The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-03-19
REGENT DEATHS
OF UERHONTERS

!
known resident of Vermont died at hi,
| home in Hyde Park late Sunday evening
! aged nearly 90 years. He was the last
surviving member of the Vermont dele
| cation to the convention which nominal
ed Abraham Lincoln for president, For
many years he praetieed law in Hyde
Park. Two or three years ago he was
obliged to retire because of failing health
and for some time he had been unable
to leave the house He leaves his wife
and five children
Edward Bertrand Sawyer was born an
Hyde Park April l6, 1928. He was edu-
Gated in public and private schools, and
for a time was under a private tutor,
and for one term he attended Peoples
academy. He began the study of law
when Is years old, his father being his
first teacher He also read law in the
office Of Hon. w. w White of Johnson.
Approaching the defects of his early
schooling he adopted system of self
education, taking Fowler's self Educs
ton Complete" for guide and Benja
min Franklin for a model
Three years of his early life he spent
with a brother, who was in business in
Quebec. He was admitted to the bar
OF Lamoille county in June, 1910, and
Immediately commenced to practice with
his father. The same year he was APP
pointed clerk Of courts, which Office he
held, with the exception of two years,
until September, 1861, when he resigned
to enlist for the war, He again held
this appointment from 1868 to 1875,
when he resigned and took up the prac,
tice of his profession.
In 1865 he became interested in the
artificial breeding of trout and was prob
ably the first man in the state to en-
gage in this industry. Two years lat
er he abandoned this undertaking to pur-
chase the Lamoille Newsdealer, a news
paper which he revivified and edited for
three years, devoting a large share of
its columns to the advocacy of the Port
land & Ogdensburg railroad. In 1870 he
sold this journal and varied his expert
ence by becoming proprietor of the Amer
lean hotel, and after seven years man
agement of this concern retired TO re-
sumo his professional labors.
Mr.. Sawyer devoted all his time from
the beginning to the end of the war
to the service OF his country. He en-
listed September a., 1861, having first
raised and organized Co. d, 9Th Vermont
regiment, and raised Co. |, LIST Vermont
'avalry. Upon the organization of this |
body he was unanimously elected cap !
ain and in the retreat of General Banks |
Town the Shenandoah valley received a |
severe injury by fall off his horse |
Having previously been promoted to ma
or, though disabled, he did not suffer |
his energy to remain idle but recruited |
200 men for the regiment at large, and |
n addition organized Co. l. and Co. NJ,
'orming the sixth squadron of the regi
nent of which he was colonel, when mot /
n charge of a brigade or detached on
'peeial service, until he resigned. He |
was placed in the command of the I'd
brigade of kilpatrick's division when
hat general made his raid upon Rich
nond and upon that occasion and many
'thers was complimented for his efficient
ervice by his superior officers. though
10 record can be found of his asking for
In September, 1863 he was
in the cheek by rebel sharp
hooter, and though in no great battles
Turing the war was more than 80 times
lnder fire.
Col. Sawyer organized and was the
irst commander of Aaron Keller post.
:. A. r., which was named in honor of
lis maternal grandfather, a veteran of
he American Revolution.
Col. Sawyer came from old federal
nd wing stock, and sang Harrison songs
n tho political campaign in 1910. He
ras la the convention which instituted
be Republican party in Vermont aud
\ that of 1856. which nominated Ryland
fletcher for governor of the state. lie
dvocated Fremont's election and spoke
q hi favor in every town in Lamoille
ounty An incident which fell under
l. observation while in Canada attract
4 his attention TO the subject Of Amcri-
an slavery and he became a most bitter
pponent Of that iHstituf ion. He wa.
TO hear some Of the joint de-
stcs II Lincoln and Douglas. and ever
fter remained an enthusiastic admirrr
{ Lincoln. He was the last survivor the
lnior member and secretary Of tho Yer 1
ont delegation in the national convcii-
on u $50. and an incorporating
ivocate of Mr.. Lincolns nomination.
= represented HYDE Park in the con
itutiOnal convention Of $50 and IA
red the change to the biennial session
Colonel Sawyer vas married iu juno.
-. to- Susan Almira. daughter II Hon.
aar and lbcrras fTitus8 penno-k. And
lSs'6 hc married Helen NJ Peunock.
sister Of his mr.. wife.