G. H. SAWYERS

SAWYERS, GILLESPIE, BUNCE, STOCKTON

Posted By: Norma Nielson (email)
Date: 5/15/2004 at 18:19:53

"G. H. Sawyers is busines engaged in the operation of a well improved farm of two hundred and eighty acres which he owns on sections 2 and 11, Grand River township. His birth occurred in Ohio on the 8th of December, 1860, his parents being George and Margaret (Gillespie) Sawyers, who spent their entire lives in that state. To them were born twelve children, six of whom survive.

G. H. Sawyers acquired a common-school education in his youth and remained under the parental roof until after his father’s demise. In 1880, when a young man of twenty, he came to Adair county, Iowa, and was here employed as a farm hand for fifteen years, on the expiration of which period he rented a tract of land, continuing its cultivation for two years. Subsequently he purchased a farm in Madison county which he operated for two years, when he disposed of th property and bought his present place of two hundred and eighty acres on sections 2 and 11, Grand River township, this county. He has erected modern and substantial buildings thereon and in his undertakings as an agriculturist has won a gratifying and well merited measure of success, being actively engaged in general farming and also raising, buying, feeding and shipping stock of all kinds. His prosperity has come as the direct reward of his indefatigable industry, though he attributes much to the assistance of his estimable wife, and his career is that of a self-made man whose record should serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others.

In 1888 Mr. Sawyers was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Bunce, a native of Madison county, Iowa, and a daughter of Hiland and Mary L. (Stockton) Bunce, both of whom were born in Missouri. They came to Adair county in the early ‘60s and here spent the remainder of their lives. Their family numbered six children, five of whom are stil living. To Mr. and Mrs. Sawyers were born three children, namely: William, who is deceased; Ruby Irene; and Helen M. The wife and mother died on the 31st of July, 1914, and her remains were interred in the Roberts cemetery.

Mr. Sawyers gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and has acceptably served as school director and trustee. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belonged. The period of his residence in this part of the state now covers thirty-five years and he has long numbered among the representative agriculturists and enterprising citizenss of the community."

Source: The "History of Adair County Iowa and its People," Volume II. (Chicago, The Pioneer Publishing Company) 1915.