Rev. Miles Saunders, D. D.
The late Rev. Miles Saunders, D.D., was one of the most prominent and gifted clergymen of the state of Kentucky. A Presbyterian by heritage, as well as by personal conviction, his ancestors having been Scotchmen strong in the faith, his pastoral work extended over a period of thirty-six years and was remarkably fruitful of good. Dr. Saunders was born in Decatur county, Indiana, January 10, 1832, and his demise occurred in Bullitt County, Kentucky, November 24. 1910. He was the son of James Saunders, who was the son of James Saunders who was a native of Scotland, but lived in country Antrim. Ireland, until he became an emigrant to America with its much vaunted independence and opportunity. The first James located first in Charleston, South Carolina, and subsequently came to Kentucky, taking up his residence in Nicholas county, where James the second, father of the subject, was born. The latter married Cynthia Hall, and they subsequently removed from Kentucky to Decatur county, Indiana, where their younger children were born. Dr. Saunders was a member of a large family, consisting of six brothers and several sisters, he being the last surviving member. The father, in his later life, removed to Monroe county, Iowa, with three sons, but the climate drove him back to Indiana, the sons staying in Iowa. He died in Decatur county at the age of seventy-nine years. In the early days this worthy gentleman had been a captain of militia.
His son, James N. Saunders, came to Jefferson county, Kentucky, and there married Miss Veatch, sister of Richard S. Veatch. He became a valuable and much beloved minister in the Presbyterian church, receiving the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He was pastor of the Bloomfield and Big Spring churches for manv years—forty years, to be specific. His second wife was Mary Wilson, of Bullitt county, now deceased.
When about nineteen years of age Dr. [Miles] Saunders came to Bloomfield, Kentucky, to make his home with his brother. After attending the village school, taught by Samuel Fulton, an experienced teacher and active Presbyterian elder, in 1854 he entered Center College and was graduated from that institution m 1857, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then entered the theological seminary at Danville, under Dr. Robert Breckenridge, finished his course in 1860, and was ordained to the ministry of the Presbyterian church. It has been said of him by one who knew him well, "Prior to the time of his conversion. which was near the close of his college course, his mind had been set on entering the legal profession with the further view of later entering the political arena, but when the transforming power of God's grace touched his heart, he abandoned at once his cherished worldly ambitions, and resolved to give himself wholly to God's service in the work of the Gospel ministry.'
Dr. Saunders, shortly after his ordination, was called to the Presbyterian church at Springfield, Kentucky, and remained there from 1860 until May 24, 1896. at that date resigning from the only charge he had ever had, every year bringing him into dearer and closer relations with his flock. His charge also included the church at Pleasant Grove, the duties of the latter being partially assumed by the Rev. W. Y. Davis, of Louisville, a kinsman of his first wife.
Dr. Saunders was married in 1862, at Springfield, Miss Margaret Booker, a daughter of Judge Paul J. Booker, an elder in the Presbyterian church of that city and a circuit court judge, becoming his wife. Judge Booker was a captain in the Revolutionary army from Prince Edward county, Virginia, his regiment being the Eleventh Virginia, under Colonel Daniel Major. His wife, an admirable helpmeet for a minister, died in 1895, and on March 4, 1899, he inaugurated a happy married companionship with Miss Emma Wilson, of Bullitt county, Kentucky, her home becoming his. She was an assistant in his mountain work for several years, and when increasing infirmities withdrew him from this beloved employ, he was the object of her tender care until by slow degrees he sank to his final rest.
To Dr. Saunders' first union four children were born, namely:
- Hon. J. N. Saunders, of Stanford, Kentucky;
- Lettie, wife of Hon. Charles McDowell, of Danville, Kentucky;
- Mary, who died in young womanhood; and
- Louise, the wife of Rev. Harvey Murdoch, president of Log College, located near the line of Breathitt and Perry counties.
After his resignation from the Springfield church Dr. Saunders, in association with the Rev. Dr. E. O. Guerrant, organized and inaugurated a mission in Breathitt county, and gave zealous service to this during the remainder of his life. He likewise established a school and mission at Buckhorn, Perry county. and erected buildings and dormitories sufficient for the three hundred students who attended. His wife assumed the superintendence- of the school and his daughter Louise became one of the staff of teachers, the former, however, resigning in 1907. It was his great happiness to see wonderful good accomplished by his mission before his demise in 1910. Sometime previously he lost his sight by cataract, but he continued to teach and preach, and to and from his duties he rode a mule which had to be led on account of its own blindness. The cataract was subsequently removed from one eye and his last days were comforted by the ability to read. His life was consecrated to the work in the field of the mountains of Kentucky and he derived great comfort in its result. To the cause he dedicated not only his life, but his estate, which was of good proportions. Through his beneficence many poor children were educated and he assisted many churches to be maintained.
In a tribute to the life and character of this good man, written by J. C. Tate and appearing in the Christian Observer of December 28, 1910, appear the following paragraphs: "During the thirty-six years of his pastoral work in Washington county, he was ever diligent in the use of opportunities for evangelistic work within its borders; but what he regarded as the crowning work of his life, and which engaged most intensely all the energies of his heart and mind for the last ten or twelve years, for which in every way he was peculiarly fitted, was his mountain work, in which he achieved much, and laid the broad foundation for a yet greater work by those who are now reaping abundantly where he had so diligently sown.
"He was a man of marked individuality, of a sanguine, nervous temperament, physically and morally courageous, and so was bold in conceiving and daring in execution. Disregarding and overlooking difficulties and obstacles, he at times achieved what to a less ardent and hopeful disposition might have seemed impossible of accomplishment. A more genial, generous, impulsive, enthusiastic, sympathetic nature, I have never known. He was a student always and along lines that especially interested him had accumulated a vast store of information. In social intercourse he was attractive and instructive, and his conversation was often enlivened by a humor peculiarly his own. In discourse in the pulpit he was forceful and effective, was warm and steadfast in his friendships, and many are the hearts in which his memory is enshrined and many are they who mourn his loss."
