Louis Ashton Saunders (1857 - 1934)

Born 30 Oct 1857 in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw, Michigan, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Olive (Ball) Saunders — married 30 Oct 1884 (to 12 Jun 1912) in Hamburg, Livingston, Michigan, United States

Husband of Minnie E (Butler) Saunders — married 26 Jun 1912 (to 3 Apr 1934) in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States

Descendants

Died 3 Apr 1934 at age 76 in Lansing, Ingham, Michigan, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bonnie Saunders [send private message]

Biography

Louis A Saunders was born on 30 Oct 1857, at Ypsilanti, Washtenaw, Michigan, United States, and died on 03 April 1934, at Lansing, Ingham, Michigan, United States, of chronic nephritis with cardio-vascular complications. ^{[1] [2]} He was the son of William Butler Saunders (1826-1909) and Caroline Johanna MacLeod (1833-1908). ^[1] Supposedly he had a sister Eva born in 1855, but no evidence was found to this effect.

In the censuses, Louis appears as a Music Teacher, ^[3] a Merchant ^{[4] [5]} a Clerk for the Railroad ^[6] and Claim Clerk for the Railroad. ^[7] He also appears connected with the railroads as a Clerk for Michigan Central Railroad in the 1883 and 1884 Detroit City Directories. ^{[8] [9]} In 1903, he was appointed Postmaster of Lakeland, Livingston, Michigan, United States, ^[10] for which, in 1905, he was paid $199.98, ^[11] and in 1909, he appears as both Postmaster of Lakeland and owner of a Grocery and Meat store. ^[12] In his death certificate, his occupation is given as "Claim Clerk" in the "Clerical Work" industry. ^[1]

Louis married twice. He first married Sarah Olive Ball (1860-1932) on 30 Oct 1884 at Hamburg, Livingston, Michigan, United States. ^[13] The marriage ended 10 June 1912, with the couple's divorce. ^[14]

His second marriage was to Minnie E Butler (1875-1973) on 26 June, 1912, at Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States ^[15] Both were divorced, and it was her second marriage as well as his. The marriage ended with his death 03 April 1934. ^[1] She died 39 years later in 1973. ^[16]

Louis and Sarah had three children: ^[4]

1. Cdr Norman Louis Saunders (abt 1886-abt 1947)
2. Flora Ball Saunders (1890-abt 1965)
3. Erwin William Saunders (1893-abt 1964)

Louis appears by name in the following censuses:

Jun 1860 Louis A Saunders appeared in the 1860 Census on 28 June 1860 at Ypsilanti, Washtenaw, Michigan, United States, "Lewis A Saunders", 3 yrs, born in Michigan, with his father "William B Saunders", 30 yrs, born in New York, Carpenter, Real Estate Value $100, Personal Estate Value, $150, his mother "Johanna Saunders", 26 yrs, born in New York, and his grandmother "Flora Mc Leod", 55 yrs, born in Scotland. NB, the ages for William and Flora are off, William was born in 1826, i.e. he would have been 34, Flora around 1802, i.e. she would have been around 58. ^[17]

Jun 1870 Louis A Saunders appeared in the 1870 Census on 13 June 1870 at Yspilanti, Washtenaw, Michigan, United States "Lewis Saunders", 12 yrs, Michigan, at school with his father "William B Saunders", 45 yrs, born in New York Carpenter, Real Estate Value $1600, Personal Estate Value $ 600, his mother "Caroline Saunders", 38 yrs, born in New York, Keeping House, his grandmother "Flora Mclaod, 73 yrs, born in Scotland, Boarding and his uncle "Roswell Saunders", 40 yrs, born in New York, Carpenter. NB, Flora would have been around 68 yrs old, not 73. ^[18]

Jun 1880 Louis A Saunders appeared in the 1880 Census on 01 June 1880 at Ypsilanti, Washtenaw, Michigan, United States "Louis Saunders", 22 yrs, born in Michigan, Music Teacher, both parents born in New York, with his father "William Saunders", 53 yrs, born in New York, Millwright, both parents born in Vermont, his mother "Caroline Saunders", 46 yrs, born in New York, Keeping House, both parents born in Scotland and his grandmother "Flora Mcleod", 80 yrs born in Scotland, Disability, rheumatism, both parents born in Scotland. NB Flora would have been around 78 yrs old ^[3]

