Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 327-328; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Elisha E. Saunders, commonly known as Squire Saunders, is a very
popular and highly respected citizen of Liverpool Township, where his
marked ability, honest and industrious habits have won him numerous
friends. Our subject was born in Niagara County, N. Y., January 19,
1827, being the son of Hiram and Pamelia (Maynard) Saunders, natives of
Yates County, N.Y.
The father was born in 1797, and died in Canton, August 9, 1873;
the mother was born in 1804, and died at the age of twenty-two in
Niagara County, N. Y. The Saunders family were of Scotch descent, and
our subject's father was reared on a farm in Yates County, but when
twenty-one years of age took a contract on the Erie Canal, where he
worked for three years. At a later date he removed to Niagara County,
where he engaged in farming for two years, and then came to Illinois,
making the trip on a raft down the Alleghany to Pittsburg, and the rest
of the way by steamboat on the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois Rivers,
finally landing at Galena, this State. He came to Fulton County in
1832, and established a ferry across the Rock River at Dixon; but when
the Black Hawk War broke out, he gave up the ferry, and enlisted in the
army under Capt. Nelson Ball, and served three months, during which
time he participated in several skirmishes, at New Boston, Little York,
and other places. After the war he settled down in Henderson County,
this State, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. In 1852 he
sold his farm and came to Fulton County with his children. The Maynard
family so far as is known were of Irish descent.
Mr. Saunders came to Illinois with his father in 1832, and
settled in what was then known as Warren County, but is now Henderson
County. His youth was spent on a farm and he attended school through
the winter, and worked at farming through the summer. After reaching
his twentieth year, he commenced working for himself in a brickyard,
where he received in compensation for his services $12 per month. He
remained there three months, and then for one year worked in a sawmill
and continued in this way until after his marriage, at which time he
settled in Putnam Township on a rented farm. But after two years he
bought his present place on section 1, Liverpool Township, and on this
estate he resides at the present time. When he bought this land it was
covered with heavy timber, but now it is pretty well cleared, and much
of it is well cultivated. Besides farming, he is largely interested in
stock-raising.
The subject of our sketch was married February 4, 155, to Miss
Sarah Beckstead, who was born June 3, 1834, and was a daughter of
George Beckstead, who was a native of Canada. The Beckstead family is
of German descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Saunders have been born ten
children, eight of whom are living, viz.: G. Edgar, John L., Hiram D.,
Henry F., Leonard E., Caroline P. (Mrs. Warfield), Orelia (Mrs.
Kendall), and Glafa. Mrs. Saunder's father, George Beckstead, was born
in Williamsburgh, Canada, was married there and remained in the
Dominion until 1834, at which time he came to this country, and settled
in Canton, from which place he moved to the west half of section 1,
which he purchased and improved. He built a sawmill there about 1848,
and continued to run it for five or six years. At the end of that time
he removed to Putnam Township, where he remained for four years, and
then returned here and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land.
He was a member of the Mormon Church, and in politics affiliated with
the Democratic party. He married Miss Dinah Meddah, who was also a
Canadian by birth, and to whom were born eight children, seven of whom
grew to maturity, viz.; Mary E. (Mrs. Pollitt); Sarah A. (Mrs.
Saunders), John A., Eliza J. (Mrs. Edwards), Orelia A. (Mrs. Pollitt),
Martha S. (Mrs. Barker), and Caroline (Mrs. Ests {Estes}).
Our subject is in sympathy with the Democratic party in
politics. He has held the office of Justice of the peace for fourteen
years; was Constable for one term in Putnam County; was Assessor for
one term; and is at the present writing, School Director.
Note: from Danni Hopkins: Mary E. Beckstead married George Elton
Pollitt; John A. Beckstead married Glarfee Ardine Raker; Eliza J.
Beckstead married Haden Edwards; Orelia A. Beckstead married James
Thomas Pollitt; Martha S. Beckstead married William Barker; Caroline
Beckstead married John Estes.
