Philetus Sawyer

Philetus Sawyer (September 22, 1816 – March 29, 1900) was an American businessman, Republican politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was a United States Senator from Wisconsin for twelve years (1881–1893) and served ten years in the U.S. House of Representatives (1865–1875). At the height of his power, Sawyer was described as one of the "triumvirate" of stalwart Wisconsin Republicans who dominated the state party in the latter part of the 19th century, the other triumvirs being U.S. senator John Coit Spooner and businessman Henry Clay Payne.

Before serving in federal office, Sawyer was the 9th mayor of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and represented the area for two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly. He was an important leader in the development of the city of Oshkosh, and later in life made several philanthropic gifts to the city, including funds for the construction of the Oshkosh Public Library. Sawyer County, Wisconsin, is named for him.

Sawyer used his wealth and power to try to steal timber and property from the Menominee Nation in Northern Wisconsin. After Sawyer's election to Congress, he introduced bills that would have sold Menominee land at public auction and sold their timber. In 1871, the Menominee declared that they were unwilling to part with their lands or timber and began to cut timber and sell it on their own terms, despite Sawyer's efforts.

Early life Philetus Sawyer was born in 1816 in Whiting, Vermont, and moved with his family to rural forested Essex County, New York, as an infant in 1817. He was educated at rural schools and, at age 14, went to work in the lumber industry, providing most of his wages to his family. At age 17, he borrowed 100 dollars from his brother and paid it to his father to allow him to work at his own profit for a period of four years. At the end of that time, he had paid back his brother and paid for two years of his own education. Shortly after, he became the operator of a lumber mill in Essex County, where he earned a substantial profit through his 20s.

In 1847, Sawyer set out for the Wisconsin Territory, and settled a farm in . After two years toiling unsuccessfully at his farm, he decided to return to his lumbering roots in the nearby pine forests along the Wolf River. He sold his farm and moved to the village of "Algoma", now part of the city of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He took over operation of a sawmill there and operated it successfully until 1853, when he went into business with Brand & Olcott, lumber manufacturers and dealers, and purchased the mill which he had been operating. Olcott retired in 1856, and Sawyer bought out Brand in 1862, becoming sole owner of the company, which he then operated as . In 1859, he was elected to the Winnebago County board of supervisors, and in 1860, he won another term in the State Assembly, serving in the 14th Wisconsin Legislature. Sawyer was next elected mayor of Oshkosh in 1863 and 1864. Sawyer won the election with 57% of the vote.

Sawyer won three more terms in this district, defeating Democratic nominees Morgan Lewis Martin, Joseph Vilas, and Joseph Stringham. After the 1870 United States census, Wisconsin was apportioned two additional congressional seats and a new redistricting was undertaken. Under the new plan, Sawyer resided in Wisconsin's 6th congressional district. In the 1872 election, Sawyer defeated Democrat Myron P. Lindsley, but announced two years later that he would not run for a sixth term.

Personal life and legacy Philetus Sawyer was the fifth of eleven children born to Ephraim Sawyer and his wife Mary ( Parks).

Philetus Sawyer married Melvina M. Hadley in 1841. They had five children, though two died in childhood. Melvina died of a long illness in 1888. He was interred at a family mausoleum at Riverside Cemetery in Oshkosh.

The Wisconsin Legislature voted to name Sawyer County, Wisconsin, in his honor.

Electoral history U.S. House of Representatives, 5th district (1864–1870) Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 1864 General 12,576 56.84% Dem. 9,550 43.16%22,126 3,026 1866 General Republican 14,341 60.54% Dem.9,347 39.46%23,688 4,994 1868 General Republican 19,622 55.81% Dem. 15,534 44.19% 35,156 4,088 1870 General Republican 17,258 59.35% Dem. 11,822 40.65% 29,080 5,436

U.S. House of Representatives, 6th district (1872) Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 1872 General Republican 15,803 56.12% Dem. 12,358 43.88% 28,161 3,445

U.S. Senate (1881, 1887)