Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-04-03

of large majority. In January he was
elected senator for six years from March
4, 1881. In January, 1887. he was re-
elected without opposition III his own
party for the term ending III 1898. His
career III the Senate showed the same
useful and conscientious discharge of his
duties which characterized his terms III
the House of Representatives.
Senator Sawyer was married near
Grown Point, n. Y. in 1871, to Miss
NJ. NJ. Hadley, who died May p, 1888.
1t may be added that the liberality of
Mr.. Sawyer as a citizen has long been
conspicuous in his community III many
ways. As mayor Of the city of Oshkosh
during two years of the Civil war his
expenditures of both time and money in
the effort to fill the quota Of the city
and so avoid the CONSUMPTION was large,
aud no claim was made for reimburse
ment. Churches and educational institu-
tons in the state have often been the
recipients of liberal contributions toward
their necessities or their improvements.
The Y, NJ. c. \. of Oshkosh is indebted
to his bounty for it's ability to secure
large and connections business block liz
the heart Of the city. Generosity to de-
serving objects marked his career from
the beginning.
The Treasury Cases.
An incident of Mr.. Sawyer's later
years which gave great pain to himself
and his friends was the prosecution of
the sureties On the official bonds of GER
tain state treasurers VINO had been APP
propriating the interest paid by banks
On deposits OF state funds. This was in
pursuance OF practice which had con
anued for years, yet the opportunity. was
presented TO make 4 partisan attack en-
Mr.. Sawyer one OF the sureties. 1t was
not shown that Mr.. Sawyer profted by
the practice, yet he was made to
emf For
prosecution of the case that the
La Toilette incident occurred Mr..
Sawyer desired to secure La Follette'S
services as counsel and asked him to
come to Milwaukee. They met at the
Plankinton house and when Mr.. Sawyer
made the offer it was construed by Mr..
La Toilette as an attempt to reach
Judge Siebecker, who is La Follettc's
brother-in-laW and who was to try the
treasury cases. There was much sensa-
tional talk about bribery, etc, but with
the exception of q few Democrats and
few personal enemies of Mr.. Sawyer's
nobody took any stock in the charge.
Money Made in Lum bering.
Ia an interview published several years
ago, when asked how he acquired his
great fortune with SO little 90 start with,
Mr.. Sawyer replied
The most of my money was made in
buying and selling lumber. While L
L
lumber was worth Il great deal The for
ests there had been rapidly cut, and the
prices of timber had risen. When |
came to Wisconsin it was new state
1t had vast tracts of pine lands. and I
believed the day would come when these
lands would Ese very valuable. | invested
what | had Ira pine, and bought more as
| could. Latter on [ borrowed q great
deal of money and bought pine.
[ made a rumber OF good deals:
turned my naGney over rapidly and
bought more and more. One time | got
hold of a tract for $4,000. | had .
partner with me- in that purchase, ana
we each made mere than 100000 out Of
the deal. At another time | bought for
$500 some pine lands which | after
ward sold for $64 900. / made other in
vestments which paid me 100000 and
upward apiece, and in this way for
tune was gradually accumulated. After
time | became Interested in railroads,
and made some money III them. especial
~ III the pine lands along the roads.
You see, all of my life has been spent in
dealing in lumber"