Named in honor of Philetus Sawyer of Oshkosh. Born in Vermont in 1816, he removed to Wisconsin in 1847 and two years later started a sawmill at Oshkosh. In 1857 and 1861 he was a member of the assembly; 1865-75, he represented Wisconsin in Congress. In 1881 he was chosen United States senator and re-elected for a second term. He died in 1900 at his Oshkosh home.

Learn More

Dictionary of Wisconsin History

Explore more than 1,600 people, places and events in Wisconsin history.

[Source: Kellogg, Louise Phelps. "Derivation of County Names" in Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin for 1909, pages 219-231.]