Jun 1900 Louis A Saunders appeared in the 1900 Census on 01 June 1900 at Hamburg, Livingston, Michigan, United States "Louis A Saunders", 43 yrs, born in Michigan, Merchant, with his wife "Sarah C Saunders", 40 yrs, born in Michigan, two sons, "Norman S Saunders", 14 yrs, born in Michigan, Student and "Erwin W Saunders", 7 yrs, born in Ohio, at school, and one daughter "Flora B Saunders", 10 yrs, born in Nebraska, at school. ^[4] NB: In the early 1900's, before his divorce from Sarah in 1912, Louis apparently did not live with her as can be seen in the information that follows; the last time they appear living together in the documentation is in the 1900 Census. As explained in her profile, Sarah does not appear in the 1910 and 1920 censuses but Ypsilanti City Directories place her at the Saunders family home at 231 N Summit St in Ypsilanti.

Apr 1910 Louis A Saunders appeared in the 1910 Census on 29 April 1910 at Hamburg, Livingston, Michigan, United States "Louis A Saunders", 53 yrs born in Michigan, Merchant with his son "Erwin W Saunders", 16 yrs, born in Ohio, no occupation. ^[5]

Jan 1920 Louis A Saunders appeared in the 1920 Census on 05 January 1920 at Lansing, Ingham, Michigan, United States "Louis A Saunders", 46 yrs, born in Michigan, Railroad clerk, with his wife "Minnie E Saunders", 42 yrs, Michigan, two stepdaughters both born in Michigan, "Fannie C Bailey", 16 yrs and "Edna D Bailey", 12 yrs, and two lodgers. ^[6]

Apr 1930 Louis A Saunders appeared in the 1930 Census on 14-15 April 1930 at Lansing, Ingham, Michigan, United States "Louis Saunders", 72 yrs, born in Michigan, Claim Clerk for the Railroad with his wife "Minnie Saunders", 54 yrs born in Michigan. This was the last census for him as he died in 1934. ^[7]

Research Notes

Regarding Louis Saunders' middle name In most of the documents related to Louis Saunders, he appears as "Louis A". The "A" stands for "Ashton" and was clarified in a typewritten note that was left by family in an antique sugar-bowl that was originally Sarah Culver's. Sarah was Louis' first wife's (Sarah Olive Ball's) maternal grandmother, see Wikitree free pages, Sarah Culver's Sugar Bowl.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} _ DEATH CERTIFICATE: Louis Ashton Saunders on 03 Apr 1934
2. ↑ _ DEATH CERTIFICATE Image: Louis Ashton Saunders on 03 Apr 1934
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} _ 1880 Census at the Second Ward of Ypsilanti, Washtenaw, Michigan, United States
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} _ 1900 Census at Hamburg township, Livingston, Michigan, United States
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} _ 1910 Census at Hamburg, Livingston, Michigan, United States
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} _ 1920 Census at Lansing, Ingham, Michigan, United States
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} _ 1930 Census at Lansing, Ingham, Michigan, United States
8. ↑ _ Detroit City Directory: Louis A Saunders in 1883
9. ↑ _ Detroit City Directory: Louis A Saunders in 1884
10. ↑ _ Appointments of U. S. Postmasters: Louis A Saunders on 28 May 1903
11. ↑ _ Lakeland City Directory: Louis A Saunders in 1905
12. ↑ _ Windsor City Directory: Louis A Saunders in 1909
13. ↑ _ MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE: Louis A Saunders and Sarah O Ball on 30 Oct 1884
14. ↑ _ DIVORCE RECORDS: Louis A Saunders and Sarah O Ball on 10 Jun 1912
15. ↑ _ MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE: Louis A Saunders and Minnie E Butler on 26 Jun 1912
16. ↑ _ SOCIAL SECURITY DEATH INDEX (SSDI): Minnie Butler in Mar 1973
17. ↑ _ 1860 Census at Ypsilanti, Washtenaw, Michigan, United States
18. ↑ _ 1870 Census at the Second Ward Ypsilanti City, Washtenaw, Michigan, United States

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