James Saunders, reeve of the village of Paisley, and postmaster, is:a son of Robert and Jane (Wynn) Saunders, and was born in. the township of Beckwith, County of Lanark, Ontario, March 14, 1839. His parents came from Kilkenny, Ireland. James was reared on a farm; finished his education in the Normal School, at Toronto; received a first-class Provincial certificate when twenty years of age, and taught between twelve and thirteen years, all but part of a year, in the County of Bruce, and more than half the time in Paisley. During the period that he was thus engaged, he spent two years in logging and clearing land, and had a moderate taste of backwoods life. Teaching was more congenial, and he returned to it with a keener zest.
Mr. Saunders was appointed postmaster in 1869, and still holds that office, making an attentive and obliging Government official. When Paisley became an incorporated village, in 1874, he was chosen reeve, and has held the office steadily from that date, and, as the head of the municipality, he is prompt in the discharge of his duties, and painstaking in looking after the welfare of the village.
He was secretary-treasurer of the township Agricultural Society three years, and of the society of the same name for the north riding of Bruce four years.
On being appointed postmaster, Mr. Saunders dropped politics, being prior to that time a Conservative, and secretary at the time of the local Conservative Association. His religious connection is with the Church of England. He has a stable character, and is a valuable citizen.
The wife of Mr. Saunders was Mary Ann Rowe, of Paisley, daughter of Samuel T. Rowe, the original proprietor of Paisley, south of the river. She has had nine children, losing one of them.