Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-04-26

It is perhaps not generally known.
but it is said 10 be fact, that Philetus
Sawyer purposed doing something
| handsome for the University of Wis
consin but that his good intentions
were knocked awry by the decision in
the so-called treasury suits. That liti-
cation is supposed to have cost the
old man" pretty dearly-some say
from 100000 to 5000, 000-as he was
surety for one or more of the treas
| urers. He never whimpered after the
| courts ruled that the increment of
state funds belongs to the principal.
| but at once made provision by which,
so far as his responsibility was con-
cerned, the account was fully squared
yet so quietly was his part kept that
the curious really never learned Just
how hard hit he actually was.
But the filing of his will now awak-
ems interest in the possibility of what
might have been" Whether the
rumored gift to the university would
have taken the form of a building or
of professorship may only be con-
jectured; but it is certain that had the
generous old gentleman proceeded to
the length of doing anything at all it
would not have been of a character to
do no discredit to the Sawyer name. If
we could but know just how much the
cd HaI -
yer obligations on that rueful day
there would then be something of a
oasis for estimating the magnitude of
the benefaction of which the varsity
is now alas! forever minus.
Sawyer is supposed to have left
some $3,O00,000 All of it goes to near
relatives save $4,000 to the Ladies'
Benevolent society of Oshkosh.
70 Erna Sawyer Goodman of Chi
cago, only surviving daughter of the
deceased, is bequeathed all the capital
stock in the Sawyer-Goodman COM
pany of Chicago. The will also pro-
Vldes for Erna Sawyer Goodman a
one-half interest in the Sawyer man
sion IN Washington. This mansion.
however, was sold by ex-senator Saw
yer month before his death for $780,
600, and One-half of the sale price. or
S50,OOO, went to Mrs. Goodman. Mrs.
Goodman also receives 220 shares Of
$500 each of the capital stock of the
Wisconsin National bank of Milwau-
kee, Wis, value $4,000, also $50
shares, $500 each, of the capital stock
OF the American Security and Trust
Company of Washington, d. c.; also
100000 par value of bonds of the
Plover Paper company of Plover Wis.
which bonds are secured by mort
gage to W. o. Goodman, trustee. upon
the property and plant of the 1>lover
company, situated near Stevens Point;
also $4,000 of stock in the Royal
Trust company of Chicago.
To Kennith Goodman, son OF Mrs,
Goodman, goes $4,000 of the moneys
bequeathed to his mother, to be paid
to him when he shall arrive at the age
OF % years, or sooner. if in the iudg-
ment of his mother it is deemed ad-
,
Phil H. Sawyer of Oshkosh, a grand.
son who married Gov. Upham s daugh-,
ter at the executive residence in Mao
ison, receives $4,000. Mia Sawyer
Chase, a granddaughter of the de-
ceased and wife of c. C. Chase. re-
ceives $4,000. To his great-great-
granddaughter, Jewell Sawyer Chase.
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs c. c. Chase,
is given $4,000, to be held in trust by
her mother until her daughter arrives
at the age of q years, or to be paid
her sooner if in the judgment of her
mother it is deemed advisable.
To the Ladies Benevolent society is
bequeathed $4,000, to be used in con-
nection with other funds of the society
in the erection and construction of a
new building for the uses and pur-
poses of a home in the city of Oshkosh
for such aged or friendless persons az
said sciety may admit thereto.
The codicil provides that Charlotte
Hadley, widow of the late Thomas
Hadley of Crown Point, Essex county,
N. Y, shall have $25 per month the
rest of her life. Mrs. Hadley is the
widow Of the brother of Mrs Philetus
Sawyer, deceased. A codicil provides
that 800 per month shall be paid to
Verna Ellsworth, wife of William T.
Ellsworth of this city, during her life
time. Mrs. Ellsworth's mother and
the wife of the deceased were sisters.
Edgar Sawyer of Oshkosh, only sur
viving son of the deceased. is MADE
the residuary legatee.