Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889 [page 442] REV. JAMES T. SAUNDERS, Pastor of the Roman Catholic Church of Cherokee, Iowa, was born in Ireland, in March, 1843. He remained in his native country until he was nine years old when he sailed for American soil, landing in the city of New Orleans. From that city he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and thence to La Fayette County, Wisconsin. There he commenced his school career; he first entered St. Francis Seminary at Milwaukee, beginning his primary course of study; then he went to Toronto, Canada, where he took a full course of study, remaining in school for seven years. At the expiration of that time he returned to Milwaukee, finishing his full course in two years, and received minor orders, sub-deaconship and deaconship, on March 17, 1887. That same year, August 15, he was ordained priest by Bishop Hennessy, of Dubuque, and was sent to Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa, where he took charge of his first congregation; there he remained ten years, locating there in 1877, and in 1887 coming to Cherokee to enter upon his duties as pastor of the congregation of the Immaculate Conception. His parish is composed of sixty fami- lies, and besides the work in Cherokee he also serves the people of a church organization whose building is situated in Sheridan Township. This church numbers about forty families, and the language spoken is German. Father Saunders is a gentleman of the true type, and has always the respect of the entire community, whether of his church or not. He is a diligent reader, and is a well-informed man, being ever alive to the best interests of his church. ===========================================================================