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Submitted: 1/11/18 • Approved: 1/11/18 • Last Updated: 4/13/18 • R810167-G0-S3
Mar. 11, 1844
May 20, 1892
Parents: Samuel D Sanders, Amelia Mosely
Spouse:
Amelia Ann Ritchey Sanders (1849 - 1935)
MAY 26, 1892 - KILLED IN A WRECK.
Hon. J. Tuck Sanders, Newton County's Representative in the Legislature, Among the Dead in the Cotton Belt Wreck.
The sad news reached Ritchey Sunday morning that Hon. J. Tuck Sanders of Ritchey was one of the number, who went down in the wreck on the Cotton Belt line at the Crooked Bayou in Arkansas, on Friday night at 10 o'clock, May 20th, 1892. The full particulars and just how he met his death, will probably never be known.
Tuck Sanders was on the Cotton Belt passenger train en route for Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on Friday the 20th, on business for the Ritchey Milling Co, of which firm he was a member. The passenger train on which he took passage, had orders to run back on account of high water south of Robroy near Pine Bluff, and had orders to meet a local freight at Humphrey. But through oversight of the crew they commenced backing the train to Goldman, the next station. When they reached a curve at Crooked Bayou, the freight, heavy laden and running at full speed, ran into the sleeper and coaches, turning them from the tressle into the deep bayou.
The Pullman sleeper was buried under ten feet of water. Mr Sanders was one among the killed, but was not identified at first and he was identified at first and he was reported as one among the unknown dead, but his body with others was taken to Pine Bluff, where he was identified by McFadden and Taylor, with whom he had been transacting business.
The news was telegraphed Key Sanders of Pierce city, thinking that he was Tuck Sander's brother. Mr Sanders knowing of no other J. Tuck Sanders, telegraphed the sad news to the relatives at Ritchey. It was hard for the relatives and friends of Tuck Sanders to believe him dead, and for three long days they lived in suspense vainly hoping it would not prove to be Tuck Sanders of Ritchey, whom all knew to love.
The remains were delayed in reaching Ritchey on account of high waters and did not arrive at that place until yesterday morning, when all hopes of it being a mistake in his death were crushed for it was too true that the beautiful casket held the remains of J. Tuck Sanders of Ritchey.
He lay peacefully and quietly, surrounded by the beautiful flowers of which he was so passionately fond, and his natural countenance proved that it was none other but he. The remains were immediately taken to Newtonia to the grounds enclosing the old Ritchey residence, which grounds were beautifully decorated with flowers, where services were conducted by Rev. Gracy of Newtonia and Rev. Prottsman of Jefferson City.
Rev. Prottsman was the chaplain during the called term of legislature, and there got acquainted with Mr. Sanders, and came to Newtonia to help pay the last tribute of respect to the deceased. His words, as well as Rev. Gravy's were well chosen, and there were but few dry eyes among those who listened to these notes on the memory of the one called so suddenly from this earth.
The Masonic order, which came in a body from Peirce City, Neosho, Ritchey and Granby in connection with the Newtonia Lodge then took charge of the remains and the ceremony was unusually impressive on this occasion. The remains were interred in the Ritchey family cemetery in Newtonia. Mr. Wilson, a member of the Masonic order, took charge of the body at Pine Bluff and came the whole distance with it, bringing along with it several beautiful floral designs.
Hon. J. T. Sanders was born in Sarcoxie, Missouri, March 11th, 1844, and was forty-eight years, two months and nine days old at the time of his death. He was the oldest of six children. His father's name was Samuel Sanders. His grandfather was old Col. Mosely. Mr Sanders married Miss Amelia Ritchey, daughter of the late Judge Ritchey, who with their six children, survive him.
Mr. Sanders held the office of county judge in 1875, during the time when the present court house of Newton county was built. He was elected county representative at a special election February 6th, 1892, to fill the vacancy left by Hon. Thomas C. Fulkerson, deceased, and served in the recent called session of the legislature. He was recently appointed grain inspector of St. Louis department under O'Shea, and was making arrangements to move his family to St. Louis.
He has been a member of the Masonic order for a number of years. He enlisted as a soldier in the Great Rebellion, when he was but eighteen years old, under Gen. Sherman. He was well known as a dealer in grain, as he has been in the milling business at Ritchey twelve years.
All who knew Tuck Sanders, knew him to be an energetic, generous and noble hearted man, and his untimely death is sadly mourned by his host of friends. Friends of the deceased from Neosho, Granby, Peirce City, Ritchey, Seneca, Sarcoxie, and Purdy were in attendance at the funeral services. A larger funeral procession is seldom seen. 150 or more Masons assisted in the funeral exercisers.
THE NEWS is indebted to the deceased for many an encouraging word, and kind act, and will ever hold the name of Hon. J. Tuck Sanders in kind remembrance and the publishers extend their deepest sympathy to the relatives of the deceased.
Source: The Newton County News published in Newtonia by the Mize sisters.
Contributed on 1/11/18 by tslundberg
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Record #: 810167