Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/754

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

son spent his earlier years in Chesterfield county. When young he became appren- ticed to the printing trade, became an ex- pert, and soon was in possession of suffi- cient capital to begin business for himself. In 1845 he founded the business that is now conducted by his sons, his first partner being W. l\. McFarland. The business dates from an earlier period, but Mr. McFarland's con- nection with it began in 1845, when it was purchased from T. \\'. White, as previously stated. On Evacuation Day, April 3, 1865, all was destroyed by fire in the general con- flagration that began with the retirement of the Confederate forces, but two years later he formed a copartnership with C. P. Rady and resumed the printing business. This firm was succeeded in 1875 by the firm of J. W. Fergusson & Sons, printers, and later incorporated as J. W. Fergusson & Sons, Inc. The present officials of the company are the sons of the founder : Edgar H. Fer- gusson, president; Mell B., vice-president; John E., secretary and treasurer.

During' the war, 1861 to 1865, John W. Fergusson served in Captain Hiltzimer's command for local defence. He was a mem- ber of the city council of Richmond for two terms. In religion he was a lifelong mem- ber of the ]\Iethodist Episcopal church, served on the official board and was ever one of its strongest pillars of support. He became a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in early manhood, passing the chairs and becoming a member of the (Irand Lodge of \"irginia. He was elected grand treasurer of the Grand Lodge, an office he held continuously for fifty-six years, or up to the time of his death, his form, no opponent presenting himself for the office. He was succeeded by his son, Mell 1'). I'>rgusson, the present incumbent (jf the grand treasurer's office.
 * innual election being simply a matter of

John W. h'ergusson married, in 1847, i'^ Richmond, h^velina (jodwin Shelton, of Suf- folk, X'irginia. daughter of Colonel Raleigh and Mary (Reed) Shelton. Children: Ed- gar II.. John E.. Mell B., Mrs. V. 1-. Lander- kin, .Mrs. L. Leo Judice.

John Goodrich Saunders comes of an old \ irgiuui family, tyj)ical of the characteristic virtues of the people of that state, in which, perhaps more than any other, the associa- lior.s and traditions of the great i)ast have

a potent efifect in the formation of character today, so that the virtues of a more gen- erous day, now gone, still live and flourish in the present.

(I) Goodrich Saunders, paternal grand- father of John G. Saunders, was a native and life-long resident of Buckingham county, Virginia, which has been the home of the family for many generations. He was a farmer in his home county, and died when only fifty-five years of age. He mar- ried a Miss Malloy, and by her had three children, all of whom are deceased.

(II) John Daniel Saunders, son of Good- rich Saunders, was born in Buckingham county, Virginia, at the home of his father, in the year 1837. He followed in the foot- steps of his father and engaged in farming, adding to it, however, the business of mail contractor, yir. Saunders enlisted in the Confederate army, and served throughout that momentous conflict. At the close of hostilities he retired to private life, and con- tinued his occupations on the old home place, dying in 1896, in Richmond, Virginia, at the age of fifty-nine years. He married Martha Virginia Gibson, also a native of Buckingham county, V^irginia, and a daugh- ter of Allies Gibson, a native and farmer of that^ region. Mr. Gibson was the father of eight children, of whom four are now liv- ing. These are, besides Mrs. Saunders, the mother of our subject: Mrs. Benjamin Mor- ris. Mrs. W. T. Lithgow, of Richmond, Vir- ginia, and Mrs. Jarvis, of \\^est Virginia. Mrs. Saunders now resides in Richmond at the age of seventy years. To Mr. Saunders and his wife were born i\\-e children, all of whom are living. They are as follows : John Goodrich, of whom further; Lillie \".. now Mrs. John J. Barker, of Richmond ; Caulize Gibson, a resident of Richmond, and an engineer of the Richmond, Fredericks- burg & Potomac Railroad ; William D., a broker of Richmond ; Nannie Estelle, now Mrs. Charles Harts, of Richmond. Mr. Harts being the superintendent of outgoing mails in the Richmond post office.

(III) John Cioodrich Saunders, eldest child of John Daniel and Martha Virginia ((iibson) Saunders, was born at Bucking- ham Court House, Buckingham county, \ ir- ginia, April 25. 1868. He gained the rudi- ments of education in the local schools, but in 1S82. when fourteen years of age. he re- moNcd with his parents to Richmond. \'ir-