In June, 1809, Joshua Sawyer, upon the call of his brother, N. P. Sawyer, went to Burlington and entered the office of Hon. Judge Farrand, as a student at law, in order to comply with the bar rules then in strict force in Chittenden county, at least, that the last year’s study must have been in Vermont, and to make out the full time required that the student must occupy before admittance. In 1810, he came to Hyde Park and commenced practice, meeting with great success for a period of over fifty years. He was thirteen years in the State legislature, State’s attorney for Orleans county, and held other responsible positions. He married Mary, daughter of Aaron Keeler, reared a family of ten children, and died March 16, 1869. His widow is still living, aged eighty-seven years, the oldest native born resident of the town. Edward B., son of Joshua, was born here April 16, 1828. He studied law with his father, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1849, since which time he has been in practice in the town. He served as a member of the constitutional convention, was a clerk of the county court eighteen years, editor o f the Lamoille News Dealer three years, and has held other prominent positions. He married, for his first wife, Sarah A. Pennock, by whom he had four children, and for his second wife he married Sarah’s sister, Helen M., the union being blessed with three children.
