Julius Saunders
Arizona Republican Newspaper
November 28, 1890

Prescott--Julius Saunders, who is probably the oldest man 
in Arizona walked into town yesterday from his residence 
which is about two miles out of town as spry as many a 
man not over half his years.

Mr. Saunders was fifteen years old when the war of 1812 
broke out and but for the vigorous opposition of his 
mother would have fought with Jackson at New Orleans.  
He says he obtained his father's consent to join the 
federal forces but his mother interposed such viperous 
objections that he refrained from enlisting.  Mr. 
Saunders was born in North Carolina.  He came to Arizona 
to grow up with the country when he was 70 years old--
twenty three years ago, he now being over 93 years old, 
having celebrated his ninety third birthday November 1.

He spent all his life in the advance guard of civilization 
on the American frontier, and as a consequence never saw 
a railroad or a locomotive until the completion of the 
Prescott and Arizona Central, nearly four years ago, 
when on January 1, 1887 he attended the celebration 
held in Prescott over its completion.  Coming to 
Arizona as he did among the earliest of its pioneers 
even at his then advanced age, he has assisted largely 
in the development of its resources, and has taken an 
active and courageous part in subduing the bloodthirsty 
Apaches.

His wife who is only eight years his junior, being 85 years 
old, still lives and is hale and hearty.  The couple 
occupy a modest home, as stated within a short distance 
of Prescott being surrounded with all the necessities 
and comforts of life in their old age and should no 
unforeseen mishap befall them they are both good to 
pass the century period of their existence.  Their 
children also all reside in this county.  Mr. Saunders' 
grandfather was born in the latter part of the 
seventeenth century.