My Genealogy Hound

Eugene L. Sawyer, proprietor of a floral store and cab line in Creston, was born November 8, 1874, in that city, and is a representative of an old New England family. His father, Henry P. Sawyer, was a native of Vermont and came to Creston in 1871. Here he secured a position as railroad conductor on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and that he was one of its capable and trusted representatives in the operative department is indicated by the fact that he filled the position from 1871 until his death in 1896. He was married in Iowa county, Wisconsin, in 1866, to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Joiner and they had three children, of whom one died in infancy, while two are yet living, the brother of our subject being Franklin M. Sawyer, who is a mail clerk on the Burlington Railroad and makes his home in Kansas City, Missouri. The mother was a school teacher in Wisconsin at the time of her marriage to Henry P. Sawyer and soon after their removal to Creston she became a teacher in the schools here and taught for thirty years, retiring in June, 1906. On her retirement the alumnae of the school in which she had served so long and faithfully as a capable teacher presented her with two hundred dollars in gold as a testimonial of their personal appreciation of her worth as a woman and as a teacher.

Eugene L. Sawyer, spending his boyhood days under the parental roof, acquired his education in the public schools, which he attended to the age of eighteen years, when he put aside his text-books to become reporter on the Daily Star. He was so employed for about a year. Prior to this time he had been a timekeeper in the office of the master mechanic of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company for three years. After leaving the newspaper he returned to the railroad company as brakeman and nine years later was made conductor, in which capacity he served for two years. He then returned to the position of brakeman on account of the road being double-tracked, reducing the force. He served as brake man this time for about a year, when he lost his right arm and left the road. He then joined Mr. McGregor in forming the firm of McGregor & Sawyer, funeral directors, in which business he continued until November 6, 1907, when he sold out and now conducts a floral store and cab line in Creston.

On the 11th of June, 1896, in Creston, Mr. Sawyer was married to Miss Frankie Hanna, and they have two children, Robert H. and Margaret E. In community affairs Mr. Sawyer is deeply interested and in April, 1906, was elected on the republican ticket to the office of alderman from the fourth ward for a term of two years. He belongs to the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, to the Woodmen of the World and to the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, and is well known and much respected in the community where his entire life has been passed.