William O. Sawyer
William O. Sawyer
WILLIAM O. SAWYER was born in Missouri on September 12, 1852 to Jason Wingate Sawyer and his wife, the former Adeline Elizabeth Offferman. He was the third of five children, coming after Charles Augustus, and Sallie; and before Frederick O., and Emma. His mother died on December 13, 1860. Jason Sawyer remarried not long afterwards. His wife Emma bore five children, Harry H, Adeline, Frank Burrows, Frank M., and Ben Sawyer.
The Sawyer family had returned to Camden by the time the 1860 Census was enumerated. The Sawyers were living at 412 Pine Street in South Camden when the 1872 City Directory was compiled.
Charles A. Sawyer was appointed to the Camden Fire Department in June of 1873 as an extra man with Engine Company 1 to take the place of Samuel S. Buzine who had been promoted to Assistant Chief Engineer, a position similar to that of Deputy Chief of Department. Charles A. Sawyer served until April of 1876, when he was not re-appointed due to a change in politics in the leadership of the Fire Department. He was among those recalled the following year, and he remained a Camden fire fighter until April of 1882.
William O. Sawyer married Catherine “Kate” Jester in 1876. The marriage produced four children, George, Adeline, Elizabeth, and Katie. The 1878 City Directory shows the family at 611 South 7th Street. William O. Sawyer was then working for L.D. Farr as an oilcloth printer, and followed that trade until 1894.
The Sawyers were living at 916 Walnut Street when the 1880 Census was taken. William O. Sawyer was still at 916 Walnut Street in the spring of 1881. The 1882–1883 and 1883–1884 City Directories show the Sawyers at 810 Walnut Street. By the end of 1884 they had moved to 901 Walnut Street.
In April of 1894 William O. Sawyer was appointed to the Camden Fire Department, replacing, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer “S.W. Hyde.” He began serving in May, along with new appointees Joseph Logue, William Patterson, George Cox, Samuel Curriden, John A. Dold, William Jobes, David Andrews and Albert James.
William O. Sawyer was assigned to Engine Co No 1 at 409 Pine Street. In 1894 the personnel were as follows: Foreman John A. Stockton; Engineer, G. Rudolph Tenner; Driver, Joseph Ayres; Stoker, Wilson Bromley; hosemen, Andrew Miller, William Jobes, and William O. Sawyer.
William O. Sawyer is listed at 901 Walnut Street in the 1906 City Directory. It appears that he bought adjoining homes at 953 and 955 South 9th Street shortly afterwards. The 1910 Census shows William O. and Kate Sawyer at 955 South 9th Street. Daughter Katie and her husband William Rogers lived with them, daughter Adaline and her husband James Hughes lived next door at 953 South 9th Street. William O. Sawyer was still serving as a member of the Camden Fire Department when the 1914 City Directory was compiled. He had by this time been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He and wife Kate were then living at 953 South 9th Street and were still at that address in late 1918.
By January of 1920 William O. Sawyer had retired from the Camden Fire Department and moved to 25 East Stiles Avenue in Collingswood, New Jersey. He and his wife lived with their daughter Adaline Hughes, her husband James, and their children.
William O. Sawyer passed away on December 24, 1945.
Camden Election Boards
Philadelphia Inquirer —
CAMDEN ELECTION BOARDS.
The Names Which Will Be Submitted to Council on Thursday.
The Election Committee of Camden City Council met last night and decided to recommend the following election boards to City Council at its meeting Thursday night. Where there is only one inspector named, it is the Republican inspector and the Democrats have failed to name their man. The Third, Fourth, and Fifth wards are not given, because they were not handed to the committee:
First Ward—Polling house, northeast corner Second and Market streets. Judge, Ephraim Clinton; inspectors, Oscar Hatfield, William H. Swoope; clerk, Harry M. Anderson. Second precinct—Judge, James Dunn; inspectors, John A. Boon, P. John J. Barry; clerk, John V. Stackhouse. Third precinct—Polling house, Front and Pearl streets. Judge, Edwin F. Jones; inspectors, John Oilsar, John R. Kent; clerk, Josiah A. Freeman. Fourth precinct—Polling house, Point and York streets. Judge, Philip H. Murray; inspectors, Harry Steer, Thomas Eagan; clerk, Thomas Jaggard.
