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Rock County, Wisconsin

Biographies

"Elnathan Sawtell"

ELNATHAN SAWTELL, who for many years was a prominent farmer of Union Township, but
is now deceased, was a native of Massachusetts, born in Groton in 1791. The family was founded in America by ancestors who came to this country from France in the early colonial days and settled in Massachusetts. Our subject was reared to manhood in his native State, and on arriving at years of maturity was joined in wedlock with Miss Millie PITT, who was of English origin. By occupation Mr. SAWTELL was a farmer, and throughout his entire life engaged in agricultural pursuits. In the year 1837, he removed his family to Vermont, settling in Windsor County, where they remained for about eighteen years, when in 1855, they left the East and emigrated to Wisconsin, becoming residents of Rock County.
By the union of Mr. and Mrs. SAWTELL, a family of eight children were born, and with the
exception of one, all attained to the years of maturity. They numbered six daughters and one son, but before the emigration of the family to this State several were married. Those living at the present writing in 1889 are four in number, namely: Mrs. Emily S. GREEN, who was born in Massachusetts, and came to Evansville several years after her parents had settled in Rock County. She was married in January, 1880, becoming the wife of Rev. Henry GREEN, rector of the Episcopal Church of Evansville, whose death occurred May 12, 1883. Mrs. Maria M. HOWE is the next in order of birth, and resides in Ludlow, Vt.; Mrs. Lydia J. WOOLEY, is a resident of San Francisco, Cal., and Elnathan, the only son, makes his home in Evansville. The deceased children of the family are Mrs. Hannah B. PETTIGREW, who came to Rock County with her husband at the time of the removal of her parents, and died at Sioux Falls, Dak., Sept. 19, 1878, while visiting friends in the city. Her husband had died previous to the death of his wife; Mrs. Eliza A. JOHNSON died at Forest City, Ark., Aug. 16, 1875, and Mrs. Cornelia R. LONG died in Jacksonville, Fla., in October, 1882.
Mr. SAWTELL was somewhat advanced in life when he emigrated to Wisconsin, being sixty-five
years of age at that time. He devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits, owning a farm in Union Township, and his death occurred in Evansville, March 31, 1878, at the ripe old age of eighty-seven years. His wife survived him about three years, and was also eighty-seven years of age at the time of her death. He was one of the highly esteemed citizens of Evansville, and he and his wife were for many years faithful and consistent members of the Congregational Church.
Elnathan SAWTELL, Jr., the only surviving son of Elnathan and Millie (PITT) SAWTELL, was
born in the Green Mountain State, on the 17th day of November, 1822, and resided in Vermont until 1855, when he came with his parents to Rock County. He was united in marriage at Evansville with Miss Lucy A. BIGLOW, of Rutland Township, Dane Co., Wis., their union being celebrated Dec. 25, 1862. Mrs. SAWTELL is a daughter of Harvey and Lorinda BIGLOW, who settled in Dane County in 1845. Her father is still living in Rutland Township, but her mother departed this life in 1844.
A residence of over a third of a century in Wisconsin, has enabled Mr. SAWTELL to form an
extensive acquaintance, and wherever known he is universally respected.
 
Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 557-558.
 
Courtesy of Carol

This page last updated May 15, 2002
 
©2002 WIBiographies-Rock County
 
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