Biography - S. P. SANNER

Agricultural and financial interests of Macoupin county have both felt the stimulus of the excellent business ability of S. P. Sanner, who was born in Madison county, Illinois, about eight miles south of Bunker Hill, on the 25th of February, 1836. His parents, Samuel and Barbara (Paul) Sanner, natives of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, respectively, were married in the Keystone state and came to Illinois in 1833, locating in Madison county. The father engaged in the saddle and harness business for a few years in that county, and then removed to Shelby county, Illinois, where his death occurred at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife passed away on the 8th of January, 1896. In the family were the following children: Sarah and Elizabeth, both deceased; Jacob, a resident of Shelby county, Illinois; William, deceased; S. P., of this review; Lovejoy, deceased; Edward and David, both residents of Shelby county; Matilda, of Decatur, Illinois; Shields, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Frances, deceased; and John, of New Mexico.

In the common schools of Madison county, S. P. Sanner pursued his education and remained at home until 1862, when he began his independent career as a farmer, taking up his abode upon the farm which is yet his home. He has since been actively identified with agricultural pursuits and as the years have passed prosperity has attended him in substantial and gratifying degree, clearly indicating the business ability displayed in the conduct of his affairs. His home farm, which he has greatly improved, is one of the valuable properties of this locality and is the visible evidence of a life of industry, perseverance and thrift. At one time he was the owner of one thousand acres of land, but some of this he has given to his children. Turning his attention to the financial field, he was one of the organizers and the first vice president of the Bank of Shipman, of which he is now president, and thus he is well known in the banking circles of Macoupin county as well as along agricultural lines.

On April 8, 1860, Mr. Sanner was married to Miss Margaret Nancy Calvin, who was born in Madison county, Illinois, November 13, 1837, a daughter of Philip and Jane (Clarke) Calvin, who came from Pennsylvania to Illinois in 1834, locating near Hennepin. In 1836 they took up their abode near Edwardsville, where the father passed away in 1867. He was a cooper by trade. His wife’s death occurred in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Sanner have become the parents of nine children, as follows: Jesse Francis, who was born December 6, 1860, and is now engaged in farming in Brighton township; Anna Belle, born March 31, 1863, who married Rev. James G. Miller, of West Chester, Ohio; Lucy, deceased; Sophie May, who was born May 10, 1868, and now resides in Bunker Hill; Samuel Clarke, also deceased; Nellie, born August 22, 1871, yet at home; Harry, born May 9, 1873, at home; Otto, born January 30, 1878, a farmer of Bunker Hill township; and Julia Frances, born September 14, 1882, the wife of Rev. Floyd Barr, assistant pastor of the Third Presbyterian church of Chicago.

The life of Mr. Sanner has been one of continuous activity and the prominent position which he today occupies in the business circles of Macoupin county is well merited, for his record has ever been characterized by steady progress resulting from the wise and intelligent utilization of every opportunity that has come to him. In all of his work he has been prompted by a laudable ambition, yet his methods have at all times been honorable and upright and have gained for him the respect and confidence of all with whom he has come in contact.

Extracted 18 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 617-618.