GRAD: 28 Jun 1876 Milton, Rock Co., Wisconsin
Census: 1880 Hallock, Peoria Co., Illinois

Florence Virginia (Bond) Saunders 1854-1922
"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 92, No 21, p 671, May 22, 1922.
Flora Bond was born at Johnstown Center, Rock County, Wis., September 12, 1854, and died at the home of her daughter, in Beaver Falls, Pa., April 12, 1922.
Her parents were Daniel M. Bond and Mary Swisher, descendants of families of old West Virginia stock. She had a brother Frank and a sister Lilian both of whom are deceased.
Mrs. Saunders in her girlhood received her schooling in the public schools of Rock County and at Milton College from which she graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science, in the class of 1876.
January 30, 1878, she was united in marriage to Edward Bates Saunders. For two years or more they resided in Janesville while Mr. Saunders was studying law. Mr. Saunders' health failed and they went to West Hallock, Ill., to reside on a farm. Later on they returned to Milton where Mr. Saunders was connected with the banking business for some years. While living at Milton Mr. Saunders took the keenest interest in the student evangelistic work and especially in the maintenance of regular religious services at the old Rock River church. He gave up active connection with the banking business that he might engage in evangelistic work in which he was remarkably successful. His first and only regular pastorate was at Shiloh, N. J. From this field he was called, on death of Rev. O. U. Whitford, to the position of corresponding secretary of the Missionary Society. In all these religious and denominational activities Mrs. Saunders was an efficient and tireless worker along with her husband. They removed to Ashaway, R. I., which remained their home until their death.
Data is lacking as to Mrs. Saunders' early religious experiences and connections. But her beautiful Christian life and character and her full-hearted devotion to religious and spiritual interests testify to the genuiness and depth of her Christian faith and love for her Master and his cause. At the time of her death she was a member of the Missionary Society.
To Mr. and Mrs. Saunders were born two children, Howard B., of Boston, Mass., and Mildred, Mrs. Philip Coon, of Beaver Falls, Pa. These together with Mrs. Irma Blinn, of Glassboro, N. J., who was reared in the home and was practically one of the children, remain to cherish the memory of a devoted mother.
Memorial services were held on Monday afternoon, April 17, in the Seventh Day Baptist church at Milton. Rev. D. Burdett Coon, a close friend and a former pastor of Mrs. Saunders, paid a beautiful tribute to her life and work. Pastor E. D. Van Horn and Pastor Jordan also had part in the service. Interment was in the cemetery at Milton. H. N. J.

Census: 1880 Hallock, Peoria Co., Illinois

Pastor of the Rock River (Wisconsin) and Shiloh (New Jersey) churches; President of the Young People's Permanent Committee of the Seventh Day Baptist General Conference; engaged extensively in evangelistic work; Trustee of Milton College; Director of the American Sabbath Tract Society; Corresponding Secretary of the Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society.

"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 81, No 8, p 227, Aug. 21, 1916.
Sudden death of Rev. E. B. Saunders
At 10:45 a. m., last Thursday morning, we were greatly shocked to receive a telegram from Mrs. Saunders, then at Washington, D. C., telling of the sudden death of her husband, Rev. E. B. Saunders, from acute indigestion. We know nothing further of the particulars as to his last hours on earth. On the Tuesday before, Secretary Saunders was in Plainfield [NJ] on his way to conference with his wife and daughter, making the trip to Salem, W. Va., in their automobile. It was their purpose to stop in Washington. They left here [Plainfield] Tuesday and this sad telegram was the next word that reached us. It states that burial will be at Milton, Wis.
All hearts will go out in sympathy for the wife, son and daughter so suddenly bereaved. The General Conference that convenes next Tuesday will deeply mourn the denomination's loss, and its sessions will be so saddened as it sits under the shadow of so great a sorrow.

"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol. 83, No. 11, p 325, 10 Sep 1917.
Seventy-Fifth Annual Report of the Board of Managers
Death of Secretary E. B. Saunders
The sudden and tragic death of our much beloved and faithful secretary while on his way to attend the General Conference at Salem in August of last year cast a shadow of sorrow upon us as a people. Accounts of memorial services, letters of appreciation, resolutions of love and respect, actions of various denominational organizations, were published in teh Sabbath Recorder of September, October and November, 1916, and may be found by referring to Vol 81, pages 227, 272, 312, 354, 377, 385, 392, 395, 396, 437, 556 and elsewhere. The board put on its records the following among other statements: "The Rev. Edward B. Saunders, eleven years the corresponding secretary for the Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society, died suddenly in Washiington, D. C., on the 16th day od August, 1916. The aim and effort of his life were for the salvation of lost ones. A sincere lover of men, he worked to save them. As corresponding secretary, Brother Saunders gave his best. The Board of Managers would record its appreciation of his strong interest and faithfulness as the representative of our missionary work, and his unwavering loyalty as a servant of Christ.

of Milton, Wisconin in 1894.

"The Milton Journal-Telephone", Milton Junction, Wisconsin, Thursday, Aug. 24, 1916, p 1.
The funeral services of Rev. E. B. Saunders were held in the Milton S. D. B. church Sabbath afternoon, Aug. 19. Although the day was excessively hot, the church was crowded, prople being present from Janesville, Albion, Rock River and other places, as well as from the town villages. The College Male Quartet sang "Beautiful Land", "The Glory Song", "The Riches of Love in Christ Jesus." Pastor H. N. Jordon read the scripture lesson. Rev. Geo. W. Burdick led in prayer. Pastor L. C. Randolph preached the funeral sermon, Pastor Jordan spoke of Brother Saunders as leader of Christial Endeavor, and Rev. W. D. Burdick spoke in behalf of the Missionary Society. Pastor C. S. Sayre of Albion led in the closing prayer. Pastor C. B. Loofbourrow of Walworth participated in the services at the cemetery.
Among those present from away were: Mrs. Saunders and daughter Miss Mildred of Ashaway, R. I., Howard Saunders and wife of Nortonville, Kas.; Miss Arletta Reynolds, Westerly, R. I.; Mrs. and Mrs. Ira Blinn, Wildwood, N. J.; Mr. and Mrs. Mark Place, Chicago; Pastor C. B. Loofbourrow, W. R. and James Bonham, W. L. Hibbard, M. B. Maxson, H. I. Coon and W. H. Crandall and family, Walworth; Rev. C. S. Sayre and family, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Stewart, Walter Cockerill, Miss Ruth Stillman, Albion; Mrs. May Cunningham and son Roger, Janesville.

Edward Bates Saunders was born in Berlin, N. Y., June 7, 1851, the fourth child of Truman and Phebe Wilcox Saunders. When he was three years old the family moved to West Hallock, Ill. He was ambitious for an education, but he was thwarted by trouble with his eyes. He attended school at Milton, Alfred and Normal schools at Peoria and Bloomington, but again and again he was compelled to stop. He studied law three years in Janesville and was admitted to the bar in 1875. When he left Janesville with a year's practice, it was not because he did not still believe he could be true to his religious principles in that profession, but because he felt he was needed by his father on the home place. After five years at West Hallack he moved his home to Milton and entered the bank.
He was interested in the little struggling churches. For years he held services at Rock River, acting as a kind of lay pastor. The spare hours of a busy life were spent with his Bible preparing for the Sabbath meetings.