Second Ward—Northeast corner of Fourth and Market streets. Judge, John Gray; inspectors, W. S. Lee, George A. Genther; clerk, William H. Swindell. Second precinct—Judge, Emory Carter; inspectors, Harry Taylor, George Corson; clerk, Frank Heisler. Third precinct—Polling house, 511 North Sixth street. Judge, W. H. Day; inspectors, Harry Walker, Charles Funner; clerk, W. C. [?]. Fourth precinct—Polling house, 108 North Ninth street. Judge, W. W. Patterson; inspectors, James Knight, Patrick Callahan; clerk, More P. Landis.
Sixth Ward—First precinct—Polling house, S. E. corner Fifth and Pine streets. Judge, George Kruck; inspector, Frank Frost; clerk, David C. Yannotte. Second precinct—Polling house, S. E. corner Fourth and Pine streets. Judge, Isaac V. Robinson; inspector, Charles H. Ellis, Jr.; clerk, William D. Brown. Third precinct—Polling house, N. E. corner Broadway and Liberty. Judge, Joseph Aces, Frederick Goray; clerk, James M. Bentler. Fourth precinct—Polling house, S. W. corner Seventh and Mount Vernon. Judge, John Marshall; inspector, Matthew Cavenaugh; clerk, [?] Ackley.
Seventh Ward—Polling house, N. E. corner of Ninth and Pine streets. Judge, Abner K. Lewkshaw; inspector, F. [?]; clerk, Thomas H. Gilbert. Second precinct—Polling house, 715 Walnut street. Judge, William H. Whalen; inspector, William H. Robinson; clerk, Ralph Ashley. Third precinct—Polling house, N. E. corner of Eighth and Walnut streets. Judge, William K. Price; inspector, William Morris, Jr.; clerk, Wm. O. Sawyer.
Eighth Ward—Polling house, Fourth and Ferry avenue. Judge, William Smith; inspector, Gabriel Johnson; clerk, John Collins.
Ninth Ward—First precinct—Polling house, 14 Haddon Avenue. Judge, William Harry Smith; inspectors, Charles Swaney; clerk, Walter W. Browning. Second precinct—Polling house, 909 South Sixth street. Judge, J. R. Sutton; inspector, Harry Williams; clerk, Curt Covater. Third precinct—Polling house, 719 Berkeley street. Judge, Everitt Ackley; inspector, Nels Hormor; clerk, Harry Sutton.
Crisp Camden News.
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Crisp Camden News.
* John McCann was committed to jail by Mayor Westcott for stealing bags from Taylor Brothers.
* Burglars entered the store of Fruit Importer L. W. Frome and stole $5 in money from the drawer.
* Lawyer John Harris will take advantage of the insolvent debtors’ act to obtain his release from prison.
* Mrs. Mary Foster, wife of Police Lieutenant Foster, was buried in Harleigh Cemetery yesterday.
* David S. Myers, a justice of the peace, was held in bail by Justice Schmitz, charged with enticing 15-year-old Sarah Way from her home.
* At a meeting of the Fire Commissioners last night William O. Sawyer was appointed an extra fireman in place of S. W. Hyde, who resigned.
* The condition of John Nash, the colored man who was shot at the Blue Anchor saloon on Sunday morning, is unchanged. His mother, who resides in Williamsport, Pa., has been notified.
Additional Firemen in Camden.
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The Camden Fire Commissioners held a meeting last night at which nine new firemen were appointed as follows: First ward, Joseph Logue; Second ward, William Patterson; Third ward, George Cox; Fourth ward, David Andrews; Fifth ward, John A. Dodd; Sixth ward, William Jobes; Seventh ward, William O. Sawyer; Eighth ward, Albert James; Ninth ward, Samuel Curriden.
