From Memorial and Genealogical Record of Dodge and Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin, publ. 
1894 - Page 86-87
 
LEWIS SAWYER.  This well-known and highly honored citizen of Dodge County, Wis., has been 
a resident of this section since 1841, but was born in Orford, (not Oxford) Grafton County, N.H., 
January 23, 1819, a son of Capt. Benjamin Carter SAWYER and Mindwell (SARGENT) 
SAWYER, who were born and reared and married in Orford, Grafton County, N.H.  Benjamin C. 
SAWYER was a stone cutter by trade, but was also engaged in tilling the soil, and reared his 
family on a farm.  In 1826 he went with his second son, J.H., to Quincy, Mass., where they 
worked at his trade, returning to Orford in early winter.  In the spring of 1827 he returned to 
Quincy, Mass., with two sons, J.H. and Hiram.  In the fall they went to Charleston, S.C., and from 
there to Savannah, Ga., returned from Savannah in the spring of 1829 to Baltimore, Md., where 
the father died by accident.  He was the father of eight children: Benjamin C., Jr., is eighty-six 
years old; John H., Adaline, Hiram, Joseph, and Abigail are not living; Lewis and Solomon, the 
latter a wheelwright by trade, also a tiller of the soil in Dodge County.  The early days of Lewis 
SAWYER were spent on a farm in Orford, N.H., in which State he remained until he was twenty-
two years of age, when he came West, via the Erie Canal and the great lakes, to Milwaukee then 
to Dodge County, where he arrived July 1, 1841.  He worked by the day the first year and in 1842 
entered his first piece of land, about forty acres, in Fairfield Township, now Oak Grove.  He 
afterward sold this land and in the winter of 1842-43 entered forty acres of the farm on which he 
now resides, upon which he took up his abode in the season of 1843.  He built a log cabin on the 
place and purchased more land as his circumstances permitted until he had a magnificent tract of 
land of about 400 acres susceptible of cultivation, and eighty acres of timber and pasture land.  
His early primitive buildings have given place to much more pretentious structure, and all are now 
substantial, commodious and slightly.  He has sold to his sons the entire estate, reserving the use 
of a small part sufficient to supply the wants of himself and family.  He has been married twice; 
first in Dodge County, Wis., December 30, 1844, to Miss Sarah S. SANBORN, a native of New 
Hampshire, who died March 5, 1854, leaving two sons: Francis L., now in California, born 
January 4, 1846, married Lydia L. MILLER, April 3, 1867.  To them were born three children: 
Sarah L., Egbert M. and Jedd F. SAWYER.  J. Ed, second son of Lewis SAWYER and Sarah S. 
SAWYER, born January 13, 1848, married Marie E. WARNER, February 17, 1870.  To them 
were born two children: Marie E. and Lewis E. SAWYER.  The above J. Ed SAWYER is editor of 
the Horicon Reporter, an eight-page paper, published at Horicon, Wis.  One page of the Reporter 
is edited and conducted by Miss M. E., daughter of J. Ed SAWYER.
 
Lewis SAWYER's second marriage took place December 5, 1854, at which time Miss Hannah 
WILSON became his wife; she was born and reared in Havehill, Grafton County, N.H.  To them 
was born one son, Herbert J., born April 1, 1856, died September 17, 1858.  Though formerly a 
Jacksonian Democrat in politics, Mr. SAWYER is at present independent in politics.  He has been 
elected to many official positions.  Mr. SAWYER is a member of A.F. & A.M., is a member of 
Beaver Dam Chapter R.A. Masons, and has been Master of the Blue Lodge, which he has 
represented in the Grand lodge of the State.  For fifty-three years he has resided in Dodge 
County, during which time his career has been characterized by strictly upright principles and the 
utmost fairness and good judgment.
 
Submitted by Carol