Philetus Sawyer

Philetus Sawyer
Photo ca. 1870s, from the Brady-Handy collection
Chairman of the Senate Railroad Committee
In office March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1887
Preceded by	William Pitt Kellogg
Succeeded by	Dwight M. Sabin
United States Senator from Wisconsin
In office March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1893
Preceded by	Angus Cameron
Succeeded by	John L. Mitchell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin
In office March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875
Preceded by	Jeremiah McLain Rusk
Succeeded by	Alanson M. Kimball
Constituency	6th district
In office March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1873
Preceded by	Ezra Wheeler
Succeeded by	Charles Augustus Eldredge
Constituency	5th district
9th Mayor of Oshkosh, Wisconsin
In office April 1863 – April 1865
Preceded by	Henry C. Jewell
Succeeded by	Carlton Foster
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Winnebago 1st district
In office January 7, 1861 – January 6, 1862
Preceded by	Gabriel Bouck
Succeeded by	William E. Hanson
In office January 5, 1857 – January 4, 1858
Preceded by	John Anunson
Succeeded by	Samuel M. Hay
Personal details
Born	(1816-09-22)September 22, 1816 Whiting, Vermont, U.S.
Died	March 29, 1900(1900-03-29) (aged 83) Oshkosh, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place	Riverside Cemetery, Oshkosh
Political party	Republican Free Soil (before 1854)
Spouse	Melvina M. Hadley ​ ​ (m. 1841; died 1888)​
Children	Edgar Philetus Sawyer (b. 1842; died 1927) Earl T. Sawyer (b. 1845; died 1848) Ella E. Sawyer (b. 1849; died 1851) Emma (White) (b. 1856; died 1896) Erna (Goodman) (b. 1859; died 1943)
Relatives	William O. Goodman (son-in-law)
Signature

Philetus Sawyer (September 22, 1816 – March 29, 1900) was an American businessman, Republican politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was a United States Senator from Wisconsin for twelve years (1881–1893) and served ten years in the U.S. House of Representatives (1865–1875). At the height of his power, Sawyer was described as one of the "triumvirate" of stalwart Wisconsin Republicans who dominated the state party in the latter part of the 19th century, the other triumvirs being U.S. senator John Coit Spooner and businessman Henry Clay Payne.

Before serving in federal office, Sawyer was the 9th mayor of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and represented the area for two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly. He was an important leader in the development of the city of Oshkosh, and later in life made several philanthropic gifts to the city, including funds for the construction of the Oshkosh Public Library. Sawyer County, Wisconsin, is named for him.

Sawyer used his wealth and power to try and steal timber and property from the Menominee Nation in Northern Wisconsin. After Sawyer's election to Congress, he introduced bills that would have sold Menominee land at public auction and sold their timber. In 1871, the Menominee declared that they were unwilling to part with their lands or timber and began to cut timber and sell it on their own terms, despite Sawyer's efforts.^[1]