Person:John Sawyers (7)

JOHN B. SAWYERS.

During the past thirty-two years John B. Sawyers has been actively engaged in the operation of an excellent farm of four hundred and eighty acres which he owns on section 12, Grand River township. His birth occurred in Ohio on the 19th of October, 1856, his parents being George and Margaret (Gillespie) Sawyers, who spent their entire lives in the Buckeye state.

John B. Sawyers attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education and spent the period of his minority under the parental roof. When twenty-one years of age he made his way to Madison county, Iowa, where he worked as a farm hand for three years, while subsequently he was engaged in the cultivation of rented land for three years. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 12, Grand River township, Adair county, to which he subsequently added until he now owns four hundred and eighty acres. This has remained in his possession to the present time and its improvement and operation has continuously claimed his attention. He planted a fine orchard thereon and in connection with the cultivation of cereals makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock, this branch of his business materially augmenting his income.

On the 24th of July, 1883, Mr. Sawyers was united in marriage to Miss Barbara A. Drake, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of A. D. and Maria (Crumrine) Drake, who were also born in the Keystone state. They took up their abode on a farm in Madison county, Iowa, at an early day and there spent the remainder of their lives. To them were born five children, four of whom are yet living. Mr. and Mrs. Sawyers have seven children, as follows: T. J., who married Esther Christensen; Mabel, who gave her hand in marriage to 0. H. Hollen; Grace M., a college student; James R., who is an engineer by profession; Pearl, at home; John K., who is a graduate of the college at Ames and is also yet under the parental roof; and Rosa. All of the children have enjoyed excellent educational advantages.

Politically Mr. Sawyers is a democrat and has ably served as school director and in other minor positions. He well merits the proud American title of a self-made man; for his present prosperity is attributable entirely to his own efforts, and he enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the successful and esteemed citizens of his adopted county.
-source: History of Adair County pages 130-133
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JOHN B SAWYER DIES IN MISSOURI
Funeral Rites Wednesday at Methodist Church in Winterset

John B. Sawyer, prominent farmer and stockman who lived just across the county line in Adair county for many years, died at his home in Wyaconda, Mo. on Monday. He had been in failing health for the past year. He was 83 years of age.

Mr. Sawyer was a native of Ohio but came to Iowa as a young man and spent most of his life in the community west of Middle River. About 18 months ago he moved to the Missouri town where his death occurred.

Mr. Sawyer's first wife, the mother of his large family, died 13 years ago. He is survived by his second wife; three sons and four daughters, Tom Sawyer of Woodward, James and John Sawyer of Winterset, Mrs. O.H. Hollen, Mrs. Sidney Morris and Mrs. Lloyd Givan of Winterset, and Dr. Grace Gable of Woodward; 22 grandchildren; three brothers, George Sawyer of Greenfield, Andrew Sawyer of Winterset, and Sam Sawyer of Broadwater, Neb; and one sister, Mrs Alice Wilkinson of Broadwater, Neb.

Funeral services were to be held at 2 p. m. Wednesday from the Winterset Methodist church in charge of the Rev. A. R. Weed of Cari. Burial was to be made in the Winterset cemetery.
-Source: Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa, June 12, 1940

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At some point in his life, John Boon dropped the 's' on Sawyers and used Sawyer. All of his children used the surname Sawyer. It's interesting to note that on his gravestone, it is Sawyers.

Family links:
Parents:
George Sawyers (1829 - 1874)
Margaret Gillespie Sawyers (1835 - 1879)

Spouses:
Barbara Ann Drake Sawyers (1854 - 1927)
Myrtle Raine Sawyer (1883 - 1946)

Children:
Thomas J Sawyer (1884 - 1965)*
Mabel M Sawyer Hollen (1886 - 1976)*
Margaret Pearl Sawyer Morris (1887 - 1975)*
Grace M Sawyer Gable (1889 - 1967)*
James Russell Sawyer (1891 - 1960)*
John Kirker Glendon Sawyer (1892 - 1974)*
Rose Gladys Sawyer Givan (1895 - 1966)*

Siblings:
John Boon Sawyers (1856 - 1940)
Albert Sawyers (1858 - 1881)*
Napoleon B Sawyers (1859 - 1860)*
George Henderson Sawyers (1860 - 1953)*
Elizabeth Sawyers (1861 - 1881)*
Angeline Sawyers (1863 - 1881)*
Andrew Sawyers (1865 - 1947)*
Alice J Sawyers Wilkinson (1866 - 1954)*
William Sawyers (1867 - 1904)*
Samuel Sawyers (1868 - 1951)*
Nancy Minnie Sawyers Bingaman (1870 - 1929)*
Clifford H Sawyers (1871 - 1889)*

*Calculated relationship