Lake County Ohio GenWeb

Vernon C. Sawyer

This biography is taken from Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio, Embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake; Lewis Publishing Company, 1893.

Transcribed and submitted by Becky Falin, 1996.

Vernon C. Sawyer, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of East Mentor, Lake county, Ohio, is descended from one of the early New England families.

He was born in Mentor, Ohio, June 16, 1830, son of Isaac Sawyer, a native of Pompey, Onandaga county, New York, born July 26, 1805. Isaac Sawyer was a son of Joseph Sawyer and grandson of Benjamin Sawyer, the former born in Dalton, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, July 30, 1778, and died in Ohio, June 5, 1849, and the latter, also a native of Massachusetts, born June 23, 1750, died October 9, 1805.

Joseph Sawyer went from Massachusetts to New York and for some time lived in Onondaga county. In 1820 he made the journey on foot to Ohio, and upon his arrival here took up 160 acres of land in what is now East Mentor, Lake county, to which place he brought his family the following year. In the midst of the woods, the Indians and the wild beasts he built his cabin home and became one of the first settlers of the vicinity. After he had been here two or three years he bought a tract of 1,000 acres of land, at $2.50 per acre, and on this land his sons subsequently settled. He was a Justice of the Peace for some years and a prominent men here. He had six sons, all of whom lived to maturity but all of whom are now deceased. Isaac, the father of the subject, was the second son. He improved a portion of the land his father purchased, and passed his life engaged in agricultural pursuits here. His death occurred May 17, 1885. He was one of the leading men of the vicinity and was noted for his industry and his integrity. For a number of years he served as a Justice of the Peace. He was a member of the Methodist Church. Of his wife we record that she was a native of Allegany county, New York, and that her maiden name was Rachel O. Ferry. She was a popular and successful teacher previous to her marriage, and she, too, was a member of the Methodist Church. Her death occurred August 15, 1879. Isaac and Rachel Sawyer had two children, Vernon C. and Annette R. The latter is deceased.

Vernon C. Sawyer was reared on his father's farm and has been engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life. His education was received in the district schools and at Kirtland. As long as his father lived he was engaged in farming with him, and since his father's death he has continued on the home farm, which comprises eighty-three acres. He also owns other land, having in all 330 acres. He has given considerable attention to the breeding of fine horses, and, shorthorn cattle, in which lines he has been very successful.

Mr. Sawyer was married January 1, 1862, to Miss Urania A. Clark, a native of Lake county, Ohio, and a daughter of Mr. A. Clark, who came from Connecticut to Ohio at an early day and was engaged in farming here. Mrs. Sawyer died March 5, 1883, leaving two children, Irene A. and Eugene V.

Mr. Sawyer is an active member of the Methodist Church and a Steward of the same. Politically he is a Republican.

In concluding this sketch, we make reference to Benjamin Sawyer, Jr., a brother of our subject's grandfather. This Benjamin Sawyer, Jr. was born August 20, 1776, and died January 31, 1863. He came to Ohio about the time his brother Joseph did, and settled in this locality. Subsequently he went to Warrenville, Ohio, and joined the Shakers, with whom he spent the residue of his life.