James Albert (Ab) Saunders
Ab Saunders was born to James and Catherine Saunders on October 14, 1851 at Mount Pleasant, Iowa. He was educated and very nearly graduated from high school. Ab went with his cousins, George and Frank Coes to New Mexico. Frank Coe and Ab owned a ranch together in Lincoln County on the Rio Hondo, near the town of La Junta. Ab was in several posses in Lincoln and participated in a few lynchings. He was nearly unnactive as a Regulator. On April 29, 1878, Ab, Frank Coe, and Frank MacNab were riding down by the Fritz Ranch, by Fritz Spring. As they approached the spring, a large posse composed of several members of the Seven Rivers Warriors and Jessie Evans Gang shot at them and attacked them. MacNab was killed and Ab was shot in the left ankle and left hip and captured along with Frank Coe, who was unhurt. Ab was dropped off at Fort Stanton and was kept there until May 12. From there, he went to the Ellis house to recuperate. He later went to El Paso, Texas and from there went to California. He died in San Francisco during an operation he was having on his wounded hip and ankle on February 5, 1883.
