1890 Buchanan and Delaware Counties History pgs. 244-245

W. M. SAWYER, ex-merchant, but now a prominent agriculturist of Delaware county, was born in Washington county, Ill., December 22, 1832, and is a son of Cyrus and Rebecca (Parks) Sawyer. Cyrus Sawyer was a native of Logan county, Ky., was born in 1800, and died in Washington county, Ill., in 1848. He was a man of much energy and was looked upon as being one of the most capable farmers of his neighborhood, as he has followed that occupation all his life. A whig in politics, he stood high in the estimation of his colleagues, was a lieutenant in the Black Hawk War, and for many years held the office of justice of the peace. Mrs. Rebecca Sawyer was born in North Carolina in 1800, and departed this life in Washington county, Ill, in 1852. She bore her husband twelve children in the following order: Amanda Tabitha, David O., Mary L, Mahala O., James H., Salina P., Washington Matthew (the subject of this sketch), Francis M., Margaret Adaline, Martha M., Charity M., and an infant that died unnamed.

W. M. Sawyer received a good common school education in his youthful days in his native county, in which he resided until the spring of 1852, when he came to Delaware county, Iowa, and here he has since made his home. For six years he was engaged in mercantile business in Rockville, after which he turned his attention to farming. The marriage of Mr. Sawyer took place in 1857 to Miss Sarah J. Moreland, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of David Moreland. To this felicitous marriage have been born the following named children: Charles F., Richard C., Jennie K., Flora M., Nannie J., Earnest, Arthur L., Willie (deceased). Mr. Sawyer is a Master Mason, and in politics is a republican. He has always been held in the highest esteem by his party, and for six years has filled the office of county supervisor; and the last five of the six years he had the honor of being chairman of the board. Always having taken great interest in educational matters, he has filled the position of school director or treasurer for over thirty years, and he has seen to it that his own children have been well and thoroughly instructed. These have also been trained to the habits of industry, such as were inculcated by his own parents, and to the practice of which he owes much of his success in life. Moral training has not been neglected, nor the amenities of society lost sight of, and today the Sawyer family are looked upon as useful members of the community in which they live, and as among those whose upright walk and broad charity in thought and act are worthy of emulation.

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