JOHN SUNDERLAND, deceased, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 17, 1800, and was a son of John and Sarah (Van Nice) Sunderland, both of whom were from New Jersey. Mr. Sunderland was born when Cincinnati was but a small village, and he distinctly remembers when the first brick house was built in the city. When but a small child our subject removed with his parents to Butler County, near Hamilton, Ohio, when that now beautiful city was but a small village. His boyhood days were spent in attending the common schools and helping his father on the farm, which was situated a few miles out of the city limits. In 1819 he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Page, and the following year the young couple removed to Parke County, Ind., where Mr. Sunderland established a general merchandising store at Rockville, the county seat of that county. In connection with his mercantile business he carried on pork packing, shipping his pork and produce on a flatboat down the river to New Orleans. He continued in this business until 1845. Previous to this, in 1843, Mrs. Sunderland was called to her final home. She was a devoted wife and a loving mother, and a member of the Baptist Church.

Ten children were born of their union, all of whom grew to man and womanhood, and of that number five are yet living: W. P., who was a physician, died in New Orleans; Eliza A., born April 4, 1822. became the wife of Judge Maxwell, and yet resides in Rockville, Ind.; Sarah, born Jan. 22, 1824, wedded Rev. John Tansey, and is a resident of Los Angeles, Cal.; Rebecca, born May 29. 1826, is the wife of Robert Q, Roach, a banker of California, Mo.; Mary, deceased wife of Dr. William Reeder, was born July 4, 1828; John C, born Jan. 31, 1831, is now deceased; Susan, born April 3, 1833, is the deceased wife of L. A. Foote, a resident of Crawfordsville. Ind. ; Harriet, now Mrs. David Ashpaugh, of Oregon, was born April 26, 1836; Ellen P., born Oct. 24, 1834, is the wife of Edward Howe, a teacher in the schools of Sacramento, Cal.; Margaret E. died of yellow fever in the year 1853, in the city of New Orleans. After the death of his first wife Mr. Sunderland was again married, April 14, 1845. to Mrs. Nancy Andrews, a daughter of Robert and Mary (Wallace) Sigerson, the -father a native of Pennsylvania, the mother of Kentucky. By this second union several children have been born: Emma L., born April 12, 1 848, is the wife of Henry D. Cameron, a farmer of Union Township, Des Moines Co., Iowa; Philomela, born April 25, 1851, is the widow of Dr. Thomas B. Downes, and resides in Wichita, Kan. ; Clara N., born May 28, 1853, resides at Burlington, and is the widow of Oscar Rhea, who was formerly a druggist of that place ; James C, born at Rockville, Ind., Oct. 14, 1859, is an architect of Kansas City, Mo.

In 1853 Mr. Sunderland, with his family, made an overland trip from Rockville, Ind., to the Willamette Valley, Ore., and after remaining in the valley for about ten months, returned to his former home, making the trip by water. In 1858 the family made a trip to Austin, Tex., returning the following year, and, in 1860 they removed to Burlington, Iowa, where Mr. Sunderland resided until his death, which occurred July 25, 1879. He was a prominent and highly respected citizen of Burlington, and his death caused a great loss to the community. He was a careful and conservative man in all his business dealings, was charitable and kind to his fellow creatures, was ready to aid in all educational and church work, and was an attendant of the Presbyterian Church. Throughout his life he was a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Gen. Jackson. Mrs. Sunderland is also a member of the Presbyterian Church, and of the W. C. T. U. of Burlington.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Des Moines County, Iowa, Acme Publishing Company, Chicago, 1888, pp 554, 556
added per the request of pmfrench (#47453952)