Bio: Sawyer, Averill E. (1827 - 1885)

Contact:  Stan
Email:  stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Sawyer, Baillett, Price, Larowe, Davis

----Sources: 1881 History of Northern Wisconsin; Daily Leader, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Tuesday, March 17, 1885, Page 3; Biographical History of La Crosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, WI, Vol 2. Chicago: Lewis, 1892, pages 384 & 385, Census; Family Notes

AVERILL E. SAWYER, lumberman. Black River Falls. Born Nov. 24, 1827, in New York State. Came to Wisconsin in Fall of 1853, and settled at Beloit for one year; in 1854 went to Prairie du Chien and remained there until the Fall of 1859, then commenced lumbering on the Chippewa River until 1862, then came on the Black River; in 1867 moved to Black River Falls. Mr. S. has been one of the largest lumbermen on the Black River for a number of years. He now owns twenty-five thousand acres of pine land including two good farms in Northern Wisconsin. He also owns a large gents' furnishing store in Black River Falls; was married in 1851 to Miss Lydia Baillett; she is a native of New York, have one son, Willie E., born in 1858.

----Source: 1892 Biographical History of La Crosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, WI, Vol 2. Chicago: Lewis, pages 384 & 385

Averill E. Sawyer, deceased, who was for many years closely connected with the lumber industry of La Crosse Co., Wisconsin, was born 14th November 1827 in Cattaraugus County, New York, a son of Col. Earl and Polly (Davis) Sawyer, who were born in Vermont. Col. Sawyer was a farmer; his (Col. Earl Sawyer's) death occurred about 1870 on the farm in New York (in Cattaraugus County?), where he felled the first trees and made the first improvements. His wife passed away five years later. They (Earl and Polly Sawyer) had a family of seven sons and five daughters, and four sons still survive.

Averill E. Sawyer, the fifth born (out of twelve), received his education in Western New York, where he had more than ordinary advantages. The first business in which he embarked was the mercantile trade in Cattaraugus County, New York. He drifted into the lumber business while he was still interested in merchandising. In 1855, caught in the tide of western emigration, he landed in Beloit (Rock County), Wisconsin; here he embarked in the Yankee notion business, which he carried on (for one year) until he came to Prairie du Chien (Crawford County, Wisconsin), where he again became interested in the lumbering industry. He devoted all his time and energies to this enterprise, and after a few years had made a decided success.

About thirteen years ago he  came to La Crosse and established the same business. His home for a time was in Black River Falls , and later in Milwaukee (Milwaukee County, Wisconsin), where he (Averill E. Sawyer) died 14 March 1885, aged fifty-eight years. (Note the first biography states he remained at Prairie du Chien, Crawford County, until the fall of 1859, and in 1867 moved to Black River Falls, Jackson County.) He was liberal in his religious views, and gave a generous support to all denominations. He was a member of both the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders.

On 10 June 1851 Mr. Sawyer was married to Miss Lyida J. Baillet, a daughter of Frances E. and Elizabeth Baillet, of New York. The father (Francis  Baillet) died 22 February 1880, aged eighty-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Horton, is still living; she was born 27 November 1800.

William E. Sawyer (born in 1858 according to the first biography), son of Averill E. and Lydia J. Sawyer, married Miss Estella Larowe, of Portage (Columbia County), Wisconsin. He is carrying out the business established by his father. William E. Sawyer is Secretary of the Sawyer & Austin Lumber Company.

----Source: Daily Leader, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Tuesday, March 17, 1885, Page 3

Death of a Prominent Lumberman.

A. E. Sawyer, formerly engaged extensively in logging operations on streams in this lumbering district, and well known to lumbermen throughout the Chippewa valley, died at his home in Milwaukee Saturday, from an organic complaint from which he had suffered for a long time. In the winter of 1858 he was largely interested in logging operations on the Chippewa and his business necessitated him to spend considerable of his time in this city. Subsequently he located at Black River Falls, where he was in the lumber business with W. T. Price seventeen years.

1875 Wisconsin State Census, Albion, Jackson, Wisconsin

A E Sawyer
number of white males: 5
number of white females: 3
number of black males:
number of black females:
line number: 17

1880 Federal Census, Albion, Jackson, Wisconsin, United States, pg. 287

Averill E. Sawyer, American married male
occupation : Lumberman
father's birthplace: Vermont, United States
mother's birthplace: New Hampshire, United States

Household Members
self Averill E. Sawyer M 53 New York, United States
wife Lydia J. Sawyer F 46 New York, United States
son Will E. Sawyer M 22 New York, United States
other Betsy Baillet F 80 Pennsylvania, United States
other Frank Baillet M 46 New York, United States
other Harry Baillet M 16 Wisconsin, United States
other Mary Johnson F 23 Norway

Wisconsin Deaths

A. E. Sawyer
gender: Male
death date: 14 Mar 1885
death place: Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
age: 58
birth date: 19 Nov 1827
birthplace: N. Y.
occupation: Lumber Merchant
race: White
marital status: Married
spouse's name: Lydia Sawyer
father's name: Carl Sawyer