Placer
County
Biographies
WILLIAM SAWTELL
The business interests of Roseville
are well represented by William Sawtell, a leading
merchant of that place. He is a native
of Wisconsin, his birth having occurred in Shellsburg, Lafayette County, on the
19th of October, 1853. His
grandfather, Daniel Sawtell, was a pioneer of Ohio,
from which state he removed to Wisconsin in an early day, conducting a hotel at
White Oak Springs during the early period of the development of his section of
the state. He attained the age of
seventy years, having survived his wife for some years. His son, Edwin, Sawtell,
the father of our subject, was born in Ohio and accompanied his parents on
their removal to the Badger state, where he became an influential and
successful farmer. For thirty years he
served as justice of the peace of his township and made a most competent
official, his rulings being strictly fair and impartial.
In 1852, when only
sixteen years of age, he crossed the plains to California and engaged in mining
with excellent success at Hangtown, now Placerville. In 1852 he returned to his home and friends
in the east, taking with him about five thousand dollars. With this capital to serve as a nucleus for
business enterprises he married Miss Mary Jane Nedvill,
a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Captain Nedvill. In 1887 they returned to California, locating
in Roseville, where the father departed this life when sixty-seven years of
age. His estimable wife is still living,
at the age of sixty-seven, and is respected by all who have the pleasure of her
acquaintance. Ten children were born
unto them and six sons and three daughters are still living.
William Sawtell
is the eldest of this numerous and highly esteemed family. Excellent educational privileges fitted him
for life’s practical duties. He pursued
his studies in Platteville, Wisconsin, being graduated at the normal school at
that place in 1877. Subsequently he came
to California, where he accepted a clerkship in the store of J. D. Pratt,
filling that position for seven years.
He became the confidential clerk and was largely entrusted with the
affairs of the house, for his ability and fidelity have been fully attested.
After his marriage Mr. Sawtell turned his attention to farming and stock raising, which pursuit he followed for four years, when he
embarked in merchandising on his own account in Roseville, in connection with
P. V. Sigger.
After two years the latter sold his interest to W. H. Wearine and the connection between Mr. Sawtell
and Mr. Wearine continued for two and a half years,
when Mr. Wearine and his wife both died and Mr. Sawtell purchased the interest of the heirs in the
business, which he has since conducted alone, under the firm name of Sawtell & Company, his wife being the silent
partner. They carry a large stock of
general merchandise and by their liberal and honorable business methods have
secured a very large trade. In
connection Mr. Sawtell also deals in hay and grain.
He was married, on Christmas Day of
1885, to Miss Stella Shellhouse, who was born in
Placer County, a daughter of the honored pioneer Martin Shellhouse,
who had come to this state in 1849, locating near Roseville. He was a man of influence in the early days
and served as a justice of the peace. He
died in 1854, but his wife still survives him and is now in the sixty-fifth
year of her age. Unto
our subject and his wife have been born two interesting children, Ernest
Carlton and Gladys. They attend
and support to Methodist Church and Mr. Sawtell is
liberal toward all enterprises designed to benefit the town. He votes the
Republican ticket, but is not an office-seeker, preferring to give his time and
attention to the business affairs whereby he is now annually augmenting his
capital.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 699-700. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.