John Edward Sautter was born on July 7, 1873 in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania. He was a resident of Wilkinsburg and Aspinwall,
Pennsylvania and eventually made his way to Florida.

His father, Charles G., enlisted in Co. G, 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry on March 2, 1865 as a 2nd Lt. and mustered out on June 28, 1865 as a 1st Lt. He was a Comrade in the Grand Army of the Republic.

John joined the Collier Camp No. 139, Sharpsburg in 1890 and two years later was their Camp Commander. In 1903 he was the President of the Western Pennsylvania Sons of Veterans Association and on the Division Council. He was the Commander of the Pennsylvania Division during 1910. He was the National Counselor in 1929.

At the 1913 National Encampment, three Brothers were nominated for Commander-in-Chief. With a single ballot Sautter was elected with 104 votes; C.S. Scott (California & Pacific) received 40 and A.E.B. Stephens (OH) had 17. On a motion by Brother Scott, seconded by Brother Stephens, and with National Encampment approval, the vote became unanimous.

At the 1925 National Encampment, John, as Chairman of a Special Committee of Past Commanders-in-Chief, which had worked along with a similar Committee from the G.A.R., presented a resolution which resulted in changing of our name to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

He was Chief Clerk to the Superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad in Pittsburgh and retired in 1943 after 51 years of service.

John was a member of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Clearwater, Florida, Zaratatha Lodge F. & A.M. in Sharpsburg, and the Pennsylvania Railroad Retired Veterans Association, in St. Petersburg, Florida.

He married Gertrude Meyer and they had two daughters and two sons. His wife was Past National President of the Auxiliary to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War during 1935.

Brother Sautter died on March 30, 1958 in Pinellas, Florida and is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, St. Petersburg.