JOHN H. SAWYER 

John H. Sawyer was born February 4, 1830, in Strafford County, New Hampshire, in that portion which has since been set off as Carroll County. His parents, Joseph H. and Abigail B. (Hall) Sawyer, were also natives of the same locality. All the four children of the family of Joseph H. Sawyer are now residents of California, viz.: Mrs. Addie S. Grant, of Sacramento; John H., the subject of this sketch; James C.; of Galt; and Mrs. Susan Hughes, of Oakland. The boyhood days of John H. were “pretty tough.” One year was all he had in school; he had to work hard and constantly. When he was fifteen years old the father died, and he had the responsibilities of caring for the family. From his father, who was a carpenter, he partly learned the same trade, and he followed it most of the time until he was of age. He then spent a year in New York, then a winter at Bristol, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, and in the spring of 1853, in company with his brother J.C., started with horse teams overland for the Golden State. Setting out alone, he fell in afterward with company. The journey was comparatively pleasant and the party arrived at Placerville, August 7. That was then a lively camp. After remaining there about a month, they went down to Dry Creek Township to build a house for Dr. Selan Russell, a large cattle dealer, who with others has taken up a large tract of land in what was called “Russell’s pocket.” Since that time, with the exception of three years, Mr. Sawyer has been a resident of that neighborhood. One year he passed in San Francisco. In the fall of 1856 he returned to Wisconsin and was married, and remained there two years. In the spring of 1859 he came again to California, bringing with him his wife, mother, and two sisters. His mother died in 1880, at the age of seventy-seven years. After his arrival here he worked steadily at his trade for four years. He then turned his attention to dairying for eighteen years, during which time it was a profitable industry. The first land he purchased was in 1878, when the town of Galt was started, his selection being a tract of 400 acres on Dry Creek just a half mile south of town. He also purchased 680 acres, the west boundary line of which was two miles east of town. Since that time he has been a resident of Galt, farming, raising cattle and horses, and building houses. He has built, or assisted in building, all the houses in the place. In 1859 he erected the Devins Exchange Hotel, which was afterward moved to Galt when this town was started. He also built the mercantile house of Whitaker & Ray, the school-house and two of the churches. One of these, the Methodist, was first erected for a school-house. Probably the first upland orchard in this section was set out by Mr. Russell on his place, and Mr. Sawyer built a windmill to irrigate it. This was the first windmill erected in the county. Mr. Sawyer belongs to Phoenix Lodge, No. 232, I.O.O.F., to Galt Encampment, No. 65, Rei Rebekah Degree Lodge, and to Galt Lodge, A.O.U.W.; he is a charter member of all these. The date of Mr. Sawyer’s marriage was November 4, 1856, when he wedded Miss Jennie C. Newcomb, a native of Rochester, New York, and a daughter of Samuel E. Newcomb, who is now making his home with her; he is eighty-five years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer have four children: Frank N., Wallace B., Jean and Thomas. The eldest was born in Wisconsin, and the others are natives of this State.