkansas, where he engaged in the
stock business until about 1863, when with his family he removed to Greenville,
Texas. Upon the outbreak of the Civil war his sympathy was with the south and he
enlisted in the Confederate army, serving under General Price throughout the
conflict. After the close of hostilities he moved his family back to Madison
county, Arkansas, and there purchased land which he operated for many years.
This old home place is still in possession of the family. In addition to farming
he conducted a hotel in Huntsville for several years and likewise bought and
sold stock. In every undertaking in which Mr. Sanders was active he won success.
He died in September, 1898, at the age of seventy-two years, financially
independent. Mrs. Sanders lived until 1911, when her demise occurred at the age
of seventy-four.
 
   In the acquirement of an education Nat L. Sanders attended the schools of
Huntsville, Arkansas, and later entered the State University at Fayetteville,
from which he was graduated in the required time. After putting his textbooks
aside he accepted a position as clerk in a Huntsville store and was active in
that capacity for fourteen years, the entire time being spent in the employ of
one man. In 1893 he received the appointment as collector of internal revenue
for nine counties in northwestern Arkansas, the appointment having been made by
President Cleveland, and for four years and nineteen days he was active in that
capacity. He then became cashier of the Madison County Bank at Huntsville, but
in 1901 tendered his resignation and came to Indian Territory, building a store
and cotton-gin six miles south of where the town of Broken Arrow now stands. For
nineteen months he was active in the operation of those interests and upon the
establishment of the town of Broken Arrow removed his buildings there and became
active in the development and improvement of that place. He was among the first
to buy property there and after six years spent in the conduct of his old store
he purchased a new building and engaged in the mercantile business for four or
five years, when he was elected county commissioner. He then disposed of his
business and realized a substantial amount on the sale. He was on the board that
built the present county courthouse and after serving in that capacity for two
years was in July, 1913, appointed postmaster by Woodrow Wilson. He has served
for eight years in this connection and has won the confidence and respect of the
entire community. As stockholder and director of the Arkansas Valley State Bank
of Broken Arrow he is prominent in financial circles and is likewise one of the
directors of the Farmers Cooperative Grain Company. He is a stockholder in the
Tulsa Light Corporation and is the owner of a valuable farm property near Broken
Arrow, on which two small oil wells have been located. He has always taken a
great interest in the growth of his community and has invested in a good deal of
good business and residence property.
 
   In December of the year 1884 Mr. Sanders was united in marriage to Miss Lutie
Berry, and to them five children have been born: Ruth, who is the wife of H. L.
Hollmsworth of Broken Arrow; Hugh B., who is now farming after serving for eight
years as county treasurer; Belle, who is the wife of T. F. Jamison, manager of
the Farmers Union Grain Company of Coffeyville, Kansas; Julian B., who resides
at home where he is engaged in the real estate business, and Amy C, the wife of
H. E. Barnard, a merchant of Broken Arrow. Mrs. Sanders is widely known in the
community where she is conceded a model housewife and mother.
 
   The political allegiance of Mr. Sanders is given to the democratic party, he
having firm belief in the efficacy of the principles of that party as factors in
good government. Fraternally he is a Mason, in which order he has attained the
thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and the Shrine and he likewise holds
membership in the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America and
Woodmen of the World. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, of
which organization he was at one time trustee. During the World war Mr. Sanders
took an active and prominent part in all local war drives and he received a
medal from the post office department for the sale of stamps. His son, Julian
B., served as regimental sergeant major but did not get across to France. For
many years he has been a resident of Tulsa county and his labors have brought
about the settlement and development of various districts. He has thoroughly
identified his interests with those of his community and there is no more
enthusiastic booster of Broken Arrow than he, having already gained recognition
as a leader in movements calculated to promote its welfare.