Yolo-Solano County CA Archives Biographies.....Saunders, Harry Russell 1864 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com December 7, 2005, 11:19 pm Author: Tom Gregory HARRY RUSSELL SAUNDERS It is with pride that Harry Russell Saunders claims California as his native commonwealth and proudly asserts that Yolo county, where he lived most of the time since childhood and where now he is an influential citizen and popular official, yields precedence to no other part of the great west in its agricultural possibilities and exceptional resources. Himself in the prime of manly strength (born September 8, 1864,) he is a native of the neighboring county of Solano, having been born near old Tremont, and his first recollections cluster around scenes and sights there and in Yolo county. As he contrasts the activities and improvements of the present day with the conditions of the past, he recognizes that such results would have been impossible without a natural wealth of soil and a vast undeveloped richness of resources. In official positions he has proved efficient and prompt, attending to the duties connected with the post in a manner indicative of his ability and trustworthiness. The father of the gentleman above named was Ira Saunders, a pioneer of the early '50s in California and a man of robust constitution, well qualified by natural endowments to endure the vicissitudes associated with frontier existence. Three times he crossed the plains and on each trip he was called upon to go through hardships and dangers, but in each instance he reached his destination without delay and in safety. His early home had been in Michigan and there he had met and married Miss Mary Baker, who accompanied him in his removal to the coast and endured with him the discouragements incident to the conditions in that era. For a time they made their home on a ranch in Solano county and it was on that large farm their son was born. Later they went to Davisville and put up one of the very first houses built in that then insignificant hamlet. The mother died in California in 1876 and later the father returned to Branch county, Mich., where in retirement from active labors he spent his last days, passing away in 1902. Many of the early settlers of Davisville still remember him and speak with admiration of his splendid qualities of mind and heart. An attendance of some years in the schools of Davisville, Yolo county, and in those of Jackson and Union City, Mich., for four years gave Mr. Saunders the advantage of a practical education which proved of inestimable value to his later activities. Upon returning to Yolo county in 1880 he engaged in agricultural and horticultural pursuits and his crops found a ready sale at the highest market prices. Later he was employed in the grocery business at Woodland and made many friends among the people of the city and surrounding country by his obliging disposition, pleasant manner and sterling integrity. A home was established by him in 1894, when he was united in marriage with Miss Grace M. Stone, a native of Iowa and a woman of attractive attributes of character. Of this union two children were born, Mildred and Harry B. Ever since attaining his majority Mr. Saunders has been unswerving in his allegiance to the Eepublican party and in its local councils he wields considerable influence. Having served one year as deputy county clerk in 1905-06 he was nominated for county clerk in 1910 and was elected to the office, taking the oath January 2, 1911, but before this he was appointed county clerk December 14, 1910, to fill out the unexpired term of Charles F. Hadsall, deceased. A number of the local fraternal orders have the benefit of his active identification with their work and his contributions to their enterprises. Additional Comments: Extracted from HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA WITH Biographical Sketches OF The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth and Development From the Early Days to the Present HISTORY BY TOM GREGORY AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913] File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/yolo/bios/saunders95bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/cafiles/ File size: 4.6 Kb