My Genealogy Hound

J. C. Saunders is one of the oldest and most successful of the merchants of Arkadelphia, Ark., and ever since his residence in Clark County he has been deeply interested in her welfare. He was born in Alabama, in the month of August, 1839, and is a son of John D. and Cordelia (Heard) Saunders, the former a Virginian and the latter a native of Georgia. In March, 1840, the family emigrated to Arkansas and came to Arkadelphia on the first steam-boat that ever landed here, called the "Dinn," a very small boat. The negroes that they owned all came through on horseback. The town of Arkadelphia then consisted of about three houses, and John D. Saunders taught the first school ever taught in the place. He was a finely educated gentleman, and while a resident of Alabama followed the occupation of merchandising. During the Indian War of 1838, he was captain of a company, at which time all the women and children were put in the court house and guarded for several days. He passed to his long home in 1842, and his widow in 1888, in her seventy-fourth-year. She was the mother of five children, three of whom are living. J. C. Saunders was only six months old when he was brought to Arkansas, and here he has spent the greater portion of his days, and after acquiring a fair education in the common schools of Clark County, he entered Bethel College, Ky., but only attended one year, owing to the opening of the Rebellion. Mr. Saunders enlisted in Capt. Stark's Company (B), First Arkansas Infantry, the first company that left Clark County, and he surrendered at the close of the war as adjutant of the Seventh Arkansas Cavalry. He was in the first battle at Manasses, but upon his return home at the close of the war, he opened a mercantile establishment, and has been a very successful businessman of the place ever since, a period of about twenty-five years. The firm is now J. C. Saunders & Son, and they are doing, as they have ever done, a thriving trade. In 1863 Mr. Saunders was united in marriage to Miss Theodocia M. Anderson, a native of Alabama, by whom he has four living children: John B. (associated in business with his father), Charley, Mary and Frank. Mr. Saunders wedded his present wife, who was formerly Miss Bessie Earl, in February, 1882, she being a native of South Carolina. They are members of the Baptist Church, in which he has been a deacon for the past fifteen years, and he belongs to the K. of P. He has been a member of the town council for eight years, a member of the school board for ten years, and is always found ready and willing-to advance the interests of his county.