Sidney W. Saunders Monument, (sculpture).

Sidney W. Saunders Monument, (sculpture).

Muldoon Monument Company, fabricator.

Sidney W. Saunders Monument, (sculpture).

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: granite and marble; Base: granite; Foundation: brick (?).

Sculpture: approx. H. 14 ft.; Base: approx. 26 in. x 8 ft. 2 in. x 5 ft.

(Right corner of front lower tier of base:) MULDOON & Co./LOUISVILLE KY (Upper front of monument, raised lettering:) SAUNDERS (Front of monument, left panel:) SIDNEY W. SAUNDERS/1846-1889/IS IT IN HEAVEN/A CRIME TO LOVE TOO WELL?/TO BEAR TOO TENDER/OR TOO FIRM A HEART? (Side panel:) WILLIE ST. JOHN./SON OF/W (illegible transcription) SAUNDERS, DIED MAY 13 1886./WILLIE, MY BELOVED TREASURE/MY BRIGHT BEAUTIFUL LOVING JEWEL/MAMA'S WEARY HEAVY HEART/IS YEARNING TO BE AT REST WITH THEE./OH! ART THOU MY PRECIOUS ANGEL/LONGING TO BE WITH ME YOUR LONELY/UNHAPPY MOTHER (Left panel on rear of monument:) SIDNEY I COULD HAVE WELL FORGIVEN/THAT LAST SEEMINGLY CRUEL ACT OF THINE/FOR YOU WANTED ME WITH YOU IN HEAVEN/HAD YOU WITH YOUR LIFE TAKEN MINE./TREMBLING AND ALONE I TREAD/LIFE'S DREARY STRAND/BESET ENVY, STRIFE, AND JEALOUSLY/BUT 'MID IT ALL, GOD AND LOVE OF THEE/HAS STAID MY HAND/TO RAISE THIS MARBLE TO THY MEMORY (Right panel on rear of monument:) MY HUSBAND, MY GOD IN MERCY PARDON ME/IF WHEN HERE I COME TO WEEP AND PRAY/ALL MY SOUL AND THOUGHT SHALL BE OF THEE/AND WRAPT IN THEE IDOL FROM THE MAKER STRAY./FAREWELL, THIS MONUMENT IS NOW MY LAST ADIEU./TILL IS HEAVEN WE MEET NO MORE TO SEPARATE./I SAY IN HEAVEN/FOR WHERE"RE YOU ARE, OUR BOY AND YOU/THERE IS MY HEAVEN/FOR THAT ALONE YOUR FAITHFUL, LOVING WIFE/PRAYS, WATCHES AND WAITS.

(On marriage license:) This is to certify that Sidney W. Saunders and/Annie Livingston of Monroe, in the State of/Louisiana, were by me joined together in holy/matrimony, March 25, 1875./ Witnesses:/John W. Rice/Frank Gregory/John W. Young/JUSTICE OF THE PEACE/City of St. Louis unsigned Founder's mark appears.

Victorian granite monument topped with a portrait of Sidney W. Saunders (1846-1889). He is seen standing, dressed in garb of the time, including a vest and opened jacket. He has a moustache. His proper left hand rests on a Doric column and holds his marriage license. The lower section of the monument is ornate, with inlaid panels and Corinthian columns.

Portrait male -- Saunders, Sidney W. -- Full length

Homage -- St. John, Willie

Occupation -- Other -- Businessman

Object -- Written Matter -- Certificate

Outdoor Sculpture -- Louisiana -- Monroe

Administered by City of Monroe, Cemetery Division, 400 Lea Joyner Expressway, Monroe City Hall, Monroe, Louisiana 71201

Located Monroe City Cemetery, 900-1200 DeSiard Street, entrance to cemetery, Monroe, Louisiana

The monument commemorates Sidney Saunders, a wealthy Monroe businessman, who died at the age of 42, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. According to local legends, Saunders owned a saloon, a grocery store, and other real estate holdings; but his wealth reportedly came from gambling, and he was not socially accepted. Nor was his marriage to Annie Livingston ever recognized. In 1872, a fire that originated in his store destroyed much of the City, and rumors circulated that he set the fire on purpose to collect insurance money. He was indicted for arson in 1888, but never stood trial; and in 1889, despondent, he shot himself. After a bitter estate battle (because it could not be proved she was his wife), Annie Livingston erected the memorial, with the figure of Saunders (holding their marriage text) placed facing the elite society section of Monroe. She also had the body of her son Willie, who had died several years earlier, moved to the site.

IAS files contain newspaper articles from the Monroe Morning World, April 1, 1979, pg. 3-D, and News-Star-World, July 3, 1983, pg. 1B, 7B.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Louisiana survey, 1996.

News-Star-World, July 3, 1983, sect. B, pg 1B.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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