Margaret Scott and William Johnson Sayre

WILLIAM JOHNSON SAYRE was born May 11, 1817 in New York,²⁹⁴⁴ and died February 15, 1896 in Muncie, Delaware, Indiana.^{2944, 456} He is buried in Beech Grove Cemetery, Muncie, Delaware, Indiana.⁴⁵⁶

He married MARGARET SCOTT on November 21, 1839 in Wayne County, Indiana,^{196, 1675} daughter of SARAH LOGAN and JOHN SCOTT. She was born May 22, 1822 in Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Virginia,⁴⁹³¹ and died November 30, 1899 in Selma, Delaware, Indiana.⁴⁹³¹ She is buried in Earlham Cemetery, Richmond, Wayne, Indiana.^{89, 4931}

• Descendant Reports
  • William Scott Descendant Report (Ancestor of Margaret Scott)

Children of MARGARET SCOTT and WILLIAM JOHNSON SAYRE:

1. JOHN SAYRE, d. 1848, Richmond, Wayne, Indiana.²⁹⁴⁴
2. LETITIA SAYRE, d. 1848, Richmond, Wayne, Indiana.²⁹⁴⁴
3. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SAYRE, d. between July 18, 1849 and July 25, 1849, Richmond, Wayne, Indiana.^{2944, 6389}
4. SARAH SAYRE, d. 1848, Richmond, Wayne, Indiana.²⁹⁴⁴
5. WILLIAM ALLEN SAYRE, b. January 28, 1851, Greencastle, Putnam, Indiana;^{934, 2944} m. MARTHA URETTA ELIZABETH STOKER on October 8, 1875 in Wayne County, Indiana¹⁶⁷⁵; d. September 19, 1903, Asheville, Buncombe, North Carolina.¹⁸⁰⁴
6. KATE ALLEN SAYRE, b. June 17, 1853, Greencastle, Putnam, Indiana;^{654, 912, 4931} m. CHARLES MADISON ORR on July 14, 1875 in Putnam County, Indiana¹⁶⁷⁵; d. June 30, 1913, Selma, Delaware, Indiana.⁴⁹³¹

Richmond Palladium, November 23, 1839⁵⁰²⁰

MARRIED,—On Thursday last, by the Rev. William Boyce, Mr. WILLIAM B. SAYRE, of Munceytown, to Miss MARGARET SCOTT, of this place.

Logansport Pharos-Tribune, April 3, 1890³⁷⁸¹

William Sayre, a young married man, in 1852, while traveling for John A. Bridgland, of Richmond, suddenly disappeared, being last heard of at Sidney, O. After waiting several years, and believing him to be dead, his wife remarried. Within the last week, however, the long-lost man has made himself known, and he is now visiting relatives at Muncie and other points. No explanation is offered for his long continued absence. He is a relative of Hon. Warren G. Sayre, of Wabash.

Cambridge City Tribune, April 10, 1890⁴⁰²⁶

Some of the elder people doubtless recollect the incident if not the principal character in the mysterious disapperance of William Sayre, of Richmond, thirty-two years ago. He was not heard from in all these years until a few days ago, when he appeared at the home of a married daughter in Muncie. Of him and his strange absence, the Richmond Palladium says: The elder Sayre was a stage driver for years, before the stage had to give way to the faster speed of the locomotive. When John A. Bridgland established a wholesale tobacco store in this city in 1856, Mr. Sayre was given charge of one of his wagons, and his route took him all over Northern Indiana and Western Ohio. He was a splended businessman and very reliable. In 1858 he left his team and outfit at Sidney, O., and disappeared, and no word was ever received from him until his return to Muncie, a few days since. He then stated that he had been in Canada ever since he left here, but having become old and broken down in helath, he was seized with a desire to see his wife and children once more, and to know how they were getting along. Mr. Sayre was married in this city to Miss Margaret Scott, sister of William G. Scott. Six children were born to them. Four died in 1849, of cholera, and two survived—William, and a sister, who is married and resides at Selma, Delaware county, with whom Mrs. Sayre has made her home for many years, and was never married again, as reported. It is due Mr. Sayre to say that when he left for Canada he made returns to Mr. Bridgland of all stock sold, and turned over the money, contracts and papers of importance to him.

