WI BIO - Jackson (and LaCrosse) Co - SAWYER, Averill E.

First biography of Averill E. SAWYER
History of Northern Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, v 1, p 413

A. E. [Averill E.] SAWYER, lumberman, Black River Falls [on the Black River, 
and on the West Wisconsin Railway line, in Jackson County, Wisconsin], was 
born 24 [14?] November 1827 in [Cattaraugus County] New York. He came to 
Wisconsin in fall of 1853 [1855?], and settled at Beloit [Rock County] for 
one year. In 1854 went to Prairie du Chien [Crawford County, Wisconsin] and 
remained there until the fall of 1859. He then commenced lumbering on the 
Chippewa River until 1862, then came on the Black River, and in 1867 moved to 
Black River Falls.

In 1854 A. E. SAWYER was married to Miss Lydia BAILLETT [a French Huguenot 
name, often spelled BALLIETT in the United States], who was born in New York. 
[Note the names of her parents are given in the second biography.] A. E. 
and Lydia (BAILLETT) SAWYER have one son, Willie E., [William E.] who was 
born in 1858. [Note the second biography, published eleven years later, 
states there are four sons living out of a total of twelve children.] Mr. 
SAWYER has been one of the largest lumbermen on the Black River for a number 
of years. He now owns twenty-five thousand acres of pine land including two 
good farms in Northern Wisconsin. He also owns a large gents' furnishing 
store in Black River Falls.

Second Biography of Averill E. SAWYER
Biographical History of LaCrosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, WI, Vol 
2. Chicago: Lewis, 1892, pp 384-385

Averill E. SAWYER, deceased, who was for many years closely connected with 
the lumber industry of LaCrosse County, Wisconsin, was born 14 [24?] November 
1827 in Cattaraugus County, New York, a son of Col. Earl and Polly (DAVIS) 
SAWYER, who were born in Vermont. Col. SAWYER was a farmer; his [Col. Earl 
SAWYER's] death occurred about 1870 on the farm in New York [in Cattaraugus 
County?], where he felled the first trees and made the first improvements. 
His wife [Polly (DAVIS) SAWYER] passed away five years later [about 1875]. 
They [Earl and Polly (DAVIS) SAWYER] had a family of seven sons and five 
daughters, and four sons still survive.

Averill E. SAWYER, the fifth born [of twelve], received his education in 
Western New York, where he had more than ordinary advantages. The first 
business in which he embarked was the mercantile trade in Cattaraugus County, 
New York. He drifted into the lumber business while he was still interested 
in merchandising. In 1855, caught in the tide of western emigration, he 
landed in Beloit [Rock County], Wisconsin; here he embarked in the Yankee 
notion business, which he carried on [for one year] until he came to Prairie 
du Chien [Crawford County, Wisconsin], where he again became interested in 
the lumbering industry. He devoted all his time and energies to this 
enterprise, and after a few years had made a decided success.

About thirteen years ago he [Averill E. SAWYER] came to La Crosse [La Crosse 
County, Wisconsin] and established the same business [lumbering]. [This text 
published 1892, thus "thirteen years ago" would be about 1879, but note the 
first biography, published 1881, still has him in Jackson County, Wisconsin.] 
His home for a time was in Black River Falls [Jackson County, Wisconsin], 
and later in Milwaukee [Milwaukee County, Wisconsin], where he [Averill E. 
SAWYER] died 14 March 1885, aged fifty-eight years. [Note the first 
biography states he remained at Prairie du Chien, Crawford County, until the 
fall of 1859, and in 1867 moved to Black River Falls, Jackson County.] He 
was liberal in his religious views, and gave a generous support to all 
denominations. He was a member of both the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders.

On 10 June 1851 Mr. [Averill E.] SAWYER was married to Miss Lyida J. BAILLET, 
[spelled "BAILLETT" in the first biography; is a French Huguenot surname 
often spelled BALLIETT in the United States], a daughter of Frances 
[Francis?] E. and Elizabeth BAILLET, of New York. The father [Francis 
BAILLET] died 22 February 1880, aged eighty-three years. His wife, whose 
maiden name was Elizabeth HORTON, is still living [as Mrs. Elizabeth 
BAILLET?]; she [then Elizabeth HORTON] was born 27 November 1800.

William E. SAWYER [born in 1858 according to the first biography], son of 
Averill E. and Lydia J. (BAILLET) SAWYER, married Miss Estella LAROWE, of 
Portage [Columbia County], Wisconsin. He is carrying out the business 
established by his father. William E. SAWYER is Secretary of the Sawyer & 
Austin Lumber Company.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly