Dr. Sanford Martin Withers was born in Clearwater, Wayne county, Missouri, November 25, 1891, and is a son of George A. and Avis M. (Martin) Withers, the latter a daughter of the Rev. Samuel Sanford Martin, a pioneer Baptist minister of Illinois. He was a native of Connecticut and married Miss Elmira Palmer, whose birth occurred in Illinois. The grandparents of Dr. Withers in the paternal line were William Price and Mary Elizabeth (Coles) Withers, natives of Kentucky and of Illinois, respectively. George A. Withers, the father, was born at Funks Grove, Illinois, February 13, 1847, and the greater part of his life was devoted to the lumber trade. In 1880 he removed to Clearwater, Missouri, after organizing the Wayne Lumber Company at that place.
Dr. Withers is indebted to thorough training in the Washington university School of Medicine for the qualifications which enabled him to take up the work of the profession. He won his degree in 1919, but before entering upon preparation for medical practice he had served as assistant city chemist of Kansas City, Missouri, in 1910 and 1911. In June, 1920, he took up the practice of dermatology and is giving his attention to this branch.
Dr. Withers is a veteran of the World war, having served with Base Hospital unit, No. 21, from May 11, 1917, until invalided to the united States in May, 1918. He was discharged from the army on the 19th of March, 1919, and has since given his attention to his professional duties. He belongs to the Chi Zeta Chi, a medical fraternity, and he also has membership in the university Club of St. Louis.