9.  "Dr. Thomas J. Saunders, one of the seventeen original signers, while spending most of his life in governmental and journalistic pursuits, was always interested in the profession of his early choice, and retained his membership in the society until his death.  He was born at Woodbury.  New Jersey, in 1819, his parents being members of the Society of Friends.  Graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1843, he practiced for a time in his native village, was made a member of the constitutional convention of New Jersey in 1848, and later, having come to this city in 1855, was a member of the contitutional convention of Iowa during the revision of the code on 1860.  He was commissioned paymaster and was with the army two years in the field, being with Sherman on his memorable march to the sea.  Remaining in government employ until about 1889, he returned to Davenport much broken in health and remained here until his death in 1897. Debbie Clough G-erischer G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L