The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-21

How He Repaid His Brother the One Dollar
He Lent Him.

Washington Letter in Cleveland Leader.
friend of Senator Sawyer tells me of an in
cident of his generosity to his brother year or
two ago, and the neat way in which he gave him
a present, making it appear a debt. Senator
Sawyer hardly knows what he is worth, save that
his pile runs pretty high up in the millions
His father was Woodworking man, kept
blacksmith shop, and at the same
time did number of other things making q
comfortable little income. Philetus Sawyer was
born in Vermont, but when be was still baby
his father moved to Essex county, New York.
When he was seventeen years old Philetus
bought his time of his father until be was TWEEN
ty-one paying him 500 for it. His elder broth
or loaned him the money for this, and he struck
out for himself He engaged in various kinds of
he was thirty-one years old he paid back his
hundred dollars, and had amassed a little over
$1,000 more. He then concluded to go
West In the meantime he had
On his way to Wisconsin he stopped at his
brothers, and upon his asking him how much
money he had, he answered that he had $4,000
in belt around his waist and under his shirt
and he had been paying out good deal, but he
thought he had still about 5000 in his pockets.
and figured up just $l99. Hereupon his brother
handed him dollar, telling him that that would
make up his So, 200, and that he would know just
how much he started away with. Sawyer took
bought farm there, and in time got into the
lumber business, became wealthy, and now has
been for years in the United States Senate.
In the meantime his elder brother staid in New
York and attended to his farm. He still lives
there, and has farm worth about $10,0 900. He
is one Of the respected citizens Of his county,
and his note is as good as gold any day. Sawyer
comes out to visit him every year or two. and
thinks great deal of him. Two years ago he
asked him how he was situated financially, and
after much pressing, found that, though there
was no mortgage on his farm, he owed two
notes amounting, with interest, to about 81, l00
and that he was troubled by the fact that he
could not get enough ahead every year to pay
more than the interest on them. Senator Saw
yer said nothing but the next morning, on the
pretext of wanting TO see some old friends, he
slipped away from his brothers house and
bought the notes That night he asked his
brother, in the course Of their evening chat
whether he had any other debts whatever. His
brother replied that he was owing about 800 in
debts here and there. Senator Sawyer hereupon
took out the two notes, amounting to 81, 1O0
and placing 500 on the top of them, he handed the
pile to his brother, telling him that would make
him even with the world, and he then continued
You need not feel backward about taking this,
because it is merely the payment of a debt
When went West you gave me dollar, never
expecting to get it back. l considered that dol
lar as a loan. as an investment, as a part of my
capital. AS far as | can estimate now each one
of the So 200 which / carried away with me has
sweled into 81. 200, and in giving you this 81 200
I am only giving you your share of the profits"
II asked Senator Sawyer" said this gentleman,
what his brother said when he did this, and he
replied: He did not know what to make Of it at
first, but he finally took the money and the
notes. saying he wished he had invested ST. 900
instead of 81 ,"