[2] Sawyer was educated in Franklin High School, Phillips Academy and Dartmouth College.

[1][2] 1n 1908 Sawyer was elected the Mayor of Franklin, New Hampshire, by 77 votes.

[1] After he left Dartmouth College, Sawyer went to work in his father's meat, grocery, and provision business.

[2] On February 28, 1911, Sawyer married Mabel E. White of Somerville, Massachusetts, who was a teacher in the Franklin schools.

In 1918 Sawyer was appointed the Director of the United States Employment Service in New Hampshire and Vermont.