The Key West citizen., 1952-08-21
HAS "a GREAT
GRANDCHILDREN;
2l GRANDCHILDREN
BY Dorothy Raymsr

SVtVtUy N0yUUE
Blue eyes, bright as her cordial
smile, Mrs. Susan Sawyer, greeted
'itizen staffers today, on her 84tf
birthday, with q firm handclasp.
In clear and steady voice she
said, eve had my birthday party
early last week so that my great
grandson who is with the army
out in Wyoming could help cele.
brate with me. He had to 60 back
to duty, you see. But / am "a years
old today" Then she spied the
camera and asked, do you want
to take the picture out in the yard
or in the house? There are four
generations of my family here"
She introduced her daughter,
Mrs. Morrell Bradley, her grand
daughter, Mrs. Frank L. Aritas
who lives with her in the cottage
at the rear of 800 Eaton st. "And
these" she said pointing proudly to
a boy and girl who stood shyly in
the background, "are two of my
great grandchildren. have IA
great grandchildren and 21 grand
children" ~.
Mrs. Sawyer Is the widow of
Joseph Sawyer who died in 1947,
Accurately she recalled the dates.
He was "a, just the age am now
on December 20, 1916 and he died
July II just five years ago. We
were married 65 years. And we
had nine children. l raised all of
them right here IN this little house
where I've lived. for Sc years."
Mrs. Sawyer was born in Key
West in 1868. "My maiden name
was Adams, and l am related to
Earl Adams who is up at the court
house. He's a second cousin. We
have some fine people in my fam
ily," she said proudly.
Asked what was her most vivid
memory of the old days in Key
West she replied, 81 remember the
big fire. l forget the exact year,
but / was married and had one
child" (The fire was in 1861
Asked if she remembered the
days when horse streetcars instead
of busses were used for transpor-
tation, she alertly corrected the
question. "Yes, / remember well.
But the cars were pulled by mules,
not horses. This town shore has
built up some since the days when
l was girl. We had busy years
of course when the ships came in,
but there are a lot more buildings
now"
Mrs. Sawyer's great-grandson
Cpl. Frank Sawyer, visited with
his bride from Wyoming, and his
wife's family, last week. MY We
had great time celebrating my
birthday early so that Frank could
be here for it. He took me for
get out much anymore and it was
a treat to look at the new places
in town. Then when we came back
from the ride, there was the big
crowd here for the surprise party
They said they were going to take
me TO some of those nightclubs,
but | would rather have parties at
home. My doctor comes TO the
house when l don't 60 to the office
and now and then I go TO the
beauty parlor, but that's the extent
Of my getting around these days"
She added quickly. MY hair is
naturally curly. l just 90 to the
beauty parior 10 have il arranged. "
Mrs. Sawyer said she had no
special formula for long life except
Just be happy as you Gan. In ss
years Of marriage, wA had our
ups and downs. but we never part.
ed. Having a big family is q lot
Of trouble sometimes. but q large
family is one way TO happiness
She laughed and said, IF my
greatgrSndSon Frank who was
married this year has child soon.
you can come back next year and
take . picture Of i've senerauons!"