Philetus Sawyer

Philetus Sawyer
Photo ca. 1870s, from the Brady-Handy collection
Chairman of the Senate Railroad Committee
In office
March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1887
Preceded byWilliam Pitt Kellogg
Succeeded byDwight M. Sabin
United States Senator
from Wisconsin
In office
March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1893
Preceded byAngus Cameron
Succeeded byJohn L. Mitchell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Wisconsin
In office
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875
Preceded byJeremiah McLain Rusk
Succeeded byAlanson M. Kimball
Constituency6th district
In office
March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1873
Preceded byEzra Wheeler
Succeeded byCharles Augustus Eldredge
Constituency5th district
9th Mayor of Oshkosh, Wisconsin
In office
April 1863 – April 1865
Preceded byHenry C. Jewell
Succeeded byCarlton Foster
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Winnebago 1st district
In office
January 7, 1861 – January 6, 1862
Preceded byGabriel Bouck
Succeeded byWilliam E. Hanson
In office
January 5, 1857 – January 4, 1858
Preceded byJohn Anunson
Succeeded bySamuel M. Hay
Personal details
Born(1816-09-22)September 22, 1816
Whiting, Vermont, U.S.
DiedMarch 29, 1900(1900-03-29) (aged 83)
Oshkosh, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeRiverside Cemetery, Oshkosh
Political party
Spouse
Melvina M. Hadley
(m. 1841; died 1888)
Children
  • Edgar Philetus Sawyer
  • (b. 1842; died 1927)
  • Earl T. Sawyer
  • (b. 1845; died 1848)
  • Ella E. Sawyer
  • (b. 1849; died 1851)
  • Emma (White)
  • (b. 1856; died 1896)
  • Erna (Goodman)
  • (b. 1859; died 1943)
RelativesWilliam O. Goodman (son-in-law)
Signature

Philetus Sawyer (September 22, 1816 – March 29, 1900) was an American businessman, Republican politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was a United States Senator from Wisconsin for twelve years (1881–1893) and served ten years in the U.S. House of Representatives (1865–1875). At the height of his power, Sawyer was described as one of the "triumvirate" of stalwart Wisconsin Republicans who dominated the state party in the latter part of the 19th century, the other triumvirs being U.S. senator John Coit Spooner and businessman Henry Clay Payne.

Before serving in federal office, Sawyer was the 9th mayor of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and represented the area for two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly. He was an important leader in the development of the city of Oshkosh, and later in life made several philanthropic gifts to the city, including funds for the construction of the Oshkosh Public Library. Sawyer County, Wisconsin, is named for him.

Sawyer used his wealth and power to try and steal timber and property from the Menominee Nation in Northern Wisconsin. After Sawyer's election to Congress, he introduced bills that would have sold Menominee land at public auction and sold their timber. In 1871, the Menominee declared that they were unwilling to part with their lands or timber and began to cut timber and sell it on their own terms, despite Sawyer's efforts.[1]

  1. ^ Loew, Patty (2013). Indian Nations of Wisconsin: Histories of Endurance and Renewal. State Historical Society of Wisconsin. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-87020-503-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)