Phillip Saunders
(1829 – 1894)
Marshal - June 23, 1869 – October 31, 1870
(1829 – 1894)
Marshal - June 23, 1869 – October 31, 1870
Phillip Saunders was born in Ireland in 1829. In the 1860 census, he was listed as a mariner located in San Francisco with his Irish born wife Bridget. It isn’t known when he came to Portland, but he became a deputy Marshal in 1865. In 1867 his 31 year old wife died suddenly, leaving her husband with three children aged 6, 4 and the youngest just days old. Saunders never re-married, his oldest son stayed in Portland, the younger may have moved back to California and no record has been found of the newborn infant, who may not have survived; the 1870 census only mentions Philip and the two boys.
He was a deputy Marshal, a special officer and a Constable for the Washington Precinct Justice of the Peace until 1869 when he was elected to be the last City Marshal. This was the last time the head of Portland’s law enforcement was elected because at the end of his term the city shifted to a full-time police force with an appointed Chief. The election of 1869 was a general house-cleaning with the Republican Party winning the offices of Mayor and Marshal as well as all of the seats on the City Council. The election resulted in a celebratory crowd parading through town and serenading the new Mayor, councilmen and Marshal Saunders. By all accounts Saunders was a success as Marshal, but when it came time for the selection of the officers for the Metropolitan Police Force, the newly elected governor, Democrat Lafayette Grover, had seized control by appointing a Police Board of Commissioners for the city. Saunders, an active Republican, was excluded from the force.
Saunders was involved in a number of pursuits after 1870. In 1871 he was elected 2nd Lieutenant in the Emmett Guard, Portland’s militia. From 1871 to 1876 he ran a saloon and a store dealing in wines, liquors and cigars. From 1876 to 1886 he continued in the saloon business while working as a watchman for the Customs House, a special police officer, and a volunteer firefighter. In 1882 his health was deteriorating and he was described in the Oregonian as “emaciated.” In early 1886 he was committed to the insane asylum in Salem, based on “loss of sleep superinduced by intemperance.” He came back to Portland for a time, but had to return to the asylum where he died in 1894.
He was a deputy Marshal, a special officer and a Constable for the Washington Precinct Justice of the Peace until 1869 when he was elected to be the last City Marshal. This was the last time the head of Portland’s law enforcement was elected because at the end of his term the city shifted to a full-time police force with an appointed Chief. The election of 1869 was a general house-cleaning with the Republican Party winning the offices of Mayor and Marshal as well as all of the seats on the City Council. The election resulted in a celebratory crowd parading through town and serenading the new Mayor, councilmen and Marshal Saunders. By all accounts Saunders was a success as Marshal, but when it came time for the selection of the officers for the Metropolitan Police Force, the newly elected governor, Democrat Lafayette Grover, had seized control by appointing a Police Board of Commissioners for the city. Saunders, an active Republican, was excluded from the force.
Saunders was involved in a number of pursuits after 1870. In 1871 he was elected 2nd Lieutenant in the Emmett Guard, Portland’s militia. From 1871 to 1876 he ran a saloon and a store dealing in wines, liquors and cigars. From 1876 to 1886 he continued in the saloon business while working as a watchman for the Customs House, a special police officer, and a volunteer firefighter. In 1882 his health was deteriorating and he was described in the Oregonian as “emaciated.” In early 1886 he was committed to the insane asylum in Salem, based on “loss of sleep superinduced by intemperance.” He came back to Portland for a time, but had to return to the asylum where he died in 1894.