Fred Saunders, ex-alderman from the Fifth ward, Grand Rapids, and proprietor of the popular Baldwin House, on Plainfield avenue, near the passenger depot of the D. G. H. & M. R. R., was born in the village of Adams, Jefferson county, NY, August 12 1859, and is what may be called a hotel-keeper by heredity, his father before him having been a "Boniface" of the old and genial style for which the landlords of early days were noted, but upon whose generous hospitality modern inventions have added many comforts.

Burton C. Saunders, father of Fred Saunders, married Abigail Maxom in New York state, and at the time of the birth of the subject was in the stock business. He came to Grand Rapids about the year 1863, and in 1864 opened the Sherman House at the corner of Leonard Street and Plainfield avenue. He continued to grow in popularity not only as a hotel-keeper but as a citizen, served in the common council eleven years, and for two terms was its president; for four years he was a justice of the peace, and also a school trustee, and in many other ways the public manifested their confidence in his integrity and sound business knowledge.

Fred Saunders grew to manhood in Grand Rapids and was educated in its common and high schools. He began the business activities of life by working in one of the factories for which the city is so famous, but his father decided that his services in the hotel would prove to advantage to both, and in 1877 young Fred began his career as a hotel assistant, and at the death of his father, in 1880, succeeded to the business. The old Sherman House conducted by his father and himself for twenty years, was later destroyed by fire, but in its close vicinity the present Baldwin house was erected and business at once resumed, and so prosperously that Mr. Saunders is now disposed to sell and retire, and allow some one else a chance to make a fortune.

On the 4^th day of March 1885, Mr. Saunders married Miss Fannie Sommers, an accomplished young lady of German extraction, who has blessed him with six children, born in the following order: Fred, Burton, Carl, Velma, Leila and Claude. In his fraternal relations, Mr. Saunders is a member of Valley City lodge, No. 157, I.O.O.F., of the B.P.O.E., of the I.O.R.M., and of the National Union. As a democrat, he first held the office of collector for the Fifth ward in 1881 and 1882; in 1884 he was elected alderman, served six terms, and after an interval of one year was re-elected; he has three times been president of the council, and has been a member of every committee of that honorable body, with the exception of that on license; his last term of service expired May 1, 1899, as a member of the council, and on that day he was appointed a member of the board of assessors for three years, and it may be added that he has also served for several years as an efficient member of the board of health. As a landlord his popularity is almost unbounded, and as a citizen and official his name stands without reproach. From even this brief record of his successful career, the reader can form an almost adequate idea of his usefulness as a resident of Grand Rapids, but, at the same time, that usefulness can hardly be expressed in words.