Bio: Sawin, Dwight D. (1923)

 
Contact: Stan

Surnames: Sawin, Burnett, Hill, Walker, Hilton, Hatcher

----Source: History of Wood County, Wis. (1923) pages 542 - 543

Dwight D. Sawin, proprietor of the Linwood Farm in Arpin Township, was born Sept. 17, 1854, in Jordan, Green County, Wis., son of Horace and Elvira (Burnett) Sawin. The father was a native of Connecticut and the mother of Massachusetts; they were married in Ohio in 1839, and came west in 1850, settling in Green County, Wis., where they spent the remainder of their lives engaged in farming. They were among the earliest settlers of Green County, and came before there were any nearby markets for their crops; much of the produce they hauled to Milwaukee with teams. The mother died May 28, 1875, and the father Feb. 19, 1891. They were the parents of nine children: William, Calista, Harlo, Chester, Selden, Dwight, Newton, Tillie and Jane. The three first named are now deceased; Chester is living at Medford, Wis.; Selden lives at Pittsville, in Wood County; Newton makes his home in Marshfield; Tillie is now Mrs. G. N. Hill, of Marshfield; Jane is Mrs. Elmer C. Walker, of California. Dwight D. Sawin received his education in the Green County district schools and remained with his parents on their farm there until he was 21 years old. In 1877 he took over the operation of the farm and continued to manage it until 1902, when he came to Wood County and bought 280 acres of wild land in Sections 22 and 23 of Arpin Township., There were no roads near the land, and the country was in a very primitive condition. Mr. Sawin arrived here Nov. 15, 1902, and for the first 16 months of his residence here made his home in the village of Arpin. During that time he constructed a small shack on his land and cleared a portion of the property, so that it was somewhat more habitable when he moved on to it at the expiration of his residence in the village. He initiated a petition for roads, in compliance with which they were built the following year; during the first year he was forced to use the old logging road. He had brought four horses and 14 head of other animals with him from Green County, and with these as a basis he began the operation of his farm and continued its development. He erected a good house and got out 55,000 feet of lumber from the timber on his land, using this to build a barn and out buildings; the barn, which is 36 by 100 feet, is constructed entirely except for the shingles from lumber acquired in this way. He is now carrying on operations as a dairyman and apiarist, having a fine herd of Guernsey cattle, including several pure-breds, with a pure-bred sire at the head, and has 33 swarms of bees at present. His barn is furnished with James equipment, and the improvements are modern throughout. Besides building up this property Mr. Sawin has taken an active part in the public affairs of the community. He was treasurer of the board of School District No. 3 for two years, and served as justice of the peace for two terms. He was a stockholder in the Vesper Creamery and in the East Arpin Dairy Association. He helped- to erect the Presbyterian Church at Arpin. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Marshfield. March 31, 1891, at Argyle, in Lafayette County, Wis., Mr. Sawin married Ida M. Hilton, who was born at Argyle, Wis., Feb. 6, 1856, daughter of George and Welthy Anna (Hill) Hilton. Mrs. Sawin's parents were married at Argyle, Wis., and settled near there; the mother was a native of Pennsylvania and the father of England. The father came to America in 1852 in the sailing vessel Zenobia, which took six weeks to make the voyage. He is now residing with Mr. and Mrs. Sawin, having come with them from Argyle to Wood County; the mother died Jan. 7, 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Hilton were the parents of four children: Ida M., who is now Mrs. Sawin; Elmer, now living at Rockland Wis.; Mary, now Mrs. Fred C. Hatcher, of Hill City, Kansas; and John E., now living at Beloit, Wis. One child, Edgar, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Sawin Jan. 12, 1898; he is living at home and owns 80 acres of land which he purchased from his father. He is a partner in the pure-bred stock business conducted by him and his father. Both father and son are members of the Vesper Guernsey Breeders Association.