Fred William Sauer, president of the Sauer Drug Corporation of Herkimer, New York, was born at Fort Plain, New York, on July 28, 1877, his parents being Albert and Catherine (Fisk) Sauer. Albert Sauer was born in Germany and came to America at the age of twenty-four, unmarried. He settled at Fort Plain and worked at his trade, that of a carpenter and builder. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Sauer, who were also born in Germany and settled in Fort Plain upon their arrival in America, where the former was also a carpenter and builder. Catherine (Fisk) Sauer was born in the town of Canajoharie, New York, and died in Fort Plain, in which village her husband also passed away.
Fred W. Sauer was educated in the Fort Plain high school, from which he was graduated in the class of 1892, after which he became associated with H. E. Shineman, druggist at Fort Plain, and clerked for him for three years. He then came to Herkimer, New York, and was employed by L. B. Jones, druggist, for ten years. After the death of Mr. Jones in 1915, Mr. Sauer and Mr. F. O. Ray organized the Sauer Drug Corporation, and the business has continued successfully, Mr. Sauer being president of the corporation. He passed the state board and became a registered pharmacist on May 21, 1902.
At Herkimer, New York, on October 5, 1904, Mr. Sauer was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Lee Dingman, who was born on July 12, 1877, at Benson, New York, and is the daughter of James A. and Millicent (Anibal) Dingman. James A. Dingman, a leather worker, resides at Gloversville, New York, aged seventy-nine years. His wife died in Gloversville. Mrs. Sauer is a graduate of Gloversville high school and is a member of the Episcopal church of Herkimer, New York.
Mr. Sauer is a member of the blue lodge of Masons of Herkimer, the Mohawk Valley Consistory, and Ziyara Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Utica. He also belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of Herkimer, and he is a member of the Down and Out Club of Herkimer. During the World war Mr. Sauer was on the local committee of the Liberty Loan drives. From 1906 to 1910 he was the town clerk for Herkimer and supervisor of the same town in 1910, 1912, 1914 to 1922. He is a member of the Lutheran church at Fort Plain, and in politics he is a republican. Fishing is his chief diversion. Throughout the career of Mr. Sauer he has labored for the improvement of every line of business or public interest with which he has been associated.