John Gilbert Sawyer (June 5, 1825 – September 5, 1898) was a U.S. Representative from New York.

[1] In order to pursue a collegiate education, he relocated to Kentucky and later to Arkansas, where he taught in local one-room schoolhouses to earn enough money for his studies.

In 1846, Sawyer returned to Knowlesville and relocated to Albion, New York the following year.

[1] Before completing his law studies, Sawyer was elected to the position of superintendent of public schools for Orleans County, New York in 1848.

In 1851 Sawyer was elected as a justice of the peace and served in that position for nearly 5 years.