Thomas Ellwood Sawyer was born in Dover on Nov. 21, 1798 the son of Stephen and Mary (Varney) Sawyer. He attended Franklin Academy for a few terms and later studied law with Charles Woodman. He was admitted to the Strafford Bar in 1825.
In 1821 Mr. Sawyer became assistant clerk of the House of Representatives and was reelected in 1822 and 1823. He was a member of the Dover School Committee from 1827 to the time of his death, a period of 52 years. He was a member of the Governor’s Council in 1831 and 1832 and served in the legislature from 1833 to 1850. In 1850 he was a member of the Constitutional Convention and in 1851 and 1852 he was the Whig candidate for governor. In 1857 he was chosen Mayor of Dover, being the second person to hold that office. He served as City Solicitor from 1863 to 1866 and again in 1873 and 1874.
Thomas Sawyer was married twice. On Feb. 27, 1831 he married Elizabeth Reynolds, the daughter of Oliver and Sarah (Hanson) Reynolds, and had eight children. Five of the children died young. The other three were, Charles W. who died in the Civil War and for whom the C.W. Sawyer Post Gar was named, Mary Elizabeth who married Alfred Hoit and Edward who married Frances P. Kelly. His wife Elizabeth died Dec. 1, 1847 at 34 years of age.
After the death of his first wife Mr. Sawyer married Elizabeth Moody the daughter of Daniel K. and Eliza (Sargent) Moody of Parsonfield, Me. on Oct. 15, 1848 and they had four children.
William b. July 24, 1849 m. Sarah Randall d. May 17, 1913
Henry b. 1852 m. Mary Burns d. June 3, 1904
Helen b. 1853 m. Nahum Yeaton
Frederick b. Jan. 7, 1855 m. Nellie Cate d. Feb. 4, 1929
Mr. Sawyer was chairman of the Board of Education for five years (1870-1875). Sawyer School on Fifth Street built in 1870 was named for him. He was also president of the Cocheco Bank from 1863 and 1872. He lived at 14 St. John Street and died on Feb. 27, 1879. After Mr. Sawyer’s death, an auction was held at Shattuck’s Auction Room in Ham’s Block on April 25, 1879, to auction off his law library and office furniture. Income from the auction was $225.96. His wife Elizabeth died Sept. 11, 1887. After the death of his mother, William Sawyer inherited the house on St. John Street, and lived there until his death on May 17, 1913.
Photograph from Dover Public Library archives, text from Marston, Robert, Dover, NH: People, Businesses and Organizations: 1850 to 1950. Dover, NH, 2004.