Indianapolis News, April 21, 1890³⁷⁸⁰

MR. SAYRE'S RETURN.

No Explanation Offered For His Thirty-Five Years' Absence.

(Special to The Indianapolis News.)

MUNCIE, April 21.—A license has been issued for the re-marriage of Wm. Sayre to his divorced wife, Margaret Sayre. The first-named is the traveling salesman for a Richmond house who disappeared thirty-five years ago, leaving a wife and two small children. One of these children, a daughter, is the wife of Charles M. Orr, of the Railway Postal Service, while the son is a partner in the large manufacturing concern of Gaar, Scott & Co., of Richmond. Mr. Sayre's return to his vicinity a few weeks ago caused great excitement and comment. After his disapperance his wife sued and obtained a divorce for desertion, and is now making her home with her son-in-law at Selma. The whereabouts of Mr. Sayre during his long absence, as well as his business, continues to be a mystery, as his relatives are reticent and so is he himself. He is well supplied with funds. While it looks as if the parties were to be re-married, this is strongly and firmly denied, and the only explanation given is that it is the wish of Mrs. Sayre not to die a divorced woman. The license was procured, however, without her knowledge or consent. Mr. Sayre has gone to visit his nephew, ex-Speaker Sayre, of Wabash, after which he contemplates a trip to Iowa and New Mexico to visit other relatives.

Indianapolis News, December 28, 1893³⁷⁸²

Muncie continues very much disturbed over the disappearance of William Sayre, who is an uncle of Warren G. Sayre, of Wabash, and is related to many prominent people at Muncie and Richmond. Thirty years ago he deserted his family at Wabash and mysteriously disappeared, and he was never again heard of until two years ago, when he equally as suddenly returned to Indiana, although he did not again live with his family. The old man took no one into his confidence. Frequently he received Canadian papers, which he read and destroyed. He also received remittances from an unknown source.

Logansport Reporter, December 28, 1893⁴⁰²⁸

A Tragic Finale.

MUNCIE, Ind., Dec. 28. — The man found dead on the Erie railway tracks at Mansfield, O., is believed to be William Sayre, of Muncie. If so, it is a tragic finale to a very dramatic life. Thirty years ago, Sayre was a prominent resident of Wabash. At that time he abandones his family, causing a great sensation. He was mourned as dead and great rewards were offered for the finding of his body. Two years ago he returned, and would tell no one of his past record. He soon came to Muncie to reside with relatives. Since he last strange departure six weeks ago it was believed that he had a family somewhere and had rejoined them. Sayre is an uncle of Warren Sayre, of Wabash, and has a wealthy brother in Richmond.

Richmond Evening Item, November 26, 1897⁵¹³⁸

Mrs. Sayre's Good Luck.

Mrs. Margaret Sayre, of Selma, has reason to be more thankful than usual tomorrow and she will doubtless eat her turkey with more satisfaction than she ever has before during her long lifetime which now covers more than the allotted three score and ten years. She has been left a legacy of $10,000 which will change her circumstances very much. The legacy was bequeathed to her by her brother, Wm. G. Scott, of Richmond, who died recently leaving a valuable estate. Mrs. Sayre has many friends whil will rejoice with her over her good fortune which came at so opportune a time. She has two children living, Mrs. Kate Orr, of Selma, and Wm. Sayre, of Richmond, her husband, William Sayre, having died some years ago.—Muncie Times

Indianapolis News, February 18, 1896³⁷⁸³

William Sayre.

Special to The Indianapolis News.

Muncie, Ind., February 18.—William Sayre, seventy-nine years old, and James Riley, sixty-six, are both dead. The first named was a relative of Hon. Warren G. Sayre, and a very peculiar man. He once abandoned his family, and was gone for forty years, and when he returned not even his children would recognize him. For some time he has resided with his three sisters in this city.

Indianapolis Journal, December 2, 1899⁴⁷⁰²

Indiana Obituary

The remains of Mrs. Margaret Sayers, who died yesterday at Selma, will be brought here Monday for interment. The deceased was a sister of the late William G. Scott.

Earlham Cemetery, Richmond, Wayne, Indiana

Margaret Sayre is buried with her brother James A. Scott, and her daughter and son-in-law, Katie & Charles Orr.

Margaret Scott