Sawin, Reuben H.

Reuben H. [Heywood] Sawin (1802-1884), born in Massachusetts, came to California in 1849 and to Santa Cruz County in the same year, helping William Blackburn build a sawmill on Branciforte Creek. Elliott states that Sawin moved in 1868 to a property (68+ acres on the north side of Mission Street) whose previous owner was Joseph Skirm. The move must have been prior to 1866, however, as the property is shown (with the name spelled "Sawen") on the 1866 Santa Cruz map. The 1868 Sentinel ad at right shows the property for sale.