Henry Sanders (1840-1918) & Magdalene Leahy (1843-1919)
From Orphan to Craftsman: Carving Out a Heritage of Faith and Family
Henry Sanders was born on September 17, 1840, possibly in Washington, D.C., or Maryland. His death record lists DC as his birthplace. He spoke both English and German.
Born Henry Miller, he was adopted and took the surname Sanders; though his birth parents remain unknown, years later his sisters tracked down his Miller lineage, but unfortunately that information was lost when their family connection fractured due to religious differences.
A son, Jacob Theodore, was born either to Henry or to Magdalene in 1861 and he lived with the family in later years. But more about his origins are unknown.
On June 7, 1863, Henry married Magdalene Leahy in Carroll County, Maryland, while the Civil War raged around them. The family lore goes that during the Battle of Gettysburg, cannonballs rattled their windows—but when Henry attempted to enlist, recruiters refused him as too frail. In reality, the lanky man simply never walked when he could run.
Over the following years, Henry and Magdalene built their family thoughtfully. They lived first in Maryland, welcoming children Edward Henry (1864), Joseph Emery (1867), Catherine Elnora (1869), Daniel Webster (1871), John Wesley (1873), Lydia Ann Melinda (1877), and Mary Alice (1879).
The 1870 census records them in Carroll County with their four oldest children and Magdalene’s mother, and by 1880, they had moved to Liberty Township, Indiana, with eight children and Henry working as a stone mason.
Between 1881 and 1882, the family moved north to Mason County, Michigan. Their eldest son Theodore had ventured west but died young, perhaps influencing the decision to settle near Custer. Traveling by horse and cart—Ed at the reins—they found a home southwest of Custer on Kintner Road, ready to homestead.
Discipline, routine, and faith formed the rhythm of their daily life. Henry and Magdalene rose at 4 a.m., winter and summer alike, to handle daily chores. After breakfast and a Bible reading, the weekly paper was the morning treat—and Henry, widely regarded as an exceptional reader, would bring it to life as he read aloud, a talent inherited by his son Ed.
Henry and his sons became highly regarded masons in the community—so skilled that even two of his sons couldn’t keep pace with him. Together, they helped build schools across the county—Scottville, Riverside, Fern, Locke, Bennett—as well as the Ludington Water Works. They owned the molds for their blocks, and anyone could recognize their unique brick pattern if they looked closely.
Religious faith anchored the family. Though Henry was Catholic by birth, he adopted the faith of his adoptive family and became a staunch member of the local Dunkard Church, later joining the Free Methodist Church south of Custer. The family initially spoke German at home—especially since Magdalene’s mother spoke no English—but switched to English for the children. Their language didn’t change their German cultural values, deeply woven into their household.
Henry’s fiery red hair matched his temper, and his word and the Bible were regarded as law. He led their life of unwavering work and modest living. Their home’s moral framework shaped their children’s futures—three of their sons became Free Methodist preachers at Spring Arbor College. Others took up the trades: Ed became a mason and blacksmith; Joe and John followed practical trades; Lydia married several times; Mary, the preacher’s wife; and Elnora married a lumberman. Their half-brother Theodore—a mason—died young in Indian Territory and was buried in Harper, Kansas.
Later in life, Henry and Magdalene retired from their farm and moved to Scottville. As Henry’s health declined, they moved in with their daughter Elnora in Ludington. Henry passed away on February 19, 1918, at her home, his age showing the weight of decades of hard living. He was laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery, Custer.
Magdalena spent her final year with her son Ed back in Custer. She died of pneumonia (or possibly angina pectoris) on February 24, 1919, around 9:00 p.m. She was widely known as “Grandma Sanders,” beloved by many for her caring presence, and was buried beside Henry in the same cemetery.
Henry and Magdalene’s story is one of profound endurance, steadfast faith, and uncompromising dedication. From an adopted boy with unknown roots to a respected patriarch whose children turned bricks into schools, their life journey left a legacy etched in both mortar and memory.
Detailed Timeline
Henry Sanders
Born: 17 SEP 1840 Washington DC or Maryland
Note: According to Death Record, was born Nov 17, 1840 in Washington DC.
Detail: Spoke English and German.
Name at Birth: Henry Miller – Henry was adopted
1850 Census: 1st possible as Henry Miller in Baltimore, Maryland
2nd possible as Henry Sanders in Baltimore, Maryland
3rd possible as Henry Sanders in Baltimore Maryland. There weren’t any other Henry Sanders or Millers in MD or DC who were white, of the right age, and born in either MD or DC.
