Henry G. Saunders, M. D. Henry G. Saunders, M. D., one of the oldest and most experienced physicians of Grand Rapids, Mich., is a native of Petersburg, Renssaelaer Co., NY, was born June 15, 1819, and is a son of Isaac and Matilda (Wells) Saunders, natives of Rhode Island, and both of English descent. These parents settled in new York state in their young days, and to their marriage were born seven sons and two daughters, of whom three, besides Dr. Henry G., are still living, viz: Thomas P., a prominent attorney of Adam, NY; William G., a well-known physician of Grand Rapids and for twenty years a justice of the peace, and Mrs. Elizabeth Scriven, also of Grand Rapids. The deceased children were named Matilda, Isaac, Thompson W., Porter and Burton, all of whom died in Adams Twp., Jefferson Co., NY, with the exception of Buron, who died in Grand Rapids, Mich., and all well advanced in years, except Porter. Both parents died in New York state – the father at the age of eighty-one years, and the mother at fifty-seven. Dr. Henry G. Saunders was reared on the home farm in the Empire state, and his primary education was acquired in a district school during the winter months. At the age of eighteen years he entered a select school at Bellvill, NY, which he attended three winters, being also employed as an assistant teacher. He next attended Union academy, of Jefferson county, one term, and then one term at the DeRuyter institute, Madison Co.; he was next employed as a teacher in Jefferson county, and while thus engaged had occasion to call for the services of Dr. William V. Rosa, to treat an affliction of the eye, brought on, doubtless, by over reading. The intimacy formed with this physician during this treatment led to his study of medicine, for three years, under this able man, and during this course of study he was elected superintendent of schools, a position he held for three years, when he resigned, in order to secure more time to devote to his medical studies. He attended lectures at Geneva, NY, in the winter of 1845-46, and the following year at the medical department of the university of New York city, also at the Broadway hospital and Dr. Detmolds, school of Surgery & Medicine, receiving diplomas from the latter institution, as well as from the university, in the spring of the year 1847. For some years Dr. Saunders remained in New York attending hospitals, infirmaries, alms houses, clinics, etc., then visited Philadelphia, and for some months pursued a similar course. He then went to Adams, NY, where he at once secured a lucrative practice He also established an office at Ellisburg, about nine miles west, and there, likewise, built up a large professional practice and also engaged in prosecuting claims against 892) the United States government, mostly to recover pensions for disabled soldiers. About 1855, the doctor visited Grand Rapids for the first time, the city then having a population of about 5,000. He next visited Oceana county, Mich., where he purchased a large tract of land, with a view of engaging in lumbering, and then returned to Ellisburg, W. Y., resumed his profession and remained there until 1858, when he came back to Grand Rapids, and this city has since been his permanent residence. He went to the trouble, however, of first looking around for a suitable location in which to engage in the lumber trade, but finally rejected this business as not profitable at that day, and resumed his professional practice and the prosecution of claims, as formerly. Until 1875 he held a very extensive practice, professionally, but his health became impaired, and he has confined himself since then to the treatment of friends who insist upon his services during office hours. The early experience of Dr. Saunders in Grand Rapids, owing to a series of misfortunes was not of a very encouraging character, as he was three times burned out during the first eighteen months of his residence here, and by these conflagrations he lost most of his personal effects, including a library of great value, his surgical instruments and his account books, with no insurance. But he possessed indomitable courage, and energy, has lived to see Grand Rapids grow from a village of about 5,000 population to a thriving city with a population of over 10,000, and through his personal efforts alone has acquired a competency. He now owns 1,500 acres of timber land, one good farm, six large tenements and about thirty city lots, and for forty-one years has resided in the same dwelling on North Ionia street. August 22, 1853, Dr. Saunders was united in marriage with Mary E. Wodell, only daughter of William and Sarah Wodell, of Ellisburg, N. Y., but this lady passed away June 2, 1878, without issue; but the doctor has reared an adopted daughter, Anna, who is now the wife of E. H. King, a druggist of Chicago. Mrs. Saunders was a member of the Division street Methodist Episcopal church at the time of her decease, but the doctor has never affiliated with any religious organization; he has, however, maintained a membership with the various medical and surgical associations of Grand Rapids. Almost his entire life has been devoted to his profession, but for the past few years he has sought relief in paying some attention to his other business interests. For a man of his years he is remarkably well preserved, but he has lived a plain and abstemious existence, has never used intoxicants of any kind, and his indulgence in tobacco, most of his life, has been limited to an occasional smoke.