Philetus Sawyer
Encyclopedia
Philetus Sawyer was an American
politician of the Republican Party
who represented Wisconsin
in both houses of Congress
. Sawyer County, Wisconsin
, is named for him.
Philetus Sawyer was born in 1816 in Whiting, Vermont
, and moved to Crown Point, New York
, as an infant in 1817. He moved to Wisconsin in 1847 and worked in the lumber industry. Sawyer's early political career included serving in the Wisconsin State Assembly
in 1857 and 1861, and as mayor of Oshkosh, Wisconsin
, from 1863 to 1864. He ran for and was elected to the United States House of Representatives
in 1864 and served for ten years from 1865 until 1875; he did not run for reelection in 1874. Sawyer returned to Congress in 1881 as a U.S. Senator
. He served two terms from 1881 to 1893 and did not seek a third. However, he became notorious for a charge made against him by Congressman Robert La Follete that he had attempted to bribe La Follete. Sawyer died in 1900 in Oshkosh at age 83. He was interred at a family mausoleum
at Riverside Cemetery in Oshkosh.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
who represented Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
in both houses of Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. Sawyer County, Wisconsin
Sawyer County, Wisconsin
Sawyer County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 16,196. Its county seat is Hayward.-History:The county is named for Philetus Sawyer, who represented Wisconsin in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate in the 19th century.-Geography:According to...
, is named for him.
Whiting, Vermont
Whiting is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The town was named for John Whiting, a landholder. The population was 380 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, and moved to Crown Point, New York
Crown Point, New York
Crown Point is a town in Essex County, New York, USA. The population was 2,119 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is a direct translation of the original French name, "Point au Chevalure."...
, as an infant in 1817. He moved to Wisconsin in 1847 and worked in the lumber industry. Sawyer's early political career included serving in the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
in 1857 and 1861, and as mayor of Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,916 people, 24,082 households, and 13,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,662.2 people per square mile . There were 25,420 housing units at an average density of 1,075.6 per square mile...
, from 1863 to 1864. He ran for and was elected to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1864 and served for ten years from 1865 until 1875; he did not run for reelection in 1874. Sawyer returned to Congress in 1881 as a U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. He served two terms from 1881 to 1893 and did not seek a third. However, he became notorious for a charge made against him by Congressman Robert La Follete that he had attempted to bribe La Follete. Sawyer died in 1900 in Oshkosh at age 83. He was interred at a family mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
at Riverside Cemetery in Oshkosh.