Three letters from Earl Saunders to his children that illustrate his belief in God, great sense of humor, and, above all else, his love for family.
Photo of Earl Saunders (author of the 2 letters below) in his early years.
Letter from Earl Saunders to wife, Maybelle, and his five children
This a great letter from Helen’s father to her in her second year Centenary College in 1935. He is sending her $5.00 which is equivalent to $82 today. He explains in a touching and funny way the reasoning behind each of the dollars he is sending. He lets her know that the $5 is all she is getting from him and if she wants additional support she should take it up with “the head of the household” referring, of course, to Grandma Saunders. He clearly had a great sense of humor and strong affection for his only daughter. He concludes with “I have the honor to transmit to you my most sincere respect and my undying love”.
Letter from Earl to daughter Helen in 1948
Sally’s Birthday Party around 1947
This is a video of Sally’s birthday party around 1947. George, Sally and three of the Mahony Boys, Denny, Ray, and Todd, are featured. The second clip was taken at the pool at the Sandrellan early 1950s. Uncle Kerby, Sally, George, Cardie, Bobby, Greg, and Kerby are all featured. Uncle George was doing the filming.
This post has narratives, documents, photos, and letters from family members dating back to the early 1800s through the 1940s.
Below is a narrative written by Helen Saunders Mahony around 1990 covering the Kerby, Saunders, and Kaesemeyer families.
First some documents and photos of the Kaesemeyers.
Below is some information on my great great great grandparents Christian Kaesemeyer and wife Margaret Hermans and Gotlieb Christoph Maesel and his wife Augusta Friederika Hasanever.
Their children Theodore and Katherine were married in December 4, 1854 and their children are listed below. Theodore Gotlieb Kaessemeyer married Emma Coy and were my great grandparents.
Kaesemeyer
Below is a Bio of Theodore F. Kaesemeyer and his wife Katherine, my great great grandparents. Apparently they were generous and respected people who owned the Unionville House hotel in Michigan.
Theodore Gotleib Kaesemeyer and Emmaline Coy, my great grandparents, had eight children of which seven survived to adulthood. The oldest was Maybelle Clara who married Carleton Earl Saunders. They were my grandparents.
Pictured here are Theodore Gotlieb Kaesemyer and his wife Emma Coy Kaesemeyer on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary. Their seven children are pictured below including Grandma Saunders.
Here is the Kaesemeyer family listed above taken in 1900. Standing left to right: Theodore Frederick (Tweed), Margaret Catherine, Herbert Edward, and Frank. Seated: Ahlma Kathleen, Maybelle Clara, and Emiline Coy (Emma).
Maybelle Kaesemeyer Saunders around 1905
Mabelle Clara (Grandma) Saunders birth certificate dated August 7, 1885.
Here are some photos and documents from the Saunders family.
Ed Sanders, father of Carleton Earl Saunders, as the name was originally spelled
Ed’s wife Ellen Kerby Saunders who died at 22 just 2 years after Carleton Earl was born.
Carleton Earl (Grandpa Saunders) at 2 years old in 1880.
Marriage license for Mabelle Kaesemeyer and Carleton Earl Saunders dates July 24 1903. He was 25 and she was 18 years old.
Photo of Carleton and Maybelle (they are the tird and fourth from the left). Estimating the date sometime in the 1920s. Don’t know who is in the photo but the young man to Maybele’s left looks like her son Cardie.
Carleton and Mabelle’s first three children: Bob, Cardie, and Kerby taken around 1912.
Younger siblings Helen and George taken in 1920.
Grandpa Saunders with four sons: George, Cardie, Bob, and Kerby taken in the mid-1940s as George is still uniform.
Grandma Saunders with three of her handsome sons (George, Kerby, and Bob) also in the 1940s.
Photo of Grandpa Saunders and son Kerby in from of their home at 197 Nutley Ave, Nutley in the 1930s
This the same house in 2011.
Classic photos of Grandma Saunders
Three surviving Saunders siblings taken in early 1980s: Cardie and wife Connie, Pat and husband George, Helen and husband Ray Mahony
George Stuart Saunders, Sr.
George Stuart Saunders, Sr. After reviewing many of the Saunders family documents, the accomplishments of Uncle George became very obvious. He was an outstanding athlete, a war hero, executive, and father of eight. These pictures and documents will provide a summary of a very productive and meaningful life.
At Nutley High School George was a star athlete.
Next is the wedding announcement to Estelle Carlin
Below is a summmary of George’s experiences during World War II.
He looked pretty good in his uniform as well!
Here is the announcement of his promotion to Lt Col.
Below is letter written to Stelle while George was over seas.
A letter from wife Stelle to George.
This one was written to his sister Helen right after he had been promoted to Lt. Col.
Below is a school assignment written by Drew Saunders, George and Jeanne’s son, about his Grandpa Saunders.
This is an interview conducted by Rosebud Saunders, clearly one of Jack’s children, with her Grandfather. Once again the themes of family, athletics, individual responsibility, and humor are present. The story about Jack cutting school is great.
A letter of appreciation and respect from Colleen, Sallie’s daughter.
George passed away in October of 2011. This obituary summarizes much of what he accomplished.
The program from George’s memorial service.
During George’s memorial service Ashley, Kerby’s daughter, delivered a touching and heartfelt eulogy.
Also during the memorial, Carole Saunders shared a poem she wrote summarizing George’s life. Insightful, loving, and humorous.
A prayer for George.
George Saunders: a life well lived.
Note from Grandma Saunders to daughter Helen a few days after Denny was born.
Photo of Maybelle “Grandma” Saunders
Letter from Cardie Saunders to sister Helen in 1940. AM
A very touching letter from Uncle Cardie to mom right after Denny was born. He writes “in my estimation no brother ever had such a sister. She is the personification of all that is sweet and good”. I noticed he referred to mom as Onnie which was her family nickname when she was young. 
Uncle Cardie’s teaching contract Nutley HS 1943
This contract paid $2175 which is about $34,000 in todays dollars.
Letter from Lt. Col. George Saunders to sister Helen from Europe in 1945. AM
George had recently been promoted to Lt. Col. which was quite an accomplishment at 26 years old. He mentions that despite the German resistence they will continue to invade. He jokes that he looks forward to going to Kentucky after the war and drinking mint juleps. Fortunately, The war will end three months after he wrote this note and he returns safely. He concludes the note with his expression of love for his family.