The Sanders family of Schenectady, city and county, of which Charles J. Sanders, of Glenville town is representative, was for many generations seated in England. They seem to have been a family whose male members were engaged in the jewelry trade. Sons were taught the trade by their fathers and succeeded them in business. A descendant of this family, James W. Sanders, is now (1910) a leading jeweler of the city of Schenectady.
(I) Charles Sanders was born in or near London, England, in 1775, died in Schenectady, New York, aged eighty-six years. He was taught the jeweler's trade and worked at it all his active years. He married ———— White, who died in London, aged thirty-seven years, leaving four children. The family were members of the Episcopal church, and were a well educated and prosperous family. Children:
- Rebecca, born 1796; married James Wise; came to the United States and settled at Schenectady, where they were both killed July 7, 1863, at the New York Central Railroad crossing; no issue.
- Clara B., born 1798, a well known nurse and charitable worker in homes and hospitals; married William Edwards, of London; came to the United States and settled in Amsterdam, New York; both died in 1873, aged respectively seventy-nine and seventy-seven. William Edwards was a noted florist and horticulturist; no issue.
- James, born February 24, 1800, in England, died in Schenectady, New York, February 26, 1886; he was a jeweler; came to the United States about 1830; married Emma Winter and had issue.
- Charles, see forward. There were other children who died young.
(II) Charles (2), youngest son of Charles (1) and ———— (White) Sanders, was born in England, November 4, 1806, died in Glenville, New York, December 28, 1881. He learned the jeweler's trade with his father and brothers and followed that business in England. He came to the United States, settled first in Schenectady, later on a farm in Glenville, New York, where he died. He married (first) in England. Annie White, who bore him one child, Matilda, who married Tunis Vrooman, of Schenectady, and had children: Anna, Matilda, Jane, John, Tunis (2), Charles and Henry Vrooman. Tunis Vrooman married (second) a half-sister of his first wife, Elizabeth Sanders, daughter of Charles and his second wife, Rose Matthews, who bore him two children. Charles Sanders married (second) June 28, 1848, Rose Matthews, born in England, May 23, 1829, died in Glenville, New York, June 6, 1876, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Watts) Matthews, and sister of John Wesley Matthews, of Glenville. Children by second marriage:
- Keziah Elizabeth, born in Glenville, 1849; she became the second wife of Tunis Vrooman, whom she survives, a resident of Bellevue, Schenectady; children: James, William, Clarence, Grace, all are married.
- Charles John, see forward.
(III) Charles John, youngest son of Charles (2) and Rose (Matthews) Sanders, was born on the farm in Glenville, Schenectady county, New York, March 4, 1852. He was educated in the public schools, grew up on the home farm, where his subsequent life has been passed. He succeeded to the ownership of the homestead, which he has improved and has become one of the substantial farmers of the town. He has been a lifelong member of Center Methodist Church at Glenville Center, holding the important positions on the official board of steward, trustee and treasurer. He is a Republican in politics. He married Ella Swan, born May 6, 1849, daughter of William and Deborah (Wilde) Swan, both born in the Mohawk Valley, of Scotch and English parents.
William Swan was born May 12, 1811, died August 2, 1879; he was a farmer of Glenville; his wife was born May 16, 1814, died December 28, 1886; he was a member of the Methodist church, and she of the Baptist church. Ella (Swan) Sanders is a prominent member of the Scotia Baptist church, Saratoga Association, and president of the Missionary Union. Charles John and Ella Sanders have no issue. They adopted, November 26, 1889, Rosella Matthews, born April 24, 1872, daughter of John Wesley and Sophia (Ford) Matthews. She is a well known local musician, church and Sunday school worker. She married, December 27, 1893, Richard Cornell, son of George Cornell.