John Bartlett Saunders

Narrative:

      John Bartlett Saunders was born on 30 Aug 1840 in Wetumpka, Alabama.^7,8,9
     He appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky, in the household of his parents, Dr. Reuben Saunders and Adeline S. Roberts.¹⁷
     His mother died on 2 Sep 1852, when John was 12 years old.¹⁵ He appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky, in the household of his father, and stepmother, Rebecca. He is listed as a medical student.¹⁸
     John attended the University of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, in the 1858-59 session, studying chemistry, medicine, physiology and surgery, anatomy, and botany.¹⁹ He graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 9 Mar 1861 with a degree of Doctor of Medicine. His thesis was on the "Pathology and Treatment of Scarlatina" [scarlet fever].²⁰

Serving in the Confederate Army --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     John enlisted 5 Jul 1861 at Camp Boone, Tennessee, as a private in the 3rd Regiment, Kentucky Infantry.²¹ By 1 Jan 1862 he was acting assistant surgeon of the regiment.²² On 17 Apr 1862 President Jefferson Davis submitted a group of nominations to the Provisional Confederate Congress which included John, as an assistant Surgeon. The nominations were confirmed by the congress the same day. His was effective 4 Feb 1862.^23,24,25
     He was examined by Dr. Thomas F. Clardy, Senior Surgeon, Gen. A. Buford's Brigade in Canton, Mississippi, on 23 Nov 1863, who found him unfit for duty because of chronic disease of the lungs. He was then being treated at the officers hospital at Lauderdale Springs.²⁶ On 8 Jan 1864 he submitted his resignation, stating that pulmonary hemorrhage had made him unfit for service, and he believed that "freedom from official duty will more readyly allow me to use means for the restoration of my health." He submitted a second certification from Dr. Clardy, stating that he had been suffering from phthisis pulmonalis [tuberculosis] for 18 months and was unfit for duty. His resignation was passed up the line, but apparently not ultimately approved.²⁷
     He applied for examination to be retired as an invalid 5 Dec 1864, on the grounds that he had suffered from haemoptysis [coughing up blood], extreme emaciation and debility, for 13 months. On 27 Feb 1865 he was officially certified as suffering from those illnesses, contracted in the line of duty. He was classified as permanently disabled, unable to perform any duty, and ordered to report to the military post at Meridian, Mississippi. He was admitted to Way Hospital there on 1 Mar, and to Yandell Hospital 12 Apr 1865.²⁸
     Lt. General Richard Taylor surrendered his command, the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana, on 4 May 1865, making John a prisoner of war. He was paroled at Meridian, Mississippi, in 9 May 1895.²⁹
     After the war he practiced for sereral years in Paducah, Kentucky.^30,31 With his health not improving, he went to Southern California thinking the dry climate would be helpful. He settled in Los Angeles, operating a drug business and practicing medicine.^32,33 He registered to vote in Los Angeles Co. on 26 Jun 1869.³⁴

Moving to the Kingdom of Hawaii --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     His health improved for a time, but he then suffered a relapse. Seeking a better climate, he went to San Francisco, then to the Kingdom of Hawaii, where he did regain his health.³² He arrived in Honolulu 28 Dec 1869, aboard the S.S. Idaho from San Francisco.³⁵
     John married Bobella Cobb, daughter of Robert Livingston Cobb and Cornelia Barbour Mims, on 10 Nov 1870 in Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky, at her parent's residence. Her brother Joshua married his sister Manie the following year.^10,11,12 John and Bobella returned to the Kingdom of Hawaii after their marriage, arriving in Honolulu aboard the S.S. Moses Taylor from San Francisco on 2 Dec 1870.^36,37
     In Hawaii he became the traveling physician of Maui, a government position. It has been reported that he was also Court Physician to the King of Hawaii, and as such would have treated the royal family, but no documentation of that has been found.^38,39
     He was involved in two business ventures in addition to his medical practice, both in Waiohinu on the island of Hawaii. He held a one-third interest in a general store there operated by the firm of H. Meinecke & Co., of which Heldebert Meinecke was the principal. He held a three-eights interest in Kau Tannery, operated by a Mr. Swain, in which Meincke also held an interest.^40,41
     John died on 16 Aug 1873 in Wailuku, Maui, Kingdom of Hawaii, at age 32.^13,14 He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky.^15,16

Resolving his Estate --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     John died intestate (without leaving a will). Letters of administration for his estate were issued on 11 Sep 1873, to Thomas W. Evertt, after testimony from a witness that he had seen the dead body, that the deceased had left a wife and one child, no will, cash of about $1,800, household furniture, and an interest in a store and tannery worth about $700. The U.S. Consul had been consulted and declined to act in the case. The administrator was ordered to post a bond of $2,500.⁴²
     The final account of the estate was filed on 15 Mar 1875. He reported he had recovered a total of $7,791, from the following sources:     After settling accounts due of $164, paying taxes and expenses of $182, and paying $501 for the family's expenses, $6,888 was paid to the heirs, one-third to his widow and two-thirds shared by his daughters and paid to their mother as guardian. The death of his business partner, Heldebert Meinecke, in Oct 1873 at age 25, and the many small accounts at the store, delayed final settlement of the estate.^43,44,41