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Note: r his father Gardner moved to Wisconsin from Adams Center, Jefferson Co., New York and married Sarah Crosby whose family also moved from Jefferson Co., New York. Alban grew up on a farm just north of Milton, Wisconsin. Alban met Delette Button while they were attending Milton College. Delette received her teaching degree in 1876 and Alban his BS in 1877. They married two weeks after he graduated. 'The Sabbath Recorder', Vol 33, No 36, p 3, Sep 6, 1877. In Decatur, Green Co., Wis., at the house of the bride's father, Mr. Hollis Button, on Tuesday, July 17th, 1877, by Rev. Wm. Sheldon, Mr. Alban G. Saunders, of Milton, and Miss DeLette E. Button, of Decatur. In 1880 they were in Lynnville, Illinois where Alban was teaching. Between 1880 and 1883 they migrated to southern California. DeLette died only a few years after they moved to California (1886). The following year he married Sarah Frances (Rhodes) Millard, a widow with two children aged 10 and 4. How he made the connection with Sarah, who was living in Smith Co., Kansas I don't know. He was elected as a Trustee of the Redlands, CA School District. He appears in the Redlands, CA City Directories in 1902 and 1906 with the occupation of 'orange grower'. Alban is mentioned as surviving his mother in her Nov, 1909 obituary, 'A. G. Saunders, Redlands, Calif.' He is also mentioned in her 1910 probate records. 'The Journal Telephone', Milton Junction, Wisconsin, June 18, 1914, p 1. Word has come to R. H. Saunders of the death of his brother, Alban G. Saunders, at his late home at Redlands, Calif., who was born at Milton and was once a student at the college. The Redlands paper says of the deceased, 'Alban Gardner Saunders was born at Milton, Wisconsin, May 2, 1849, where he grew to manhood and received his education, being graduated from Milton college. When a boy he became a member of the Seventh Day Baptist church wherein he lived consistently until his study of the Bible, of which he was a zealous student all his life, led him to unite himself with the Advent Christian people. He taught school for several years in Wisconsin and Iowa, and was reading law expecting to follow the legal profession when the failing health of his wife led him to abandon his study and come to California. He was one of the earliest settlers in Redlands, buying his land from the original company, and being one of two such buyers whose land has never changed hands. Here he buried the wife of his youth, and here he brought the wife of his mature manhood, who lives to mourn the loss of a faithful and devoted husband. Of their four children, Mrs. Elaine Saunders Rodrigues lives in Tacoma, Wash.; Mrs. Ruth Millard Borthwick in Portland, Oregon; Augustus Millard in Chico, and Inez Saunders is at home. Besides these he leaves one brother, Russell Saunders, of Milton, Wis., and a sister, Mrs. Alvira Clark, of Portland, Oregon. Mr. Saunders was a man of firm convictions, a clear logical mind and a quick conscience. He never compromised what he believed to be wrong.' 'The Review', Redlands, California, June, 1914 PASSING OF A PIONEER CITIZEN The many friends of A. G. Saunders will be very much surprised and grieved to learn of his sudden death yesterday afternoon, following an attack of paralysis earlier in the day. He was one of the pioneers of Redlands and one of the first to engage in the orange industry in this section. The funeral will be held Wednesday at 10 o'clock from the Cortner Bros. Chapel, the Rev. William Bayard Craig officiating. Interment will be at Hillside. Alban Gardner Saunders was born at Milton, Wisconsin, May 2, 1849, where he grew to manhood and received his education, being graduated from Milton College. When a boy he became a member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church where in he lived consistently until his study of the Bible, of which he was a zealous student all his life, led him to unite himself with the Advent Christian people. He taught school for several years in Wisconsin and Iowa, and was reading law expecting to follow the legal profession when the failing health of his wife led him to abandon his study and come to California. He was one of the earliest settlers in Redlands, buying his land from the original company, and being one of two such buyers whose land has never changed hands. Here he buried the wife of his youth, and here he brought the wife of his mature manhood, who lives to mourn the loss of a faithful and devoted husband. Of their four children, Mrs. Elaine Saunders Rodrigues lives in Tacoma, Wash.; Mrs. Ruth Millard Borthwick in Portland, Oregon; Augustus Millard in Chico, and Inez Saunders is at home. Besides these he leaves one brother, Russell Saunders, of Milton, Wis., and a sister, Mrs Alvira Clark, of Portland, Oregon. Mr. Saunders was a man of firm convictions, a clear logical mind and a quick conscience. He never compromised with what he believed to be wrong. Underneath a manner that to strangers seemed austere, he carried a warm heart and a rich and rare appreciation of the humorous in life and literature. The best and noblest in his character was reserved for those who knew him best and understood the depth of his character. It was in times of trouble that his tenderness of spirit shone the brightest. His loss is an irreparable one to his family and to the circle of friends who were fortunate enough to have his intimate acquaintance.
Note: Alban was born May 2, 1849, the second of five children, three years afte
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