Alvin Saunders

(grandfather of William Henry Harrison [1896-1990]), a Senator from Nebraska; born in Fleming County, Ky., July 12, 1817; attended the common schools and pursued an academic course; moved with his father to Illinois in 1829 and to Mount Pleasant, Iowa (then a part of Wisconsin Territory), in 1836; postmaster of Mount Pleasant for seven years; studied law but never entered into practice; engaged in mercantile pursuits and banking; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1846; member, State senate 1854-1856, 1858-1860; one of the commissioners appointed by Congress to organize the Pacific Railroad Co.; Governor of the Territory of Nebraska 1861-1867; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate and served from March 5, 1877, to March 3, 1883; chairman, Committee on Territories (Forty-seventh Congress); died in Omaha, Nebr., November 1, 1899; interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery.