Thomas H. Sanders was born in Perry County, Mo., on February 1, 1834. His parents were Thomas and Louisa (Coteaux) Sanders.

His father was a native of Germany, and his maternal grandfather, Francis Coteaux, was a native of Canada and came to Upper Louisiana when it was yet occupied by Indians among whom he traded.

Thomas H. Sanders at the age of eighteen years went to California, and spent nine years of his live in the gold mines of that State. In 1861 he returned again to the home of his childhood.

On April 28, 1863, he was married to Letitia A. Burgee, and located permanently on the farm, where his family now reside. He died February 2, 1874.

He was father of five children, all of whom are now living: Norah (wife of James E. Moore), Edgar J., Henry B., Ida M., and Thomas B. Sanders. Mrs. Sanders was formerly a teacher, as was also her daughter Norah.

The Goodspeed Publishing Company compiled a series of histories of various counties in the U.S. in the late 19th century. The information in the History of Southeast Missouri, published in 1888, was provided by the contemporary residents of Perry County and her neighboring counties. The biographies are a valuable source of genealogical information, despite a few minor inaccuracies. We are glad to present the transcribed biographies here for anyone researching Perry County's history.