1860 Census: The only Henry Sanders in MD or DC who was white, of the right age, and born in either MD or DC.
Birth of Son: 1861
Name: Jacob Theodore Sanders
Place: Maryland
Note: Not sure if he is Henry’s son or Magdalene’s son. He appears with them in the 1870 and 1880 censuses and is described as a son.
Marriage: 07 JUN 1863 Carroll Co, Maryland
Birth of Son: 10 APR 1864
Name: Edward Henry Sanders
Place: Westminster, Carroll Co, Maryland
Birth of Son: 16 JAN 1867
Name: Joseph Emery Sanders
Birth of Daughter: 06 FEB 1869
Name: Catherine Elnora Sanders
Place: Westminster, Carroll Co, Maryland
1870 Census: 13 AUG 1870
Place: Manchester District, Carroll Co, Maryland
Note: Wife, Magdalene, four children, and mother-in-law are living in household.
Birth of Son: 31 JUL 1871
Name: Daniel Webster Sanders
Place: Indiana
Birth of Son: 31 JAN 1873
Name: John Wesley Sanders
Birth of Daughter: 1877
Name: Lydia Ann Melinda Sanders
Birth of Daughter: 20 JUL 1879
Name: Mary Alice Sanders
1880 Census: 11 JUN 1880
Place: Liberty Twp, Henry Co, Indiana, USA
Note: Wife Magdalene and eight children are living in his household. Was a stone mason.
Birth of Son: 21 DEC 1881
Name: Charles Austin Sanders
Family Picture:
Religion: 1883
Place: Mason Co, Michigan
Details: Charter members of the Sugar Ridge Church of the Brethren.
Birth of Son: 27 AUG 1884
Name: Alvin Arthur Sanders
Place: Custer, Mason Co, Michigan
Letter to Brother-in-Law, Moses: 29 JUN 1886
1900 Census: Mason Co, Michigan
Note: Wife Magdalene and two sons are living in his household. Both of Henry’s parents are listed as being from Germany
1907 City Directory: Scottville, Mason Co, Michigan
1910 Census: 15 APR 1910
Place: Scottville, Mason Co, Michigan, USA
Note: Wife Magdalene is living in his household.
Religion: BEF 1918
Place: Free Methodist Church, Scottville, Mason Co, Michigan
Map of Various Sanders Sites of Interest
Picture of Henry and Magdalene
Died: 10 FEB 1918 at the home of his daughter, Catherine Shue, Ludington, Mason Co, Michigan.
Note: Died of Old Age.
Obituary: 11 FEB 1918
parents are unknown
Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Custer, Mason Co, Michigan
Note: The earliest information we have about the genealogy of this family is that Henry (Miller) Sanders is probably the son of a Mr. and Mrs. Miller recorded as emigrating to this country from Germany to Washington D.C. in about 1837. According to a nephew of Magdeline (Henry’s wife), Dan Wantz of near New Castle, Indiana, the Miller parents came from Ireland. Henry’s red hair makes this story more believable. The general concensus among the family, however, is that the ancestory is German. There is no question that Magdeline Leheigh was German. Apparently Mr. Miller died when Henry was quite young. It is unknown whether Mrs. Miller remarried a Sanders and the children changed their last name but were forced into an orphanage after her death at the request of their step-father or whether both parents died, leaving a young family to be placed in an orphanage. If so, the young Henry was adopted out (officially or unofficially) by a Sanders family and took that name. At any rate, it was unknown to Henry who he was for sure until his sisters found him some years later and informed him of his Miller ancestory. When they, as good Catholics found him to have been brought up Protestant, they severed all ties with him once more.
Magdaline Leheigh was the daughter of John and Catherine Leheigh. Henry and Magdeline married in 1862 in Westminster County, Maryland during the early part of the Civil War and lived in Hagerstown, Maryland. The story is told that during the Battle of Gettysburg, the noise of the Cannon Balls rattled the windows. Asked why he didn’t fight in the Civil War, Henry would tell that he was so skinny that when he went to enlist, they were so sure that he was sickly that they refused to take him. Those who remember him know that that was far from the truth. He kept that ‘rack of bones’ look because he was always on the run, never walking anywhere if he could run it instead. After the cannon balls quit jarring the household, Henry moved his young family to Indiana (near Fort Wayne) where he remained until 1880, when they decided to move west. The eldest son, Theodore, went west first and died of typhoid fever. This probably convinced the family to move north instead. When they came north, Ed, then a young man of 16 drove them in a horse and cart, most likely a Studebaker. Henry, Magdeline and seven children settled just southwest of Custer on Kintner Road to homestead the land.
