Reuben Ewing Sanders was born in Cooper county, Mo., March 17, 1822. He professed religion at the early age of six years at a camp meeting in Lafayette Co., Mo. The meeting was held by Rev. Finis Ewing, Rev. Robt. Morrow, and Rev. Robt. Sloan. He joined the church at the age of seven. He was received under the care of Lexington Presbytery in 1844, and was licensed by the same presbytery in 1846. He came to Texas early in the year 1848, and was received under the care of Colorado Presbytery, by which he was soon after ordained, at Austin, Texas. The Colorado Presbytery then embraced all the country west of the Trinity River. His name appears first on the roll of the Texas Synod in the fall of 1848. Brother Sanders was married to Miss Nancy J. Mitchell October 17, 1848. The fruits of this union are eight children. Two sons preceded him to the grave. Five daughters and one son still abide with us. After four years of confinement and great bodily suffering, he entered into rest November 20, 1894. Thus another link that binds us to the past is broken, and another one of our fathers has fallen asleep. Brother Sanders came to central Texas when it was comparatively a wilderness. Settlements were far apart, while native animals roamed unmolested in its forests and on its prairies. Many times did he sleep with the canopy of heaven for a covering and his saddle for a pillow, while the wolves made the night hideous with their howling. He swam swollen streams to reach his appointments, and rode on horseback hundreds of miles every month that he might preach the unsearchable riches of Christ to the scattered settlers. He endured these hardships and performed these labors from love to Christ and men, while he received scarcely any pecuniary compensation. We give this incident as an illustration of the fact stated above: Brother Sanders, with two elders, was on his way to a meeting of the presbytery at Austin. They traveled on horseback from Limestone county, spending a night with a prosperous farmer in Bell county. In the morning when they asked for their bill the host replied, "I will charge you two gentlemen one dollar and twenty-five cents each." Then, turning to Brother Sanders, he said: "As you are a preacher and make your money easy, I will charge you two and a half." Brother Sanders had received just five dollars in money for his work during the year then closing. Such were the labors and earthly rewards of our pioneer preachers. Yet they preached and organized churches, and we of to-day are enjoying the fruits of their labors. Brother Sanders was seldom absent from the meetings of his synod or presbytery. Though the distance was often great and many streams to be crossed without bridges, yet the records show that he was present. Few men in his day were more useful in leading men to Christ than was Brother Sanders. He will have many stars in his crown in the kingdom of God. His house was a home for the young preachers, and no man was more deeply interested in their success than he. During his last illness, though suffering much, he manifested a lively interest in the work of the church. Although able to labor for his beloved Zion no longer, he loved to talk about her prospects. His faith was unshaken, and he died as he had lived, trusting in the Lord Jesus. The writer often visited him during his illness, preached for him and prayed with him. We bear our testimony, in common with many others that visited him, that he was ready. The old soldier is at rest. His conflicts are over, his victories won.
The din and strife have ceased,
And in heaven's
happy home he is in perfect peace.
May God's richest blessings rest on the companion of his labors,
toils, and hardships, who still lingers with us.
Mexia, Texas.
[Source: The Cumberland
Presbyterian, February 21, 1895, page 15]
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1895, page 19]