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Note: n House' hotel there. 'The Grand Rapids Eagle' Burton C. Saunders, Esq., died at his residence, the Sherman house, early Sunday evening of a disease of the brain, which has kept him to his bed for several weeks past; and most of that time unconscious - the-past two or- three weeks entirely so all the time. On Saturday morning his brother, Dr. William G. Saunders, perceived symptoms of approaching dissolution, which soon set in, so that he may be said to have been dying for twenty-four hours before he breathed his last. Mr. Saunders was in the 57th year of his age, and was a native of Petersburg, Rensselaer County, New York. From boyhood to early manhood, he lived in the town: of Adams, Jefferson County, New York, where he was a farmer, until he came to Michigan to live, in the year 1863. He soon fixed upon Grand. Rapids as his permanent residence, and has been a citizen there from that year. Since 1865, he has been proprietor and landlord of the Sherman House: and has been deservedly popular as a host throughout that section of the state. During almost the entire period of his residence in this city, Mr. Saunders has been prominently identified with the Democratic party of this locality,- and has been of much service them. The latest position he held in their councils was that of chairman of the Kent County Democratic Committee. He has held several offices of the public trust, having served four years as justice of the peace, two or three terms as school trustee, and this was his fourth term as one of the Aldermen for the fifth ward. It is a noteworthy fact that of the eight Aldermen elected last April, Mr. Saunders is the second one to pass from this world?s labor?s, the first being Mr. Thurston, of the Third ward. Never until this year, since the year 1850, has an Alderman of this city died in office. Mr. Saunders leaves a widow and three children well provided for. The eldest of the three is a daughter, wife of Mr. W. A. McCormick; the next is Fred, aged 21; the youngest is Burton Clarence, aged 9. Fred is an enterprising young man, and for some time past has been of much assistance to his father in the business of the hotel. The deceased was an able, useful faithful representative of his ward, in the City Council, attending to the interests of all, without regard of party, while at the same time a Democratic politician in the strictest sense of the word. Besides his political popularity, he was socially and generally well liked, being a man of amiable disposition, pleasant in conversation, and gentlemanly and obliging as a neighbor. As a prominent citizen of Grand Rapids, and especially among the Fifth warders, he will be much missed.
Note: The family moved to Grand Rapids, MI in 1863 and he managed the 'Sherma
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