Sayre, James Walter

SAYRE, JAYCOX, HAWKS, STOUFFER, FORREST, WATSON

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 4/3/2011 at 16:20:35

History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Vol. II, J.W. Lee, 1912, p. 175.

James Walter Sayre, station agent for the Illinois Central Railroad at Blairsburg, was born in the township of which he is now a resident, on the 8th of April, 1878. He is the eldest child of James Edward and Lucy Jane (Jaycox) Sayre, the former a native of Wisconsin, his birth having there occurred on Independence day, 1852, while the mother was born in the state of New York on the 23d of May, 1857. The parents came to Hamilton county in 1875, making their home in Blairsburg until the year following the birth of their son, when they removed, to Minnehaha county, South Dakota, where the father engaged in farming for six years. At the expiration of that period he and his family located in the vicinity of Valentine, Cherry county, Nebraska. There he continued his agricultural pursuits for eleven years, and then returned to Blairsburg, where he and the mother still reside. To Mr. and Mrs. Sayre were born seven children, those beside our subject being as follows: Mrs. Jennie C. Hawks, who was born on the 17th of June, 1880, a resident of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Edward Howard, a foreman in the gypsum factory at Fort Dodge, whose natal day was the 3d of March, 1882; Mrs. Lucy Virginia Stouffer, who was born November 25, 1885, of Des Moines, Iowa ; Herbert Jaycox, whose birth occurred on the 20th of November, 1894; Coe, whose natal day was March 10, 1896; and William Isaac, who was born in January, 1898. The three last named are living at home.

James Walter Sayre was reared at home and educated in the common schools. He early became self-supporting, his first employment being that of a section hand on the Illinois Central Railroad at Blairsburg. At the expiration of three weeks he withdrew from this work and became station helper, devoting his energies to this employment as well as that of towerman and fireman during the succeeding three years. During that period he was devoting his leisure time to a mastery of the telegraph code, and when qualified was appointed operator. He proved efficient and capable in this capacity but his general knowledge of station and railroad work well fitted him for a more responsible position and six months later he received his first appointment as agent. During the intervening years he has been located at Alden, Ackley, Parkersburg, Sinclair, Mona Junction, Webster City, Highview, Gypsum, Fort Dodge, Knierim, Sherwood, Wall Lake, Ells, Deloit and Grable. On the 29th of April, 1910, he was given his present appointment at Blairsburg, where he has since been located. As he is genial, considerate and obliging, Mr. Sayre is not only popular with his fellow employees but is well liked in the community, where he is familiarly addressed by both young and old as "Walter." He is a man of thrifty habits and owns his residence and an additional lot in Blairsburg and a house and four acres of land at Highview, this county.

On the 29th of November, 1900, Mr. Sayre was married to Miss Lennie Grace Forrest, who was born in Illinois on the 25th of May, 1880. She came to Webster City with her parents, Cyrus E. and Ella (Watson) Forrest in 1896, and there she was reared to womanhood, completing her education in the public schools of that city. She is the second child in order of birth in a family of five, as follows : Bert, who is deceased; John, who resides in California; Benjamin, who makes his home in Mora, Minnesota; and a sister, who is deceased. The mother has also passed away, and the father has since married again and to him and his second wife have been born the following children : Lola, Esther, Clyde and Alvin. Mr. Forrest now makes his home in Anoka, Minnesota.

Mr. and Mrs. Sayre have three children: James Elmer, whose birth occurred at Gypsum April 23, 1903; Melvin Edward, who was born at Highview, this county, on the 20th of February, 1905 ; and Lucy Opal, who is a native of Blairsburg, her birth having here occurred on February 22, 1911. The boys are both students in the public school.

The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church, in which the parents hold membership. Mr. Sayre is a charter member of the local camp of the Modern Woodmen of America, and he also belongs to the Order of Railway Telegraphers. His indorsement in political matters is accorded the republican party, and while residing at Highview he was appointed postmaster, holding this office for four years. Mr. Sayre is an honest, practical man, a trustworthy employee and a worthy citizen, who adequately meets his responsibilities and fulfills his duties from day to day to the best of his ability, his principles and mode of life exercising an influence which helps to sustain and elevate the standards of the community.