James Wallace Sawhill

GEORGE, KIPP, SAWHILL, WALLACE

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/11/2005 at 10:46:45

James Wallace Sawhill, a farmer residing on section 33, Jackson township, was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, on the 4th of March, 1867, a son of Rev. James and Martha (Wallace) Sawhill, more detailed mention of whom is made in the sketch of John C. Sawhill elsewhere in this volume.

Our subject attended the common schools of Dubuque and Madison counties, passing from grade to grade, and was later a student in the Dexter Normal School. When twenty years of age he began farming upon land which he owned in Jackson township, this county, and so continued until 1907. He then removed to Canon City, Colorado, where he owned a fruit ranch and a grocery store. Upon his return to this county he resumed farming and stock-raising and now owns two hundred and forty acres in Jackson township and a like tract in Monroe township. He is unremitting in his industry, displays good business judgment in the management of his affairs and is today recognized as one of the well-to-do men of the county.

In 1890 Mr. Sawhill was united in marriage to Miss Clara E. George, who was born in Warren county, Illinois, a daughter of William F. and Ella (Kipp) George. The father was born in Urbana county, Ohio, in 1815 and passed away in 1885. He was reared upon a farm and when twenty years of age accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois. He engaged in the mercantile business at Berwick, that state, and also owned considerable land, which he devoted to general farming and stock-raising. In 1875 he removed to Jackson township, this county, and acquired seven hundred acres of land which he operated, chiefly as a stock farm. He was a democrat and prominent in local political circles, and his religious belief was that of the Methodist Episcopal church. He passed away upon his farm in Jackson township. He was married three times and had fifteen children, eight by the third union. Mrs. Sawhill is the youngest of that family and her mother, who was born in Rome, New York, on the 27th of March, 1832, makes her home with our subject. Mr. George was opposed to the Civil war and hired substitutes for his sons who were drafted. Mr. and Mrs. Sawhill have five children: Ray, who was born in 1891 and is now a senior in Colorado College at Colorado Springs, Colorado; Bessie, an alumna of the Canon City high school; and Gaylord, born June 22, 1897, George, born March 27, 1899, and Bertha, born in 1902, all at home.

Mr. Sawhill has no political aspirations but can be counted upon to further worthy public measures. He is a member in the Pitzer United Presbyterian church and while living in Canon City, Colorado, was an elder in the church there. He is widely known in his locality and as he is upright and just in all his dealings his fellow citizens entertain for him high regard and sincere respect.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.