Acton Memorial Library
Civil War Archives

    T.J. Sawyer died at his residence on Maynard street, on Tuesday, July 29, at 9.30 a.m., after an illness of about six months, at the age of seventy-four years, three months, nineteen days.
     Mr. Sawyer was the son of John and Lydia Bickford Sawyer, and was born at Sudbury, April 10, 1845. At the outbreak of the Civil war in 1861, having just past his sixteenth birthday, he felt it his duty to enlist in the service of his country, but owing to his youth his application was refused, but after two more attempts he was accepted and joined the army from Stow, in 1863, and served until peace was declared, receiving an honorable discharge in June, 1865. He was captured by the enemy at the battle of Petersburg, Va., and afterwards confined in Libby Prison at Charleston, S.C. He was a carpenter by trade an soon after his discharge from service went to Waltham to work.
     On January 13, 1869, he was married to Miss Kate Wellington of Waltham, and on January 13, 1919, they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary together in a very happy manner, surrounded by their children and grandchildren, and a large number of friends.
     In 1872, Mr. And Mrs. Sawyer came to make their home in South Acton, and during that time Mr. Sawyer had been employed as a stationary engineer in several factories in this town. He gave up work in November, 1918, and his health failed gradually, though it was only during the past two weeks that he was confined to his bed.

 

 

 

He was a patient sufferer at all times during his illness and showed great consideration for his faithful wife, who tenderly cared for him.
     He was a man of genial temperament and though he enjoyed the companionship of friends, preferred the quiet of his home, rather than the larger social life. He was, however, an enthusiastic member of the G.A.R., being a charter member of Henry Wilson Post in Maynard, which he helped to organize years ago, and which was afterwards merged into the present Isaac Davis Post, G.A.R., of West Acton.
     The funeral services were held at 3.30 p.m., at the Universalist church, the members of Isaac Davis Post, No. 138, G.A.R., acting as escort from the home to the church. Rev. Hugo A. Perdelwitz, the pastor, conducted the ritual service, and Commander D.H. Hall, assisted by other officers and chaplain of Isaac Davis Post, performed the last sad rites over the remains of their fallen comrade. The casket was draped with the American flag and attended by an auto cortege, the body was conveyed to Mt. Hope cemetery, where it was laid at rest, with military honors, in the family lot.
     The deceased is survived by his wife, five daughters, Mrs. Sadie Sawyer, Mrs. Maud Leavitt, Miss Clara Sawyer of South Acton, Mrs. Eva Strauch of Waltham, Miss Jennie Sawyer of Littleton, and three sons, Harry, Benjamin H., and Chester Sawyer of Boston, also Miss Evylin Sawyer and Mrs. Alma Leavitt Bennett, grand-daughters, and Miss Frances Bennett, great-grand-daughter, all of whom were in attendance, as well as his three brothers, James and Frank Sawyer of Clinton, and Edward Sawyer of Short Falls, N.H.
    

 

Friends and relatives from other places were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Jones of Newton, Mrs. Otto Fleischner of Brighton, Mrs. Emma Murphy of New London, Conn., Mr. and Mrs. Hartley Midgeley of Jamaica Plain, Roy Sawyer of Clinton, William Pratt and Mr. and Mrs. George Strauch of Waltham, Walter Tilton of Maynard. The attendance of

townspeople at the church was large, and the floral tributes were extensive and beautiful. The bearers were George Towns, Oscar Preston, Alonzo Joy and Daniel Adams of Isaac Davis Post.