Samuel Gillespie Sanders

Samuel Gillespie Sanders

• Father: Samuel David Sanders b. 4 January 1822, d. 23 January 1903
• Mother: Martha Johnson Pegues b. 13 December 1824, d. 30 December 1889

• Samuel Gillespie Sanders was born in 1852 in South Carolina.
• Albert Micajah Shipp and Mary Jane Gillespie appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, South Carolina, Also in the household was college student Robert Shipp (age 20), and three domestic servants.. Other members of the household included Samuel Gillespie Sanders, John W. Shipp, Liley Shipp, Mary Wade Shipp, Nancy G. Shipp, Albert W. Shipp, Samuel Wilds Gillespie Shipp, James Thornwell Shipp, Sallie E. Shipp, Susan V. Shipp and William Wesley Pegues.
• He was a college student, according to the 1870 census..
• He married Mary Wade Shipp, daughter of Albert Micajah Shipp and Mary Jane Gillespie, circa 1877. Mary Wade's mother's sister was the wife of Samuel's mother's brother..
• Samuel Gillespie Sanders and Mary Wade Shipp appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Georgetown, Williamson County, Texas. Other members of the household included Mary Shipp Sanders, Samuel David Sanders and Martha Johnson Pegues.
• He was a professor of languages, according to the 1880 census.
• Samuel Gillespie Sanders died on 30 September 1892 in Georgetown, Williamson County, Texas.
• His wife Mary Wade Shipp became a widow at his death.
• He was interred at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Georgetown, Williamson County, South Carolina.
• The following appeared in the October 1892 Kappa Alpha Journal:
       Prof. S. G. Sanders. The subject of this sketch, Prof. Samuel Gillespie Sanders, was born and reared in Cheraw, S. C. He belonged to one of the most excellent families of which any country would be proud. In 1867 he entered Wofford College, and two years afterward, when seventeen years of age, he became a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. He won all hearts, both of professors and students, by his amiable disposition and excellent class standing. In 1871 he took his A.M. degree, graduating with high honors. Later he took a course in Eastman's Business College, then taught awhile, and then, entering the University of Virginia, he received special instruction in Greek and Latin, under Drs. Peters and Gildersleeve. In 1875 he became a professor in Southwestern University at Georgetown, Texas. A year or so later he accepted the chair of ancient languages, and this position he filled with credit to himself and to the institution until the day of his death. He died at his home in Georgetown, Texas, September 30, 1892.
       Prof. Sanders was eminent in many lines. As a teacher he stood in the front rank of those of his profession. Prepared by special instruction for his chosen work, and ever a close student in his particular line, he proved himself a most competent instructor. Students went from Southwestern University to other institutions and came in contact with ancient language teachers of great fame, only to be more thoroughly convinced of Prof. Sanders' great ability. No man could recite under him without recognizing his thorough acquaintance with his work so that study with him as a teacher became a pleasure. As he led, the way would fairly glow with interest. Says a leading paper: "He has given his life, now prematurely cut off, as it seems from a human standpoint, to work in the university, and has contributed no little to the institution's character and reputation. In losing him we lose one of our best men and teachers."
       In the church he was equally faithful. For eleven years he was superintendent of the Methodist Sunday-school at Georgetown, and scarcely any school ever had a more acceptable and efficient leader. The strong hold he had on the hearts of the teachers and scholars was clearly seen the first Sabbath after his death. As another arose in place of the familiar form that had stood before them so unfailingly for eleven years, few out of the large school could command their voices to read the lesson. He was likewise a steward of the church, and his record as secretary of the Quarterly Conference was pronounced perfect.
       His home was what can best be expressed by that one word home. His wife is a most estimable lady, a daughter of the late well-known Rev. Albert M. Shipp, D.D. Refinement was seen in everything and everybody in the house, and love seemed to reign in every heart. The parents ever taught the children by precept and led them by example in the way of intelligence and godliness. The happy impress of the father on his children may be seen from the reply of one of them, only ten years old, given to the question, "Are all men conceived and born in sin?" "Yes, all but papa." The wife and her seven children live to mourn the loss of husband and father. An aged father shares their grief, having buried his last and only son.
       Prof. Sanders' private, personal life was most beautiful. For order, system, and punctuality in all he did he could not be surpassed. He was never in a hurry, yet never behindhand. Though quiet, he was kind, courteous, friendly, to every one. Though a trite saying, yet to know him was to respect and love him. If he ever had an impure thought he never imparted it to others. For five years the writer was intimately associated with him, yet he can not recall one thing Prof. Sanders ever said that could not be repeated in the company of ladies. Though not at all effeminate, he was a most ladylike man, so gentle and modest was he. One of his colleagues beautifully sums up his character in three adjectives, "scholarly, pure, faithful."
  [TAB:] One has said him: "As a citizen, he was ever found on the side of order, sobriety, and morality, himself the highest type of good citizenship. It was not, however, as a citizen but as a scholar, teacher, and Christian that he shone most resplendently."
       As a Kappa Alpha, he never lost his love for the Order. He ever took much interest in the boys of Xi and helped them all he could; though his conduct was never such as to cause any thing but the highest regard from all in an institution where fraternity spirit has ever been most high. He was much interested in the resurrection of Omicron one year ago, and has ever kept posted with the fraternity at large. His life was indeed a most perfect embodiment of Kappa Alpha principles. O how proud we were of him! We pointed to XXXXXX life as our model, a model none of us have ever reached. His life was ever an inspiration to us; and now that he is gone, there remains with us still the influence, the aroma, of that pure life that has revealed to us something of the possibilities of humanity.
       In conclusion, to quote from a worthier pen: "In the meridian of a useful and well spent life, in the full possession of his powers of mind and body, in the forth-first year of his life, this model citizen, teacher and Christian, has been taken from the bosom of his family, the labor of the school-room, and the service of the church, to the reward of the faithful and the good." Though his body lies moldering in the tomb, he has entered upon his immortality, he lives and will ever live, 'unhurt amid the war of elements, the wreck of matter, and the crash of worlds.'" -- S. J. Rucker.

• Last Edited: 11 Dec 2013

• Charts: Descendants of PEGUES Claudius & Marcia Saunders