When I first starting researching this Sanders family I got in touch with a researcher, Mrs. Martha W. McMunn of Villa Ridge, IL. Following are two letters that I received from her and the information in them began to jell after receiving information from Debra Matton, (granddaughter of Zephel Harris Sanders) and Roxanne Bayle, (maternal granddaughter of Babe Juanita Dyer, whose parents are McFarling Finley Dyer and Phena Norris - Griswold). All three of us, Debra Roxanne and I connect thru the family of William Riley Dyer and Nancy Kisire Swangrham.

    My connection to this family is twofold. First, my foster brother Merritt S. Sanders is the maternal grandson of William Riley Dyer. Second, my mom's sister Marie Nellie Brown married Garvey Dyer and he is the paternal grandson of William Riley Dyer.

    Dear Mr. Dale

    I have been able to do a preliminary search on the SANDERS request. First I searched in the Alexander County Cemetery book for SANDERS in the Old Thebes Cemetery, (or anywhere). Nothing found. Upon looking into the vital records in Alexander County, I was only able to locate one birth record.

Zephel Harris Sanders Birth Certificate

    This was of Zephel Edna SANDERS, born 21 March 1903, Thebes, Alexander County, Illinois. As you will see on the enclosed copy of the Delayed Record of Birth (recorded in 1953). Merritt Smith Sanders, born Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois and Mary Dyer, born Dyersburg, TN were the parents of Zephel.

    Editors Note: I am assuming that the birth place of Mary D. Dyer and Merritt Smith Sanders as stated above is in error because I have been unable to locate either of them being in Dyer Co., TN or Jefferson Co., IL. More than likely they were both born in East TN and were married in or around Thebes, IL prior to 21 March 1903, as of yet I have not been able to find any marriage records. Further evidence of this is Floyd Bennett's "How the Dyer's came to IL." 

    Not long ago I did research on this Dyer family, and at that time the only thing I knew about Mary was her marriage to a last name SANDERS. At last resort I contacted Zelma and Bill Caldwell, Thebes, IL. Mr. Caldwell's mother Ida was a sister to Mary Dyer. I didn't get a lot from them, but at 84 he does seem knowledgeable. The clues he gave me seemed to pretty much jell with your information. The clues were:

    1) Mary and Merritt Sanders lived in AR.

    2) No accident, both died natural causes.

    3) Mary died when her baby was 3 weeks old of pneumonia.

    4) When prompted about who raised the baby Merritt, Jr. --- that took a bit of thinking, when I suggested John Brown and Florence, Mr. Caldwell said no --- it was Marie Dyer's brother who took the baby to raise. This baby had a nickname of "Rastus", lived in Washington State, joined the service at age 16, was overseas and coming home on a hospital ship, the ship was hit and all killed including Merritt.

   Sincerely,

    Signed/typed/Martha W. McMunn

Martha McMunn Letter number 2

Letter dated 1 May 1989

    Mr. Dale

    First I want to give you an address of a DYER connection --- William R. Dyer, (Address available on request). He is a son of Lloyd DYER, and Lloyd a son of Samuel and Samuel a son of William R. and Nancy K. DYER. 

    Last year I did some research locally for Mr. Dyer, on his father's line. When you told me that Marie Nellie Brown married a DYER. I saw some connection to your search. Remember the Caldwell's mentioned that "Marie Dyer's brother took the Sanders baby to raise."

    Editors Note: (Garvey Dyer died Jan 1974, Marie Nellie Brown, wife of Garvey Dyer died in 1989. I inquired of Mary Brackett, Granite City, IL., a daughter of Garvie and Marie Dyer of this occurring and she said that she has no memory of this happening).

    Until I have a chance to see the Caldwell's on some of your questions about the Brown's --- I will give you some information from this DYER file I have derived from the research I did for the above mentioned William R. Dyer.

    1) William Riley DYER born 13 Oct 1849, Cookeville (?), Putnam Co., TN, died 24 Dec 1932 Thebes, Alexander Co., IL. Wife Nancy K. SWANGRHAM (possible) DYER was born 12 Nov 1852 TN; died 8 Dec 1929 of creeping paralysis and old age. Buried Old Thebes Cemetery.

William R./Nancy K. Dyer Death Certificates

    I believe parents of William Riley DYER were shown on the 1850 census in Jackson Co., TN --- Edward DYER age 25, Mary age 22 his wife, both born in TN, with children Jefferson age 2 and William age 8/12.

    Editors Note: Debra, Roxanne and I have his parents as Edmond S. Dyer born 11 Sep 1824, died 25 Mar 1893. Married Mary Elizabeth Buck ABT 1847. Mary born 2 Feb 1827, died 21 Oct 1866. He later married ABT 1868 Martha Benny.

    Their children were, not in correct birth order:

    1) Wade, born 23 Nov 1880, died 7 Mar 1969 Alexander Co., IL. 

    2) Ida married William Lee Caldwell --- two sons living in 1968. (Floyd Bennett connection)

    3) McFarling (McFarling Finley) married Phena Griswold. (Roxanne Bayle connection)

    4) Mary (married Sanders) --- now I know from Paul Dale research, it was Merritt Smith Sanders. (Debra Matton connection)

    5) Martha married Allie McAllen, died 1979 in OK I think.

    6) Noretta (Nordie) married a Holshouser, lived Madison, IL in 1948.

    7) Samuel Edmond born 24 Dec 1876, died 12 Jan 1948 Madison Co., IL married Mary FORD

        Children: Garvey Dyer born 1902, died ABT 1965 Granite City, IL married Marie Nellie Brown. (Marie being my moms sister)

        Hawk Dyer born 14 Jan 1904, died 18 Dec 1919 drowned while skating on pond. See obit of  O. G. Ford  on the Maternal Cemetery page of the Dale/Brown Family Genealogy Album.

        Lloyd Dyer (1906) in Greenville, MS. Died at age 64 on 16 May 1970, two sons; Lloyd Jr., died in military accident in 1952 and (William R. Dyer connection)

        Ford Dyer lived in Paducah, KY in 1948.

        William Dyer lived in St. Louis in 1948.

    William Riley Dyer obituary listed three surviving sisters of Samuel Dyer; Ida Caldwell of Thebes, Mattie McAllen of Helvna, OK, Nordie Holshouser of Madison, IL. Two brothers; McFarling Dyer of Dupo, IL and Wade of Thebes, IL.

    Signed/typed/Martha W. McMunn 

ŠPaul and Phyllis Dale 1997-2009
Date this page was last edited 02/03/2012