The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-01-28
EDWARD C. SAWYER, ESQ.

day morning. Although Mr.. Saw
yer had not been in good health for
many months, he was apparently
better than for some time when he
retired Friday evening. The end
came without pain, being caused by
apoplexy. Although greatly re-
stricted in his movements by his
total blindness, he was a social man,
who enjoyed having his friends come
to see him and visit of old times, or
he was equally at home on the news
OF the day. He was a genial per-
sonality, loyal to his home town and
her interests, and generous both in
his private and public service, yet
quiet and unostentatious.
Edward c. Sawyer, the son of
John and Mary Dike) Sawyer, was
born in the old house on what is
known as the Deacon Sawyer farm,
June 10, 1885. He gained his edu-
cation in the town schools and the
old Bradford Academy. The west
was the goal of his ambition and
when about nineteen years old, he
left New England for GAINESVILLE,
Wis, which he made his headquar-
ters, while employed as an express
messenger on the railroad. During
the days OF the gold fever, he made
q caravan trip to its scene in Colo
RADIO, which it was his delight to re-
count in after years. 1t was time
when Indians were a real, though
lurking danger, when Denver was
just being staked out, and the most
exciting event of his whole lifetime.
In 1855, he went to Chicago, where
he had an office position with the
Express company, wol ki4g his way
up ntII ne held he most RESPONSE
ole q all positions, the Company's
cashier.
Failing eyesight made it impera-
tive that he give up this position
and inclination brought him once
more to the town of his birth, in
the year of 1884. For humber of
years, he lived with his sister, Mrs.
Ellis McDuifee. Later, desiring a
home of his own, he bought the
George w. Wright farm and re-
modelled the cottage house into a
fine two story building, which he
soon sold to l. A. Merrill, when he
moved into the village proper At
this time, he bought the home of
N. w. Cunningham, on Pleasant
Street, and here he lived to the COM
pletion of his life, with everything
done to make the last years as COM
Portable and happy as was possible,
with the darkness which even then
was descending upon him and which
finally shut ont the last ray of sun
light. His granddaughter, Edward
S. Robertson, has been his constant
companion since 1899, doing the
personal things for him which his
blindness made necessary, reading
and entertaining him and bringing
to his uncle the young life which a
boy in the house can always COM
mand. Mrs. Sarah NJ. Ladd has
been a faithful housekeeper for him,
practically all of the time for the
past fifteen years, making a home
and surrounding him with all the
comforts of an establishment.
Mr.. Sawyer was very much inter
ested wi h the upbuilding of this
town and in its prosperity. Al
though never actively engaged in
its industrial pursuits, he was con-
nected with the old Bradford bank,
being its president for a number of |
years. He was not particularly in
sympathy with secret societies
never having affiliated with them.
He united with the Congregational
church in Bradford in 1902 and
served as a member of the pruden-
tial committee. He never married.
He is survived by only one MEM
ber of the family of nine children,
a sister, Mrs. Ellis McDuffee, by
several nephews and nieces, grand
and great gand nieces and nephews.
The funeral was held from his late
home, on Monday afternoon at $50
with the Rev. DR.. Stahl officiating
and the interment was made in the
cemetery on the upper plain.
Mr.. Sawyer proved his affection
for Bradford by his last gifts to our
Public spirit and fine
discrimination are evident in every =
line of the Will which concerns the '
citizens. His generous gifts viii per-
petuate his name, and make his per-
a living one to the coming
His public bequests are
s., 100000 to the Congregational
,hurch. to be known as the +. c.
sawyer Fund, the interest on the
Investment to be used in the sup
port of preaching and for no other 1
purpose. 81 10000 to Grace church,
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