Alfred Isaac Sawyer (1828 - 1891)

Born 21 Oct 1828 in Lyme Township, Huron, Ohio, United States

Ancestors

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Biography

Alfred Isaac Sawyer is born in Lyme Township, Huron County, Ohio, United States on October 31, 1828 [1]. His parents are Stephen Sawyer (1786-1870) and Dorothy Lansdell (1787-1867) who had immigrated to the United States, from England, in 1819. Lyme Township is 111 kilometres by road west of the centre of Cleveland.

The following biography is from his grave site [2]”

“Alfred Sawyer settled in the town of Monroe, Mi. on May 12, 1857, and remained in Monroe, for the rest of his life. He was elected Mayor of the City of Monroe in 1869-70, again in 1878 and was a school board member for nine years. Alfred was very active in the community and medical field. He served as President of the American Institute of Homeopathy Medicine. It was said that the homeopathic department of the University of Michigan owed its life and sustenance to him, after a bill in 1847 was introduced in the Michigan State Legislature to make it a prison offense to practice medicine according to the homeopathic law. He fought for this cause many years, and was witness to the first graduation class of the homeopathic department in 1877; sharing the platform of honors as an Alma Mater, an honor to the State of Michigan, an honor to the promoters of the college, and as a blessing to mankind. He had one of the most lucrative practices as a physician and surgeon in Southern Michigan. He married Sarah, the daughter of Phillip Toll and had one living son and a daughter. They lived in their beautiful large home on East Front St. in Monroe, which at one time, was the headquarters of Gen. Winchester, during the War of 1812. Later on, his daughter, Jenny Toll Sawyer was an active member of numerous local organizations. She deeded the Sawyer House to the city of Monroe as a community center.”

More detail is provided in another web site [3]. This source suggests Alfred’s parents first settled in Ohio in 1927 (it omits the details of the family’s earlier visit to Ohio). When Alfred is 17 years old, he decides he does not want to become a farmer, as his father and most of his siblings did. His father is not happy about this decision. Instead of farming, he teaches school and studies at the Newark Academy. At the age of 24 he attends the Western College of Homeopathy in Cleveland. This source continues as follows:

“In 1854 he received the degree of Medical Doctor. For two years he practiced medicine in Marieta and Zanesville, Ohio. In the fall of 1856, Sawyer went to New York City and entered the medical department of New York University. After leaving the university he pursued studies to become a specialist of the eye. After about 3 months of study with some New York doctors, he received a diploma for ophthalmic surgery but lack of finances forced him to leave New York and find a position that would bring him a livelihood. After visiting various places, he chose to settle and set up practice in Monroe. He was very active with the Masonic Lodge here, holding numerous positions at both the local and state level. He was elected mayor of Monroe in 1869, 1870 and 1878. He was also a member of the school board for nine years. He was very active in the efforts to introduce homeopathy at the University of Michigan.

“He repeatedly appeared before the State Medical Society, State Legislature, State courts and Board of Regents of University of Michigan. Apparently in 1847, a bill was introduced in the State legislature making it illegal to practice homeopathic medicine. The bill failed to pass but the stage was set for the non-acceptance of homeopathic medicine at the University of Michigan. Finally in 1875, he successfully nominated the first homeopathic professors to the Board of Regents at University of Michigan. This resulted in homeopathic graduates getting the title M. D. on their diplomas. He was also appointed to the Homeopathic Chairs of Obstetrics and Surgery at University of Michigan. He was very active in this field of medicine. He held offices in state, national societies and was delegate to an international convention in 1881.”

In 1859 Alfred marries Sarah Gazena Toll (1833-1906) and they have three children:

• Jenny Toll Sawyer 1862-1948

• Alfred Sawyer 1869-1870

• Alfred Isaac Sawyer 1871-1955 + (1902) Florence Emma Hoyt 1867-1965

Alfred dies on May 7, 1891 and is buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Monroe, Michigan [1]. (One source shows his date of death as May 7, 1890 [3])

Sources

[1] Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 21 October 2020), memorial page for Alfred I. Sawyer (31 Oct 1828–7 May 1891), Find a Grave Memorial no. 94704241, citing Woodland Cemetery, Monroe, Monroe County, Michigan, USA ; Maintained by Lo Marie (contributor 47331076) .

[2] the text quoted is on the findagrave web site.

[3] “Sue Young Histories” at https://www.sueyounghistories.com/2008-04-22-the-sawyer-surname-and-homeopathy/

Acknowledgements

The author of this biography is Alfred’s 4th cousin, three times removed.