Fire Commissioners.
Camden Daily Telegram —
Fire Commissioners.
Appointments Made as Provided for by Ordinance.
At a meeting of the Board of Fire Commissioners of City Council on Tuesday night James Baird was awarded the contract for supplying the department with two horses at $400.
The Commissioners made the following appointments, in conformity with a recent ordinance: First ward, Joseph Logue; Second ward, William Patterson; Third ward, George Cox; Fourth ward, David Andrews; Fifth ward, Joseph Dold; Sixth ward, William Jobes; Seventh ward, William O. Sawyer; Eighth ward, Albert James; Ninth ward, Samuel Curriden.
Four of the above appointments are to be assigned to the new chemical engine, and one man is to be assigned to each of the five companies. By this arrangement the extra men are dispensed with. James Elberson, of the First ward, was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Charles Kay, who was appointed to the police force to succeed Elberson.
Engine Company 1 — About 1900
Named: Andrew Miller, John Stockton, William O. Sawyer, and Josiah Sage.
NJ Firemen’s Mutual Benefit Association
Philadelphia Inquirer —
** Arrangements have been completed for the holding of the annual convention of the New Jersey Firemen’s Mutual Benefit Association in Camden next Monday. The local committee having the arrangements in charge are Robert Colkitt, William Sawyer, James Elverson, Lewis Buzine, Albert Haydon, David Anderson and John Renner.
Brilliant Blaze Attracted Crowds
Philadelphia Inquirer —
A fire that did damage amounting to about $3000 destroyed the building formerly occupied as the Thomas H. Arrison saw mill, Hyde Park and Liberty streets, Camden, last night. While comparatively little damage was done, the fire, spectacular in effect, attracted thousands of persons. The flames originated in a room filled with 600 barrels, the property of Daniel Pierson. Half an hour afterwards it was a mass of ruins. The inflammable material caused huge tongues of flame to bridge the street, and the properties of Daniel Barney and Joseph Frieze were badly scorched.
David Andrews, a fireman, was injured internally by falling through a floor.
State Firemen’s M.B.A. Elected Officers
Jersey City Evening Journal —
STATE FIREMEN’S M. B. A. ELECTED OFFICERS
Atlantic City, Oct. 7.—The twelfth annual meeting of the State Firemen’s Mutual Benefit Association was concluded by the election of the following officers: President, Michael Ryan, Paterson; vice-president, Thos. McGinty, Trenton; secretary, Robert B. Bender, Newark; treasurer, James Elverson, Camden.
These committees were appointed: Legislative—Thomas O’Neill, Jersey City; James McMullin, Paterson; William Hickey, Newark; Wm. Hertrin, Camden; Cornelius Boyle, Trenton; Frederick Breen, Plainfield; D. D. Scanlon, Atlantic City; J. E. Rogers, Elizabeth; John Stary, East Orange. Standing—Daniel Smith, Jersey City; John Burns, Paterson; H. Schwelckeradt, Newark; William Sawyer, Camden; Thomas McGinn, Trenton; William Townley, Plainfield; George Barbour, Atlantic City; Frederick Kirk, Elizabeth; Walter Hooley, East Orange.
The next meeting of the association will be held in Jersey City in 1904.
Camden News Notes
Philadelphia Inquirer —
CAMDEN NEWS NOTES
** The Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association at its annual meeting yesterday elected these officers: President, Rollo Jones; vice presidents, Charles Worthington and William O. Sawyer; recording secretary, Peter Gray; financial secretary, William Rose.
Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association Officers
Philadelphia Inquirer —
**These officers have been elected by the Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association: President, Alfred Vickers; vice-presidents, William Sawyer, Newton Ash; recording secretary, William Miller; financial secretary, William Rose; treasurer, William Elverson; directors, Samuel Lodge, Scott Franklin and Andrew Miller.
William O. Sawyer — Bowers Beach, 1931
William O. Sawyer — Bowers Beach, 1931