History of Leon, (Cattaraugus County) New York United States of America

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Wilbur Fiske Sanders, senator, was born at Leon, N.Y., May 2, 1834; son of Ira and Freedona (Edgerton) Sanders. He removed to Ohio, where he taught school, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1856. In 1858 he was married to Harriet P. Fenn. He was commissioned 1st lieutenant in the 64th Ohio volunteers in 1861; was acting assistant adjutant-general on the staff of Gen. J. W. Forsyth; was employed on the defences south of Nashville, 1862, and resigned in 1863, because of ill health. He then removed to Montana, where he practised law, engaged in mining and was active in the prosecution of robbers and murderers before the "law and order" tribunals. He was attorney for the Northern Pacific railroad company; unsuccessful Republican candidate for delegate to congress, 1864, 1867, 1880 and 1896; a delegate to the Republican national conventions of 1868, 1872, 1876, 1884; a member of the legislative assembly of Montana, 1872?80; declined the appointment of U.S. attorney for Montana; was president of the Montana Historical society, 1865?90, and U.S. senator, 1890?93, having been elected on Dec. 30, 1889, by the Republican members of the state legislature. On Jan. 7, 1890, the Democratic members elected William A. Clark. Senator Sanders was seated for the short term expiring, March 3, 1893, and was a candidate for re-election when a deadlock in the legislature prevented a choice from Jan. 11, to March 2, 1893, when Senator Clarke was elected, Senator Sanders's name being withdrawn, Feb. 10, 1893.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Leon, (Cattaraugus County) New York

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