Sawyerj
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
JOHN W. SAWYER landed in Seattle
from San Francisco and Portland in 1878 with only five dollars in his possession.
He has now a clear title to 2,000 acres of choice agricultural land in
Lincoln county, Washington, and 3,400 acres in Morrow county, Oregon.
His home is nine miles southeast of Davenport. He has the very best
of modern improvements, both in his house and out-of-doors. His barn,
granary, et cetera, are large and conveniently appointed, he has a windmill,
which places water in his house, and a cistern that supplies his stock
with water. He has two farms near each other, and both are equally
well improved.
Born June 12, 1856, John W. Sawyer is a native
of Wyoming county, Pennsylvania. His father, who is now deceased,
was John, and his mother Amy (Leipham) Sawyer, the former a native of Pennsylvania,
the son of an English father; and the latter of Germany. The mother
now lives at Manchester, New Hampshire, and is seventy-seven years of age.
John W. Sawyer grew to manhood on a farm,
and in the spring of 1878 went to San Francisco. From that city he
went to Portland, Oregon, then to Puget Sound, where he followed lumbering.
On September 16, 1879, he was married at Oak
Harbor, Washington, to Julia Dixon, a native of Puget Sound. She
was the daughter of Thomas and Jane Dixon.
During the autumn of 1881 Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer
came to Spokane, where Mr. Sawyer followed bridge construction work in
the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company for a space and later
bought a tract of railroad land south of Medical Lake. Here he lived
only a short time when he sold out, and came to Lincoln county in 1883.
He soon afterward located a homestead where he still lives. He had
many hardships and inconveniences to endure, and a hard struggle to earn
money with which to make the necessary improvements on his land, but he
was ever a hard-working and industrious man and now takes just pride in
the success that has been attained by his efforts.
In fraternity circles Mr. Sawyer is identified
with the Royal Arch Chapter, the W. W., the Knights of Pythias and the
A. O. U. W. societies.
Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer have reared a promising
family of seven children. Frederick J., the oldest, is married to
Lottie Long, and lives near Moscow, Washington. The next in age is
Amy E., the wife of Fred Morse, also of the vicinity of Moscow. The
five remaining at home are, William, Effie M., Calvin, Clarence and Ernest
L.
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