Miss Lizzie Saunders...About a week before her death, she fell at her bedside and crushed her right hip, the accident hastening her death. She died at the age of 92, almost 93.

Elizabeth Saunders, the daughter of William and Sarah Carrigan Saunders, was born near Greensboro, North Carolina on April 5, 1839. She came with her parents to Laclede County in 1841. Her parents settled on a large tract of land two and a half miles east of Lebanon. The homesite is now known as the Hesslar Farm, a part of the original log house being enclosed in the present Hesslar residence. The farm was the Saunders family home for about 75 years.

Miss Lizzie Saunders, as she was known to her friends, grew up on the farm and attended school in the "Old Academy." She was a brilliant student and was progressive for a girl of that period, taking a great interest in politics and National affairs. She was a strong Southern sympathizer at the beginning of the Civil War, and, at a meeting of citizens to organize a company of Rebel soldiers, she made a stirring speech and presented a Rebel flag to the leader. Feeling being very high between Southern and Union supporters, Miss Saunders left with a wagon train of fellow sympathizers for Texas, where she remained for about ten years. Returning home, she continued her profession as a teacher and remained a teacher for 50 years.

In late years, she took up the work of weaving which she had learned as a child and her carpets, rugs and portieres were real works of art.

Miss Saunders joined the M.E. Church South when young and was a regular attendant when health permitted. Miss Saunders' mother lived to the age of 94 years and a sister, Miss Kate Saunders, to the age of 92.
She is survived by her brother, George Washington Saunders, who is the last of a family of eleven children.

The lover of her youth was killed while in service during the Civil War and Miss Saunders never married. She was a fine, strong type of the pioneer woman and was honored and loved in this community. Some speculate that she was the focus of Harold Bell wright's book, "The Calling of Dan Matthews."
Lizzie Saunders is buried in Lebanon City Cemetery.