Merchants in Clinton wasted no time in rebuilding after the big Market Street fire of 1908. This corner building, built by Colonel Calvin J. Sawyer, and it’s “twin” next door, the Rutherford Building, were completed before the end of 1908. The Sawyer building was leased to Clinton Drug Company, founded by William W. Medaris in 1895. Col. Sawyer was known to be “modest and unassuming” but a brilliant lawyer and businessman, having major ventures in Magnet Knitting Mills, Clinton Flouring Mill Co., Clinton Bottling Works, Clinton Iron Works, Clinton Water Works, and Union Bank.