Peter Sanders (abt. 1826 - 1871)

Born about 1826 in Lantz Ridge, Preston County, West Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 17 Jan 1871 at about age 45 in Rowlesburg, Preston County, West Virginia

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Biography

Peter is the third of eight known children of Alexander Sanders and Susanna (Spessard) Sanders. His birth date is approximate from census records. Peter drowned while rafting logs and staves from his Tucker County property to the mill of the Rowlesburg Lumber & Iron Co. in Preston County.

Follow this link for an account of Peter's last day.

Follow this link for detailed biographies of Peter and his wife Rebecca

The Preston County Journal.
KINGWOOD, PRESTON COUNTY, W. VA., SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 1871.
VOL. 5, NO. 29.
Page 3, Column 1
SAD ACCIDENT.––On the 17th inst., Mr. Ingles Evans, Supt. of the shook-shops at Rowlesburg, and Mr. Peter Saunders, attempted to run a raft to the Rowlesburg Lumber & Iron Co.’s mill, on cheat river. When night overtook them, Mr. Evans jumped ashore and tied up for the night to a tree which it pulled up, leaving Mr. Saunders on the raft. Evans tried to jump on again, but jumped in the water over his head; he then hallowed to Saunders to lay the raft across the island above the mill, when passing above the dam and pier above the mill he hallowed to the men on shore to bring a skiff. Mr. Findly President of the Co., Mr. Holestine, and others got out and tried to reach him, but the raft struck the pier and it is supposed the jar knocked him off and the suction of the water running under the logs drew him under the raft. As yet the body has not been found. Mr. Saunders leaves a wife and five or six children.

The Preston County Journal.
KINGWOOD, PRESTON COUNTY, W. VA., SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1871.
VOL. 5, NO. 40.
Page 3, Column 1
On Tuesday evening last the body of Peter Saunders, who was drowned at Rowlesburg on the 17th of January last, was found lodged in the river near Eugenus Michael’s, where it had floated to.
We have not learned what disposition was made of the body but suppose it was taken back to Rowlesburg for interment.

Sources

• "US Census, 1860", database on-line; District 4, Preston County, Virginia; Roll: M653_1372; Page: 165; Lines 17-22; August 22, 1860; Family History Library Film: 805372.
• "US Census, 1870", database on-line; Hannahnills (Hannahsville), Tucker County, West Virginia; Roll: M593_1700; Page: 222B; Lines 24-31; July 16, 1870; Family History Library Film: 553199.
• "Land Records of Preston County, West Virginia"; Courthouse, Kingwood, West Virginia; Land transfer from Peter and Rebecca Sanders to Levi Lipscomb; Deed Book 33 Page 257; December 2, 1870.
• "Fiduciary Register"; Appointment of Nicholas Bolyard as Administrator of the Estate of Peter Saunders; February 13, 1871; Old Courthouse Basement; Parsons, Tucker County, West Virginia.
• Bill of Appraisement of the Estate of Peter Saunders; Appraisement Book 1 Page 78; February 15, 1871; Tucker County Courthouse; Parsons, Tucker County, West Virginia.
• "Land Records of Preston County, West Virginia", Courthouse, Kingwood, West Virginia; Transfers of undivided interests of Peter Saunders and Susannah M. Saunders Chambers as heirs at law to all the real estate their father Alexander Saunders died seized of, to Alexander B. Saunders; Deed Book 29 Page 104; April 21, 1863.
• SAD ACCIDENT; News account of the death of Peter Saunders; "Preston County Journal"; 21 January 1871; Page 3; Microfilm Roll MF-58; Terra Alta, WV Library.