Philetus Horace Sawyer was born in Rutland County, Vermont September 22, 1816. He began working as a farm hand at the age of fourteen. When his father moved to Crown point, he came along and worked as a lumberman. In 1841 he married Melvina M. Hadley. They had 3 children that survived to adulthood; Edgar P. Sawyer; Emma Maria Sawyer White; and Erna Malvina Sawyer Goodman. In 1847 he removed to Fond du Lac, WI and owned a farm. In 1849 he removed to Algoma and operated a sawmill on contract. In 1853 he became a full partner in the Brand & Sawyer Lumber Company and added a sawmill in Fond Du Lac. The firm added Edgar as a partner in 1863 and it became Philetus Sawyer & Son. Edgar ran the Fond du Lac mill until 1870. He also purchased large tracts of timberlands. Elected Mayor of Oshkosh 1863-64; US Congress 1864; US Senate 1881 and 1887. Died in Oshkosh March 29, 1900.