From Memorial and Genealogical Record of Dodge and Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin, publ. 
1894 - Page 164-165
 
BENJAMIN C. SAWYER.  A close observer, in studying the advancement and development of 
Dodge County, Wis., will find golden threads running through the web and woof of events of the 
past years.  These are indicative of the lives of those men whose public spirit and energy have 
made her among the first of the many interesting counties of Wisconsin.  A true representative of 
such men is found in Benjamin C. SAWYER, who was for many years one of the most energetic 
and enterprising of farmers, but who has been retired from active life for some time.  He was born 
in Pike County, Penn., September 17, 1819, a son of James SAWYER, who was born and reared 
in Orange County, N.Y., but was married in Sussex County, N.J. to Miss Katie NEARPASS, 
although the greater part of his life was spent in Pennsylvania, where he and his wife were called 
form life.  The youth of Benjamin C. SAWYER was spent in Pike County, Penn., but his 
advantages for obtaining an education were limited, for he attended the common schools two 
winter terms and an academy one winter term.  In 1842 he came West to seek his fortune, and 
spent the year of 1843 in Kenosha County, but the latter part of that year and 1844 were spent in 
the pineries of Michigan and in Wright County, Wis., purchasing a tract of land in Dodge County.  
He then returned to Pennsylvania, and until 1850 was an employee of the New York & Erie 
Railroad, then returned to Wisconsin and settled on his land, on which many years of hard work 
were expended in clearing and improving.  He first built a very good frame house, but as his 
wealth increased, and time passed on, this gave place to a handsome brick residence, and two 
fine barns were also put up.  He owned at one time over 300 acres of fine farming land there, and 
was very actively and successfully engaged in tilling the soil up to 1892, when advancing years 
caused him to retire.  He has a handsome and commodious residence in Waupun, surrounding 
which are four and one-half acres of land, a considerable portion of which he devoted to garden.  
His elegant home and comfortable fortune are but the result of energy and intelligence rightly 
applied, and his honorable, useful and upright career should serve as a lesson to the youths of 
the present day who have their own way to make in the world.  He was married in Orange 
County, N.Y., April 9, 1846, to Miss Mary VALENTINE, a native of New York, and to her union 
with Mr. SAWYER seven children have been given: Elizabeth, at home; Edgar, a mechanic, of La 
Crosse County; John, who is engaged in vegetable gardening in Waupun; Benjamin A., a 
dairyman, of Waupun; Alice, wife of Charles BAILEY, resides in Coffee County, Kan.; Sarah F. is 
the wife of J. PECK, a ranchman, of Garfield County, Colo., and Katie, who died in 1889, after 
reaching womanhood.  In politics, Mr. SAWYER was first an old Jacksonian Democrat, then 
became a Free Soiler, and when the Republican party was formed, identified himself with it, and 
has since supported its men and measures.  He was elected and served two terms as supervisor 
of Chester Township, but, with this exception, has never cared to hold public office, although he 
was for years a member of the school board of his district.  He is a member of the Congregational 
Church, has served as deacon in the same for twenty years, and his wife and unmarried daughter 
are also members of this church.  He has ever been a friend and advocate of the cause of 
temperance, and during the forty-four years that he has been a resident of Dodge County, he has 
proven himself one of her most useful and progressive citizens.  He is a very highly-honored old 
pioneer, and his friends are legion.
 
Submitted by Carol