Panama City pilot. (Panama City, Washington County, Fla.) 1907-19??, 1908-08-13
Death Of j. R. Saunders.


day we gather the following relative
! to the death of this we'll known gen
tleman. His many interests in this
section often brought him to the bav
country, and his sudden death is
mourned by many q friend and ac-
uuaintance. The funeral services
were held in Pensacola yesterday.
During the hour of the services all
work was suspended upon unloading
the steamer Tarpon then in the bay
of the P. G. & St a. B. S. S. Line, of
which Mr. Saunders was President.
The boats flag was also kept at half
mast, and all respect shown to the
dead by Capt Barrow whose relations
with Mr. Saunders were exceedingly
close and friendly.
"JOhn r Saunders, one of the lead
ing business men of Pensacola, and a
man probably identified in an active
manner in more industries than any
other one citizen, died last night at
9:15 o'clock at his home on North
PalafOX street, death being due to an
attack of apOpleXy, which he suffered
at 3 o'clock Sunday morning. From
the moment of the attack there was
no hope for his recovery, and be died
without regaining consciousness,
which he lost when stricken. Physi-
clans, summoned hurriedly by mem
bers of the family, remained with him
until the end, but they could hold out
no hope to the members of the family
who had gathered at the bedside.
All during Sunday and Sunday night
and through yesterday he remained
in the unconscious state, and at 9:15
O'Clock passed to the Great Beyond.
The deceased came to Pensacola
about ten years ago and organized
the West Coast Naval Stores Co. A
native of Virginia he began life as
naval stores operator in Georgia, and
after remaining there for several
years, saw a more promising field in
Florida, so came to THIS state and fl
nally located in Pensacola. With the
organization of the West Coast Naval
Stores company was the beginning of
his citizenship here, and it proved to
be prosperous move, for since that
time he has acquired properties and
established industries which TODAY
employ in the city alone over 600 men.
With the consolidation Of the vaval
stores interests in Florida the West
Coast Naval Stores Company ceased
to exist, but year later he withdrew
from the Consolidated Naval Stores
Co. and launched the j. r. Saunders
Co., an Independent company, which
has existed and prOSpered nOtWith-
standing its fight against the naval
stores trust.
While president of five companies,
Mr. Saunders was also interested and
actively identified with many other
business institutions of Pensacola, and
his advice and counsel was often
sought by those with whom he was
associated, for his judgment was that
of sound and practical business
man, and of much value. The com
panieS of which he was president are
the j. r. Saunders Co., Saunders
Grocery Company, Export Lum-
Der Co., Saunders Mill Co., Southern
Brick Co., and Pensacola, St An
drews q Gulf Steamship Co. He was
a director in the American National
Bank, interested heavily in the Es-
Gambia Land and Manufacturing Co.,
and in addition, had varied other
business interests.
The deceased is survived by a wife,
three sons and one daughter. The
oldest of these, Dudley r., is inter
eSted in several of the companies or
gained by his father, being secre-
tary and treasurer Of the j. r. Saun-
ders Co. The next eldest, Richard
B., is attending college at POugh-
keepsie, n. Y, and is expected to
reach here tonight or tomorrow morn
ing. The two youngest are Aubrey
and Mae Ida.
The hour of the funeral had not
been decided upon last night, but the
remains will be placed at rest in Pen
SacOla."