Newell Sanders (July 12, 1850 - January 26, 1938) was a Chattanooga businessman who served for a relatively brief time as a United States Senator from Tennessee. Sanders was born in Owen County, Indiana. He attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, where he graduated in 1873 and operated a bookstore until 1877. That year, he moved to Chattanooga, and became involved in the manufacturing of farm implements. He served on the board of education 1881 - 1882, and as an alderman 1882 - 1886. He also served on the board of directors of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway.
When Senator Robert L. Taylor died in office, governor of Tennessee Ben W. Hooper appointed Sanders to the resultant vacancy. Sanders was sworn in on April 11, 1912 and served until January 24, 1913, when the Tennessee General Assembly elected educator William R. Webb to succeede him. During his somewhat abbreviated service, Sanders nonetheless served as chairman of the Senate Committee on National Banks. Sanders was the last Republican to serve as U.S. Senator from Tennessee until the election of Howard H. Baker, Jr. over five decades later.
After his service in the Senate, Sanders returned to his manufacturing interests until his retirement in 1927. He died at his home in Lookout Mountain, Tennessee and is buried in Chattanooga's Forest Lawn Cemetery.
This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
