CLASS OF 1888

Charles Lincoln Sawyer died March 5 at his home in Minneapolis, Minn., of aneurism of the aorta, after an illness of four days.

The death of Charles L. Sawyer removes one of the most able and successful members of the class of 1888. He was born of farmer stock in Lee, N. H., March 28, 1860. He was of a group of earnest young fellows, a little belated in education through the necessity of self-support, who came up to the College from New Hampton Institution. Though he taught school winters in the old-fashioned way, he maintained a leadership in scholarship from the beginning, and was salutatorian upon his graduation. He was three years one of the successful contestants, in the annual prize speaking, and was an active member of Kappa Kappa Kappa, in those days when forensics were an essential part of Greek letter society life.

Mr. Sawyer was superintendent of schools in Waukegan, Ill., from 1888 to 1892, and principal of the South High School, Minneapolis, from 1892 to 1899. During his educational experience he was preparing for the practice of the law, and he was graduated from the Law School of the University of Minnesota and admitted to the Minnesota bar in 1897. He then entered into partnership with Moore Brothers, graduates of Dartmouth, in real estate and insurance business, which partnership lasted until 1906. Since this date he has been in real estate business for himself.

Mr. Sawyer took a great interest in the political affairs of his adopted state, and was a member of its legislature in 1907, 1909, 1913, and 1915, becoming, both because of this long experience and his own initiative, an acknowledged leader in the House of Representatives. He was the author of some legislation of considerable value and importance.

The Masonic connections of Mr. Sawyer were many. He was past commanding officer of the Blue Lodge, the Chapter, the Commandery, and the Mystic Shrine, and also past grand senior warden of the state organization. He was a member of the Park Avenue Congregational church and a trustee of Carleton College.

The marriage of Mr. Sawyer to Olive M. Bennett occurred January 16, 1892. He wis particularly happy in his home life. It was characteristic of him to write in the most recent class report: "I took a contract some ten years ago to bear all the grief in the way of sickness for the whole family." Sawyer was the father of five children, one of whom died in infancy. Esmond Bennett, a graduate of the University of Idaho, is a hydraulic engineer. Russell Jefferson is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota. Charles Arthur and Miriam Louise are still students in college.

Although of recent years the victim of occasional illnesses, Mr. Sawyer was distinguished for his appearance of robust vigor. He was preparing to attend the thirtieth anniversary of his class at the coming Commencement, where the loss of his genial figure will be an irreparable sadness. This vigor of body and spirit were perhaps Mr. Sawyer's most noticeable characteristic. He was always giving the impression of loving life and companionship, and of taking great joy in action and achievement. Through his own career, his influence, and his children, he has left a substantial legacy to the world from a life that was distinctly worth while.