Ab Saunders

by J. Young

James Ab Saunders

Events & Genealogy
Born: James Albert Saunders
Birthdate: October 14, 1849
Birthplace: Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Marriage:
Children:
Death: February 5, 1883 at San Francisco, California
Cause of death: Gunshot wounds
Burial: Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery, Lompoc, California

James Albert Saunders was born on October 14th, 1849, in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. His parents were James Withrow Saunders and Catherine Wolgamott. At around age ten The Saunders family moved to Missouri. Ab received a comprehensive education and attended classes up to High School. In 1871, he left Missouri for New Mexico with his sister Ada, and her husband, (Ab’s brother-in-law) Jasper Coe, and his brothers, Frank and Albert. Another man who was a Coe cousin also traveled with them and became a good Pal of Ab, George Coe.

Frank and Ab established a ranch together where they cultivated crops and raised livestock. However, they faced challenges sourcing supplies from the only nearby store in Lincoln, owned by L.G. Murphy and associate James Dolan and supported by the corrupt Santa Fe Ring. The exorbitant and unjust prices made it difficult for Ab and Frank to sustain their business, while they also had to fend off frequent theft and cattle rustling attempts.

Frank and Ab resolved to take action against the rampant theft in their area, joining forces with their neighbors – Charlie Bowdre, Doc Scurlock, and cousin George – to liberate rustler Jesus Largo from jail during Saturnino Baca’s tenure as Sheriff. The group took Jesus outside of town and hung him for his criminal actions. A few days following this event, they caught up to cattle rustler Nicholas Meras in Baca Canyon and fatally shot him.
In 1877, John Tunstall arrived in Lincoln with the intention of opening a store alongside Alex Mcsween and in partnership with John Chisum. This move was met with disdain from Murphy/Dolan, as it was a direct competitor and threatened their store and monopolistic hold on the market. Any business with the courage and more affordable prices could easily supplant them, but would be up against corruption in high places. 

Ab, Frank, and many other ranchers in the area allied with John Tunstall and Chisum in hopes of obtaining fair and affordable prices. Mr. Tunstall hired several guns, including Billy Bonney, who became a close friend to the Coes and Ab. However, Tunstall underestimated his rivals’ willingness to commit crimes to maintain their grip over Lincoln’s vulnerable citizens. Tragically, John Tunstall was murdered, and his store was seized by Murphy/Dolan and the corrupt law enforcement in town, who were controlled by Murphy and Dolan. The Lincoln County War erupted, and AB Saunders became a member of The Regulators.

In April of 1878, during the war, ambushes and killings of members from both sides occurred frequently throughout the county. While riding near the Fritz Ranch, Ab, Frank Coe, and Regulator Frank McNab were ambushed by a Dolan paid group known as The Seven Rivers Warriors, who were all part of George Peppin’s group and the Murphy/Dolan faction. 
Frank Coe recalls that day…

“I was riding a race pony and a good saddle animal, I told the others that we had better whip up a little bit but my race pony being a much better saddle animal I had distanced them about a hundred yards when we got near the Fritz ranch. What we didn’t know was there were about 20 men lying in ambush, the rest were inside the Fritz house which was about a half a mile down river. I was so far ahead that they let me pass. Sanders and McNab came riding up after I had passed and they had open fire upon them and they reached a point about a hundred yards from the house. Mcnab’s horse began bucking and threw him off, he ran for a mile up the canyon. The Seven Rivers gang ran around the point of the hill that McNab rounded and chased him this distance before they killed him. Saunders’ horse was killed and he ran over a little Knoll and was followed up and shot through The hip which disabled him and he was captured..when I heard the shooting I tore out on down the canyon. I crowded back next to the mountains on the north side of the valley and made for a hill. Several of them began shooting at me. Someone shot from the fritz house and killed My horse a bullet hit her right in the back of the head, she stumbled along for about 30 feet and fell I went over head and jumped up, she had fallen on my Winchester I shot left-handed and carried my Winchester on that side I tried to pull it out but could not.
Frank Coe
Frank Coe

Upon seeking shelter, Frank was apprehended by the Warriors. Inside, he was informed of McNab’s death and a potentially fatal injury to Sauders outside. Frank pleaded with the Warriors to retrieve Sauders and bring him inside. A buggy was rigged, and they went after him. Frank later learned that the Warriors had mistaken Ab for Billy the Kid. 
George Coe also remembered that day…

Ab Saunders had been wounded in the hip, the shot tore the knucklebone all the pieces. He spent more than a month in the hospital, and when he had improved sufficiently to operate a wheelchair, he was moved to Uncle Ike Elllis's place in Lincoln. The physician's told him, however, that he would only have a few more months to live. Ab became homesick for his parents in Santa Barbara, California and although he had a good holdings he had no ready money. Uncle Ike offered to take him up to the railroad at El Paso if we boys would chip in and help him out. Everybody loved Ab and when I told the boys that he needed a little help, we made a jackpot in less than 30 minutes and arranged everything for his departure. Uncle Ike drove him to El Paso, where he put him on the train from Santa Barbara. Ab reached home in time to visit with his family before he passed on to the last round up.”
George Coe
George Coe Frontier Fighter

Manuel Seguria was killed by the Regulators in retaliation for McNab and Saunders. Following his release from Fort Stanton, Ab rested and contemplated at the Ellis house before embarking on a journey that took him to from El Paso through Colorado, and eventually to San Francisco. Ab Saunders suffered from the gunshot wounds sustained during the Lincoln County War and required surgery, he unfortunately passed away due to complications during the procedure at a San Francisco hospital on February 5th, 1883. He now rests at Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery in Santa Barbara County, at Lompoc, California.

For the full story of The Ambush at The Fritz Ranch and the events that unfolded the next day, follow the trail below!
https://palsofbillythekidhistoricalsociety.com/frank-mcnab/

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