Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Sawyer, Henry J 1825 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 9, 2007, 12:09 am

Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

HENRY J. SAWYER is a well-known manufacturer of Joliet, although at the 
present time retired from active business pursuits. For a number of years he 
was a member of the firm of Adler & Sawyer, whose boot and shoe establishment 
on Jefferson Street was one of the prominent retail stores of the city. Mr. 
Sawyer was Superintendent for the firm of M. Selz & Co., of Chicago, who had a 
prison contract, their business consuming $500,000 per year in the purchase of 
materials and manufacture of goods. He possesses a practical knowledge of the 
business from the foundation up, having himself worked through every 
department, and having also a decided judgment and tact has proved himself an 
excellent buyer, organizer and manager of a large establishment. His personal 
reputation is that of an honorable man and worthy citizen, and he therefore 
commands the respect of his fellow-men. The natal day of Mr. Sawyer was 
January 22, 1825, and his birthplace the city of New York. He is a son of John 
B. Sawyer, an Eastern man, whose circumstances were such that the lad was put 
out at the age of nine years, having his own way to make from that early age. 
His younger days were spent in the southeastern part of Worcester County, 
Mass., where he gained a knowledge of manufacturing, the firm of Bowker & 
Phipps starting a boot and shoe manufactory in 1846, of which he took charge. 
When they opened a wareroom he continued as manager for them until 1850, at 
which time he accepted a position with B. D. Godfrey, one of the leading men 
in the State as a manufacturer in the same line of business, in Milford, Mass. 
With this gentleman Mr. Sawyer remained until the spring of 1857, when he lost 
his wife and changed his abode to Hopkinton, Mass., where he remained for six 
years, still in his old line of business. The next move of our subject was to 
Chicago, where he took charge of the manufacturing part of the boot and shoe 
business of Davis, Sawyer & Co., retaining the position for a period of six 
years, until the time of the great fire. An opportunity then offering, he came 
to Joliet in the employ of M. Selz & Co., who had a prison contract, Mr. 
Sawyer being the only person in the concern who understood shoe manufacturing. 
He therefore acted as General Superintendent of the manufactory, organizing 
the business, and buying all their goods and material for nearly fifteen 
years. Their house was the largest in Chicago in their line of business. In 
1887, his health failing, Mr. Sawyer withdrew. He was the manufacturer of the 
Sawyer boot, which was first made by the firm of Davis. Sawyer & Co., during 
his management, the first prison enterprise in that line that was successful, 
the material which he used being the best and the goods well made and 
reliable. The concern employed five hundred convicts and a large amount of 
skilled citizen labor and was altogether a magnificent business. Prior to his 
withdrawal from active management Mr. Sawyer became a member of the new firm 
of Adler & Sawyer, retaining his interest until 1889. Mr. Sawyer has not 
engaged in active business affairs for some time, and the past two winters 
have been spent by him in Florida. He has been too busy to indulge in any 
political aspirations, but votes with the Republican party at all times. He is 
a member of the Masonic fraternity, having membership in Corinthian Chapter, 
No. 69, of Chicago, although not at present very active in the order. His 
worldly possessions are the result of his activity and ability in business, 
and of his wise management of the remuneration which he has received, and 
reflects credit upon him and his efforts. The first wife of Mr. Sawyer was in 
her girlhood Miss Chloe S. Comey, of Foxboro, Mass. She was removed from him 
by death April 4, 1857, leaving two daughters, who are still living. They are 
Alma, wife of Clarence A. Claflin, of Omaha, Neb., and Mary B., wife of 
Clarence A. Thompson, now of Hopkinton, Mass. After having remained a widower 
for a number of years, Mr. Sawyer contracted a second matrimonial alliance, 
being united on January 27, 1869, with Sarah A. Cook, of Blackstone, Mass. The 
union has resulted in the birth of six children, all living and still at home. 
They are named respectively: Henry J. Jr., Gordon H., Mabel A., Gertrude L., 
Elsie L. and Ernest M.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890

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