James A. Saunders was born on February 12, 1846, in Collins, New York, to Benjamin Saunders and Rosanna Bates. His father was a blacksmith. He grew up and attended school in Collins, New York.

 

He enlisted in the Union army on March 22, 1862, and he mustered in as a private in Company A of the 64^th New York Infantry later that day. He apparently lied about his age, claiming that he was 18 years old. The regiment took part in the Seven Days’ Battles, the Battle of Antietam, the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Battle of Chancellorsville, the Battle of Gettysburg, the Overland Campaign, the siege of Petersburg, and the Appomattox campaign. He was wounded at least twice: first on June 1, 1862, in the Battle of Fair Oaks, then on May 12, 1864, in the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. He eventually earned a promotion to sergeant. He mustered out on March 22, 1865.

 

He moved to Pennsylvania after the war and worked as an oil driller. He married Alice Rich on December 8, 1869, and their daughter Winnifred was born around 1871. By 1870, Saunders was working as a moulder in Collins, New York, and he owned $150 of personal property. They moved to Cold Spring, New York, in the 1870s, and he resumed his work as an oil driller. By 1900, they were living in New Albion, New York.

 

Saunders supported the Republican Party, and he was elected town superintendent in 1909. His mental health deteriorated in late 1909, and he killed himself in Cattaraugus, New York, on December 28, 1909.

 

Image: James A. Saunders (The Buffalo News, 18 October 1909)

SOURCES