WI BIO - Dane Co - SAWIN, Louisa M., Mrs. (nee BRAYTON)
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 213-214

Louisa M. (BRAYTON) SAWIN, the first teacher in Madison [Dane County, WI], 
now residing with her son-in-law, G. W. BIRD, of Madison, was born in the 
town of Wilna, Jefferson County, New York, 03 May 1816. [See also the Dane 
County, WI, biography of George W. BIRD.] Her father, Jeremiah BRAYTON, was 
born in Otsego County, New York, and his father was Thomas BRAYTON, who 
settled in Wilna, bought land, engaged in farming, kept a public house and 
filled various official positions. He spent his last years in Wilna 
[Jefferson County, NY]. The maiden name of his wife was Ruby JOHNSON. The 
father of Mrs. SAWIN was reared on a farm in Wilna, remained there until 
1835, then with his wife and four children, he removed to Ohio, traveling 
with a team to Sackett's Harbor [Livingston County, NY] and then via the 
lakes and Welland Canal to Cleveland [Cuyahoga County, OH] and lived there 
until 1837, when he came to the Territory of Wisconsin, via lakes to 
Milwaukee, and then with ox teams to Aztalan, Jefferson County. At that time 
Wisconsin was very sparsely settled, and the greater part of the land was 
owned by the Government. Mr. BRAYTON claimed one quarter section of the 
Government land, on Crawfish River [in Jefferson County, WI] and erected a 
log house on the banks. This was really a log house, as no sawed lumber 
entered into its construction. The boards to cover the roof were rived by 
hand and the boards for the doors and floor were hewn out. For years there 
was no road through that section, and Milwaukee was the principal market for 
grain and stock. [p 214] Mr. BRAYTON resided on this farm until his death, 
19 April 1869, aged seventy-five years. The maiden name of the mother of our 
subject was Maria MANVILLE, born in New York State, and died at the home of 
Mrs. SAWIN, in Jefferson County [WI], 20 June 1882, aged eighty-three years.

Mrs. SAWIN received a good education in her eastern home, and her services 
were sought as a teacher, and in 1839 she was employed by Mr. A. A. BIRD to 
come to Madison [Dane County, WI], and in the spring of 1839 she commenced 
the first school ever taught here. It was held in a log building, which had 
been erected for a dwelling, and the furniture was made of slabs, with 
underpins for legs. Holes were bored in the logs and pins inserted and a 
slab laid in served as a desk for the larger pupils to write on. Mrs. SAWIN 
did not become a millionaire from her salary, as it was only $2 a week, and 
she paid $1 of it for board. Later she taught at Jefferson [Jefferson 
County, WI]. There her schoolhouse was one side and her boarding place on 
the other side of the river, and she journeyed back and forth in a canoe.

She was married 25 January 1843, to George SAWIN, a native of New York State, 
a builder by trade, and at the time of his marriage he engaged in business in 
LaPorte [means LaPorte County, Indiana] where he continued until 1847, when 
he moved to Watertown [Jefferson or Dodge County, WI?], and continued his 
business there until his death, in 1852. After his death Mrs. SAWIN returned 
to her father's home and resumed teaching. This lady was engaged in the 
occupation of teaching until fifty years of age, but now resides with her 
daughter, Mrs. BIRD. Mrs. SAWIN has two children, namely: Albert and Maria. 
The former died in the late war in Company F, Twenty-ninth Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry. Maria is the wife of George W. BIRD.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly