Putnam County Pioneer Biographies, Sketches and Obituaries
Transcribed for Genealogy Trails by Nancy Piper unless stated otherwise
H
William Edward Hawthorne
William Edward Hawthorne, editor and proprietor of the "Echo" at Granville, his native city, was born June 7, 1859. His ancestral lineal and collateral branches have for various generations been distinctly American and prior to that time was of English, Scotch and Irish lineage. Research into family records brings to light the fact that the Mayflower brought to America the progenitor of the Hawthorne family, of which William Edward Hawthorne is a representative. In correspondence with Julian Hawthorne, son of Nathaniel Hawthorne, it is found that this Concord man of letters is a representative of another branch of the same family. There is also an Irish strain in the ancestry and when Mr. Hawthorne met the famous Irishman, Michael Davitt, who was then touring the United States, said to him in the course of conversation that he traced his ancestry back to the McFaddens, Davitt replied, "McFadden, McFadden, they'd throw no stones at ye in County Cork. The McFaddens are a great clan." William Hawthorne, father of William Edward Hawthorne, and the fourth in the line of descent to bear that name, was a farmer by occupation and on removing to the middle west entered land from the government four miles southeast of Granville. He paid for this tract a dollar and a quarter per acres and today it is worth two hundred dollars per acre. He married Susan Findley, who died when their son William E., was six years of age, after which the little lad spent four years with his grandmother, Mrs. Margaret (Hawthorne) Moore, who was one of the early pioneer residents of Granville township. William Hawthorne, Sr., was born in Ohio and was only three years of age when brought by his parents to Putnam county, Illinois. Following the loss of his first wife he married again and removed with his family to Normal, Illinois, where his son and namesake attended school for three or four years. The father then removed to Indiana and William Edward Hawthorne was upon the home farm in Porter county between the ages of twelve and twenty-one years. He attended the public schools and pursued a scientific course in the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso. In early manhood he engaged in teaching school successively in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, after which he returned to Michigan. He was never graduated from any educational institution but has always been a student of men and literature and his special text books have been the Bible, Shakespeare and the American classics. These certainly are sufficient to give a man broad knowledge and familiarity with the best that has been produced by the writers of the age. His pursuits in early life were similar to those of most boys who are reared upon a farm. He remembers of his stepmother requiring him to stay up most of the night studying the catechism. At the time of her second marriage she was the widow of a Presbyterian minster and was a most excellent and superior lady, to whom Mr. Hawthorne ascribes the credit for the cultivation of his taste for things of refinement. The desire for knowledge being awakened in him he improved his opportunities for the acquirement of a broader education than the public schools afforded and he paid his tuition with money which he had himself earned, never receiving a dollar from anyone except to return it when his labors as a teacher made the discharge of the financial obligations possible. On attaining his majority Mr. Hawthorne went to Michigan and worked for his elder brother in a grain elevator at Marengo. It was there that he taught his first school, and after his return to Indiana he engaged in teaching in that state for a year prior to his removal to Florid, Putnam county, Illinois. He afterward went to Vermontville, Michigan, where he held his first principalship for two years. He taught his last school at Essexville, Michigan, a suburb of Bay city. Each year during his experience as a teacher brought him an advance in salary, indicating his growing ability in the profession. In the fall of 1884 he took charge of a general store in Granville, Illinois, for H. Bateman and in the following autumn in connection with G. L. Bando he established a hardware and grocery store in the building formerly used as the Granville Academy. For fifteen years he was thus engaged in merchandising and retired from that line of activity two years after his election to the office of superintendent of schools in Putnam county, which office he occupied for eight years, during which time through his efforts, the standard of public instruction was greatly raised and the schools were placed upon an excellent working basis. He was also town clerk and postmaster while engaged in merchandising and likewise served as village treasurer and village clerk during that period. In 1901 he organized the Granville Mercantile Company, conducting the business for four years, and in 1903 he established the Granvilee "Echo", which was under the management of his brother-in-law, B. B. Blosser, until 1905, when Mr. Hawthorne abandoned the field of mercantile effort and took control of the "Echo" printing business, in which he has since continued. Aside from his official acts while an incumbent of political positions Mr. Hawthorne has done much important public service as a private citizen. He has given his cooperation to many progressive public movements, serving as secretary of the Granville Lecture Association, while for the greater part of twenty years, he has been secretary of the Granville Cemetery Association, performing the duties connected therewith with satisfaction to those concerned and with financial success. In politics he has always been a stalwart republican and has done some effective campaign work. He has never been connected, however, with fraternal, political or social organizations or clubs, his relations with organized bodies being restricted to the church. When yet a boy he became a church member and is religiously cosmopolitan, having belonged at different times to the Methodist Episcopal, the Christian, the Presbyterian and the Congregational churches. Wherever he has lived he has connected himself with the orthodox church of the community and has been Sunday-school superintendent for perhaps twenty-five years of his life, while in one way or another he has been connected with church work for a long period. At the present time he holds membership with the Congregational church at Granville, but occupies no office therein. Mr. Hawthorne was married March 14, 1882, to Miss Emma Emelia Opper of Granville, a daughter of C. G. and Anna Opper. The first few years of their married life Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne attended and taught school together. Nine years following their marriage twin boys came to bless their home, and so delighted was the father that he hastened to his office and had the following announcement printed and distributed among his friends. Often have the poets told us in their lyrics of the deep, Awful calms are but the presage of the storms that o'er them sweep. Thus, perhaps, protracted stillness on a calm domestic sea, Signifies that force is gathering for the squalls that are to be. Weighted we anchor of life's ocean sunlight flooding us in torrents, But two little squalls have struck us, William Henry and Orin Lawrence. In 1894 twin daughters blessed the home, these being Helen and Marie. The next in order of birth is Charles Findley, who bears the name of President Blanchard of Wheaton College as well as the name of his grandmother. The youngest in order of birth is Edward Everett, who was born in 1902. The mother, as the name implies, is of German ancestry, and as she speaks, reads and writes the German language she is likewise educating her children in the German tongue. Five of the children are now attending school. Mr. Hawthorne is himself a twin, his brother being O. E. Hawthorne, a resident of Marshall Missouri, who is agent for the Chicago and Alton Railroad Company. He is married and has a son and daughter, Lucile and Ray, who are still with their parents. Mr. Hawthorne believes fully in the principle expressed by the Bard of Avon when he said, "There is a Divinity that shapes our ends," and while he recognizes the fact that he has perhaps not improves all his opportunities, that Divinity has never failed, and on every occasion he expresses himself as a willing devotee at the throne of that Divinity. Mr. Hawthorne was blessed with the influence of Christian parents, and to this, combines with the influence and encouragement of his excellent wife, gives credit for the position to which he has attained in the moral, business and social world. He bears testimony to the power of associations as potential in forming character. Next to his wife, no one has so influenced his life as his elder brother whom he considers an ideal man. His father's example too, has always been that of a Godly man, while his intimate friends have been ever men of the highest noble character. This brief sketch of the writer of our historical narrative of Putnam county does not pretend to be a biography, entering into detail but simply a suggestive outline, leaving the completion to his future biographers after the records are all in.
Taken From the Past and Present of Marshall and Putnam Counties
|
Taken From the Henry Republican Died At Hennepin, Feb. 20, of kidney complaint, Jeremiah Hartenbower, aged 75 years. March 2 The following obituary paragraph accompanies the announcement of the death of Mr. Jeremiah Hartenbower in the Record of last week. “Mr. Hartenbower was born in Germany, about 30 miles from the city of Stuttgart, on the 6th day of March, 1800. Emigrated to America in 1819, and settled in Winchester, Kentucky, where he married. He resided in Kentucky about 12 years, and emigrated to this county in the year 1831, and settled near Magnolia, where he worked at his trade, that of tailoring, for a few years, when he moved to a farm in this township. He moved to Hennepin some 10 or 12 years ago, where he has since resided up to the time of his death. Mr. Hartenbower was one of the oldest residents of the county, and was generally known by the inhabitants, and generally loved and respected by all.” |
TAKEN FROM THE HENRY NEWS REPUBLIC, HENRY, IL
Joel Haws Joel Haws was born in Madison Co., Virginia, Aug. 15, 1796. He was the son of Conrad and Susan Haws. Was married on the 27th of April 1824 to Elizabeth Gibson and was the father of 10 children, 8 of whom are still living. In 1805, Mr. Haws moved from Virginia to Clinton Co. Ohio. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Enlisted in 1813, served in the 2nd Reg. OH Vol. under Col. Sumalt and Capt. Wm. Fordice in the division commanded by Gen. Denoe of Cincinattee and was honorably discharged in 1814. Both his grandfathers were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. Since 1838, Mr. Haws has been a farmer in Putnam County, Illinois and has all his children settled around him near Magnolia and all prospering in life. Mr. H. was an industrious honest citizen, respected by all his neighbors. His last days were days of peace and quiet, happy in his surroundings and on June 24, 1883, at his home, surrounded by kind friends, he without a struggle passed from earth to the unseen world to his final reward. The funeral procession was large and imposing. |
TAKEN FROM THE HENRY NEWS REPUBLIC, HENRY, IL
Captain William
Haws CAPT.WILLIAM HAWS was born in Orange county, VA. Sept. 23, 1800. He lived with his parents in Ohio until the age of 21; August 27, 1821, removed to Sangamon County, ILL., removing thence to his present residence in Putnam County, thence to Tazewell in 1826. He built the first log cabin between Ottawa and Washington. There were no white people then in that part of the country except a few Indian traders. Putnam county was organized at his house in 1831. He was one of the first grand jurors at the first term of court, which was held at the old trading house near Hennepin. Gov. Ford was then prosecuting attorney of the district. He was Captain in the Black Hawk war of a company of state militia, as also took charge of a caravan going to Oregon in 1847. He has led a long and active life, having dug lead in Galena, gold in California and silver in Mexico. He owns nearly 20000 acres of land in Putnam and Marshall counties, a half section in Minnesota,most of it under cultivation. A kind wife and a number of sons and daughters survive the husband and father.
