History of Muscatine, (Muscatine County) Iowa United States of America

Our database does not include an historic photo for Muscatine, (Muscatine County) Iowa, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

Biographies:

Frank Payson Sawyer, who is at the head of one of the most important industries in the west, lives in Muscatine and is the secretary and general manager of the Muscatine Oat Meal company, which manufactures the celebrated 'Friends' oats. Mr. Sawyer comes of New England ancestors. His father, Stephen P. Sawyer, was born in Amsbury, Mass., in 1832, but removed to Hamilton, Ont., about 1848, where he lived until 1871. At that time he removed to Muscatine and retired from business in order to use his income for the benefit of his family and to prolong the life and afford comfort to his wife, who had been a confirmed invalid for many years. She died March 18, 1897. Her maiden name was Frances Phoebe Gillett, and she was a native of Newport, N. H.

F. P. Sawyer was born in Hamilton, Ont., November, 30, 1856, and he has lived in Muscatine most of the time since 1872. His early education was acquired in the Canadian public schools, well known for their thorough training and substantial foundations for a thorough education. He graduated from the Muscatine high school and entered the Iowa State university in 1874. During his sophomore year illness compelled him to retire, and a year's change of climate and travel in the east convinced him the only sure foundation and reliance for life was a trade, and that the professions and ordinary mercantile pursuits could not always be relied upon in case of financial upheaval. So he decided to lose no time, left college and learned the marble cutter's trade, which for a time he followed in Des Moines. He found this was too arduous an employment and involved too great a risk to his health, so he interested himself in the Muscatine Oat Meal company, and upon request became personally identified with the management. He had been interested in the concern since its organization, and in 1883 was placed in the management of the business. Since he took hold of it, it has grown every year until now it is the second largest oat meal industry in operation in the United States. The factory is of the greatest importance to the city of Muscatine, as it employs over 160 persons in addition to a large number of others indirectly obtaining their income from the business. The company's trade extends all over the world, from South Africa to the European markets, and in all of the large cities of the United States and Canada. Mr. Sawyer takes a broad view of the notable business success which he has achieved and finds his best reward and the most satisfaction in the benefits it has brought to others in furnishing remunerative employment to so many persons. He is naturally gratified at the financial success of the enterprise and other investments that he has made, but says that the pleasure derived from the use of such accumulations is that which affords him the most satisfaction and not the mere fact of possession. Mr. Sawyer is a director of the Muscatine Savings bank and the First National bank and the Muscatine Water company, and also treasurer of the latter concern. He is a republican but is not a hidebound partisan. He keeps informed on the effects of political changes upon business matters and he always reserves the privilege of voting for the nominee showing the best business qualifications and recommendations for integrity. Party ties and obligations do not strongly bind him.

Mr. Sawyer is a member of the Presbyterian church and has been secretary of the official board for about a dozen years. He was married November 30, 1882, in Milford, Pa., to Joanna Wells, daughter of H. B. Wells, probably the most prominent and successful business man of Pike county, Pa. They have three children, Henry P., born November 19, 1883; Aura M., born February 17, 1885, and Maud W., born May 4, 1892.

SOURCE: Biographies and Portraits of the Progressive Men of Iowa published by Conway and Shaw, Des Moines: 1899.

James Bradley Orman, governor of Colorado, was born in Muscatine, Iowa, Nov. 4, 1849; son of John and Sarah Josephine (Bradley) Orman. He attended the common school, worked on his father's farm and in 1869 engaged in business with his brother, William A. Orman, as a contract, or in railroad building, his work extending through the whole western country, and embracing the most prominent railroads and irrigating canals of that region. He also accumulated valuable mineral and coal lands and real estate in Pueblo, Denver and Trinidad. He made his home in Pueblo, where he was married, Sept. 27, 1877, to Nellie, daughter of William P. Martin. He was president of the electric railway of that city; a member of the city council; a Democratic representative in the state legislature, 1880-84; received twenty-seven votes on joint ballot for U.S. senate in 1883, there being only twenty-two Democratic votes; declined the Democratic nomination for governor of Colorado in 1888 and 1890; was a delegate to the Democratic national convention of 1892; and mayor of Pueblo, 1897-98. He was nominated for governor of Colorado by the Democratic party and endorsed by the Populists and Silver Republicans, being elected by a large majority in the fall of 1900 for the term expiring Jan. 10, 1903.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor