Biography - Jared Y. Sanders

Sanders, Jared Y., the present governor of Louisiana, was born near Morgan City, St. Mary Parish, La., Jan. 29, 1869, a son of Jared Y. and Bessie (Wofford) Sanders. His father, who was a Confederate veteran, died in 1881, and the following year floods seriously damaged the plantation on which the family resided. These misfortunes made it necessary for the future governor to aid in the support of his widowed mother and her eight children, and he began his business career as a clerk in a country store. Some years later he entered the office of the St. Mary Banner, a weekly paper published at Franklin, where he learned to set type. In 1890, after he had become editor of the Banner, he took up the study of law, to which he gave every spare moment of his time until in 1893, when he entered the law department of Tulane university. He graduated in law in May, 1894, and the same month was admitted to the bar. A few weeks later he became a member of the firm of Sigur & Sanders of Franklin. In 1896 the firm became Sigur, Milling & Sanders and continued under this name until Jan. 1, 1900, when Mr. Sigur retired. On July 1, 1900, Murphy J. Foster, upon retiring from the governor's office, became a member of the firm, which then took the name of Foster, Milling & Sanders, and the following February Emile Godchaux was taken into partnership. In Jan., 1907, Mr. Sanders withdrew from the firm and began the practice of law by himself. Mr. Sanders' political career began in 1892, when he was elected to the general assembly from the parish of St. Mary, and continued to serve in that body for twelve years. In 1900 he was chosen speaker of the house, receiving every vote, making it one of the most unusual elections that ever occurred in the Louisiana legislature. He continued as speaker until in 1904, when he was elected lieutenant-governor on the ticket with Newton C. Blanchard, and in 1908, at the close of his term, was elected governor.

Extracted 2020 Jun 24 by Norma Hass from Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, edited by Alcee Fortier, published in 1909, volume 2, page 426.

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