Henry and Magdeline got their family up at 4:00am every morning, summer and winter. After breakfast, they read the Bible and then cut wood and did the chores. When the weekly paper came, no one touched it until the chores were done. Henry would then sit down and read the paper to his family. People said he was the best reader around. Son Ed took after his father in this talent.
Two more children were born to Henry and Magdaline in Mason County. The whole consisted of: Edward Henry (1864-1927) married Emma Kriegh (1871-1944); Joseph Emery (1867-1963) married Sarah Paxton (1897-1920); Catherine Elnora (1869-1940) married Amos Shue (1855-1920); Daniel Webster (1871-1952) married Almeda Kriegh (1876-1956); John Wesley (1873-1919) married Saloma Baylor (1879-1967); Lydia Ann Melinda (1877-1955) married four times, last Edward Lockard; Mary Alice (1879-1959) married Edward Deake (1875-1951); Charles Austin (1881-1963) married Myrthle Vorsee (1895-1971); and Alvin Arthur (1884-1961 married Jessie Pearl Udey (1883-1962).
Henry and his sons supported the family by working as brick masons (and any other odd jobs they could find). When it came to laying bricks, even two of his own sons couldn’t keep up with this wiry man. He would get his half of the wall built before they could get the other half done. Henry and/or his sons built Scottville School, Riverside School, Fern School, Locke School, Bennett School, and the old Ludington Water Works building. Since the family owned the molds and made their own blocks, you can tell what the family built if you can recognize the pattern. It was the only pattern like it in the county.
Henry was Catholic by birth, but took the religion of his adopted parents. He and Magdaline were staunch members of the local Dunkard Chruch and then of the Free Methodist Church, both located south of Custer. Although they both spoke German when the children were young, because Magdaline’s mother lived with them and spoke no English, they switched to English when they realized the children were also speaking it. This did not change the German attitude of their household. Henry had a hot temper to match his red hair and his word and the Bible were law. Henry loved to work and their life was one of hard work with few frills permitted by their religious beliefs. Three of Henry’s sons took seriously the religious training of home and went off to make Free Methodist preachers at Spring Arbor College. Joe and Charlie made it but Ed got kicked out for attending a political rally. so he came home and worked as a mason and a blacksmith (a trade he learned working at a carriage factory in Ft. Wayne). John became a well digger, Dan was a farmer and a mason and Alvin worked at the Watch Case. Mary married a preacher, Lydia married often, and Elnora married a lumberman. Little is known of the half-brother Theodore. Whatever the relationship, he went out west to Indian Territory and died at the age of 21 after having contracted typhoid fever. He is buried at Harper, Kansas and was a mason by trade.
Henry and Magdaline moved from the farm in Custer to Scottville when he retired. When Henry became unable to care for himself, he and Magdaline went to live with his daughter Elnora, in Ludington. He died there on February 19, 1918. His wife then returned to south Custer to live her remaining year with her son Edward. She died February 24, 1919. Magdeline’s mother, Catherine, died in 1879 and is buried at Locust Grove Cemetery, Henry County, Indiana. Her father was a school teacher.
Magdalene Leahy
Birth: 01 MAR 1843 Maryland
Note: Detail: Spoke English and German. Her mom, Catherine, only spoke German.
1850 Census: 6th District, Baltimore Co, Maryland
Note: Living with parents, John and Catherine Leahy.
1860 Census: 02 JUL 1860
Place: Heidelberg Twp, York Co, Pennsylvania
Note: Living with the Jacob Renall family. Was unable to find her parents this year, either in Pennsylvania or Maryland.
Death: 24 FEB 1919 At the home of her son, Ed, Custer, Mason County, Michigan
Note: at about 9:00pm. She died of pnemonia or angnius pectora.
Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Custer, Mason, Michigan
Obituary: AFT 24 FEB 1919
Note: MAGDALENE (LEAHY) SANDERS
Mrs. Henry Sanders better known as Grandma Sanders passed away at the home of her son Ed, about nine o-clock Monday evening, Feb 24 with whom she had made her home since the death of Mr. Sanders about two years ago. The cause of her death was pneumonia. If she had lived till March 1 she would have been seventy-six years old. She leaves to mourn her loss six boys, three girls, many grandchildren and a host of friends. The family have the sympathy of the neighborhood in their bereavement.
Click here to see parents: John Leahy and Catherine Hoff
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