James Sawhill

SAWHILL, WALLACE

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/14/2005 at 10:47:09

Rev. James Sawhill was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on the 22d day of February, 1829, and died at his home in Jackson township, this county, March 27, 1904. His early life was spent upon a farm, and in attendance at the district school of his home community. Later he became a student in Franklin College, New Athens, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1851. He then took a theological course in the Associate Presbyterian Seminary at Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1854. This school was later removed to Xenia, Ohio, and is now known as the Xenia Theological Seminary, and is under the care and control of the United Presbyterian church. The first years of his ministry were spent in home mission work, much of his time being given to work in the states of Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. It is interesting to note just here that in the course of his work as a home missionary he visited Winterset, Iowa, coming by rail to Iowa City, thence by stage to Des Moines, and from there to Winterset on foot. This was in the latter part of 1855, or the early part of 1856, some twenty years before Madison county became his home.

In 1863 he took charge of the newly organized congregation of Cascade, in Cascade, Dubuque county, Iowa, and became its settled pastor. On February 21, 1866, he was married to Miss Martha E. Wallace of Vinton, Benton county, Iowa. She was a native of Virginia (now West Virginia), being born in Brooke county of that state, December i, 1843. In 1851 she had removed with her parents to Adams county, Ohio, and in 1857 went with them to Benton county, Iowa, which was her home until her marriage. In 1876 Mr. and Mrs. Sawhill with their children came to Madison county, Iowa, and Mr. Sawhill became pastor of the Union (now Pitzer) United Presbyterian church, a relationship which continued for about fourteen years. He also purchased land and lived upon it. In 1891, because of breaking health, he retired from the active ministry, and gave considerable of his time and thought to the work on the farm. He carried on general farming and stock-raising, and was considered a well-to-do man, owning two hundred and forty acres of fine land.

His political allegiance was given to the republican party, but he was not active in politics. He was, however, much interested in social and civic affairs. Anything that made for the betterment of the community found in him a helper and oftentimes a leader. But the first place and the main place in his mind and heart was always given to things religious; to the study of the Bible; to the work of the church in his own community, commonwealth and country, and to the general work of the church in all the world. Mrs. Sawhill and four of the seven children are still living, and two of these together with the mother still have their homes in Madison county.

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