Very suddenly, probably of heart disease, on Feb. 8th, 1876, at Pardee, Kansas, Dea. Dennis Saunders, aged 68 years and 6 days. The subject of this notice was born in Rensselaer county, N. Y., where he embraced religion in his youth. Afterward he removed to Farmington, Ill., and was one of the constituent members of that church serving it as deacon until he removed, in 1857, to this place. This Pardee settlement was founded by him, and as soon as the church was organized, he was at once accepted to hold the same sacred office he had held in the other churches.
His death was most unexpected, giving especial emphasis to the admonition: "Be ye also ready." During a portion of the day, he had been busy fitting up some hay stacks which the wind had considerably disturbed. About 3 o'clock P.M., he drove over to the village for the mail; returning, he took care of his stock, and finished up his evening choring in his usual good order. The evening was passed in reading until about 8 o'clock, when, as was his habit, he bowed in prayer, committing himself and family to God, and then laid himself down to rest for the night. He soon fell into a sleep, from which he never awoke. About half past 9 o'clock, his wife, the only one in the house with him, was startled by a slight struggling for breath. She endeavored to arouse him, but he was gone at once, without speaking a word. He had complained at times for a few months past of pains in the region of the heart and in his chest. Yet the very few knowing this, had no thought of such a sudden termination of life.
Dea. Saunders was a man firm in his convictions of right and duty, and unyielding in his adherence thereto. In early life, he took a decided stand in favor of temperance, which brought upon him the sneers and jeers of almost all his associates, yet he never was moved a particle. He exhibited just the same bravery in the unsettled affairs here when pro-slavery border ruffianism threatened death to every free-state man, and in this regard his worth to this settlement and to this country will probably never be known.
For many years he had been so hard of hearing, that but few men could preach with sufficient distinctness for him to receive the benefits of the discourse. This, together with the confused state of the religious society in which his lot was cast, was not favorable to religious growth, yet he held tenaciously to the faith: Salvation by resting on Jesus Christ.
He was always interested in religious conversation. But for some months past this interest had considerably increased, and in the absence of a pastor he had conducted the Sabbath services - reading the Scriptures and hymns, praying and reading sermons - to the edification of the congregation. His last work of this kind was on Sabbath, Jan. 22d, less than three weeks before his death. His habit of thought as well as his manor of expression was somewhat peculiar, and he was not always understood.
He was a man of excellent habits, strict integrity, interesting in conversation, and much respected by a wide circle of acquaintances. His funeral called out a large congregation, and was indeed a solemn occasion. Sermon by the pastor. "The righteous hath hope in his death." Prov. 14: 32. S. R. W.