|
Hon. Joel Wilson Hopkins Page 150, 153 In the death of Joel Willis Hopkins, Putnam county mourned the loss of one whom it had grown to esteem and honor by reason of his genuine personal worth. No history of Putnam county would be adequate that did not take into account his great influence in molding the character of its people, in shaping the policy of the county and in promoting public interests along the lines of progress, good order and moral and religious development. He was active in public affairs on the county, state and nation and at all times he stood for high ideals. Mr. Hopkins became a resident of Putnam county in 1835, and therefore witnessed its growth and development for almost sixty-seven years, his death occurring on the 16th of February, 1902. He was born on the 29th of July, 1814, at Ripley, Brown county, Ohio, his parents being William and Jane (Willis) Hopkins, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of South Carolina. When young people, however, they removed to Ohio from their respective states and were there married. In 1835 they brought their family to Putnam county, Illinois, settling upon the farm which later became the home of their son Joel, the residence which now stands there occupying the site of the first log cabin of the family. William Hopkins secured land of the government to the cultivation and improvement of which he devoted his energies until his death in 1842. His wife survived him for about seven years. One son of the family, Archibald Wilson, had previously come to Putnam County , locating here in 1832, and while here participated in the Indian war. His death occurred in 1839. John Crawford is a resident of Marshall county, Iowa. Stephen D., who was an invalid, died at the age of forty-two years. George B., who lived near Granville, died May 30, 1904. Elizabeth, who was the wife of Willis Margrave, died May 24, 1892, at Hiawatha, Kansas. Martha married James B. McCord and died June 24, 1881. Margaret engaged in teaching for several years in Putnam and Grundy counties, Illinois and died when past the age of thirty years. Melinda wedded Abbott Barker of Grundy county, and died May 22, 1865. The parents were earnest Christian people, holding membership in the early years of their residence here with the Union Grove Presbyterian church, while in later life they assisted in the organization of the Congregational church at Granville. Joel Willis Hopkins, the second son of his father's family, was a young man of twenty-one years at the time of the removal to Illinois, and he assisted in the arduous task of developing a new farm, sharing in the hardships and privations incident to settlement upon the frontier. His preparation for having a home of his own was completed in 1840 by his marriage to Miss Eleanor Jane Harrison, a sister of Stephen Harrison. She and her brother Richard D. Harrison, died in the same week in 1849, and in 1862 Mr. Hopkins wedded the widow of the latter, Mrs. Sarah Harrison, a daughter of Alba Smith, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Bureau county, Illinois, taking up his abode near Princeton in 1835. Mrs. Hopkins is a native of New York and was eleven years of age when she accompanied her father to this state. By his first marriage Mr. Hopkins had five children, of who tow, Eveline and Jennie, died in childhood, while those living are Archibald Wilson, residing upon the home farm; Helen De Armand, the wife of Rev. Robert McCord, of Lake City, Iowa; and Mary Harrison, the wife of Judge W. Wright, of Toulon, Illinois. One daughter graced the second marriage, Martha Belle, who is the wife of Sidney Whitaker. By her first husband Mrs. Hopkins had one son, Richard D. Harrison, who is living in Bureau county, near Princeton. Viewed from a business standpoint the life record of Mr. Hopkins was a distinguished one, for he so conducted his affairs and placed his investments that he became one of the extensive landowners of this section of Illinois. Upon the organization of the Peru National Bank, Mr. Hopkins became its president and so continued until his death. The safe, conservative policy which he inaugurated made this one of the strong financial institutions of this part of Illinois, and in moneyed as well as agricultural circules he sustained an unassailable reputation. He was also president of the Putnam County Bank at Hennepin and of the Granville Bank. In all his business dealings he manifested a fidelity to a high standard of commercial ethics that won him the honor and admiration of all. A leading and popular citizen, Mr. Hopkins was called upon to fill various important positions of honor and trust, serving as supervisor, while for ten years he was county judge. He resigned his place on the bench in order to became a member of the twenty-sixth general assembly, to which he was elected on the republican ticket. He was actively and helpfully interested in political questions, giving to the principles in which he believed a firm and stalwart support. He served as a delegate to the convention at Cincinnati, Ohio, which nominated Rutherford B. Hayes for the presidency, and he was frequently a delegate to the state conventions of his party. During the dark days of the Civil war he assisted in raising money for substitutes and for the care of the soldier's widows and orphans, and upheld to the fullest extent the administration and the Union cause. He served for many years as an officer in the Congregational church at Granville, in which he held membership. He died February 16, 1902, leaving a valuable estate to his family, chiefly represented in his landed interests. In his character there was an unusual combination of qualities. To the world, the church, his neighbors and his friends, he was a tower of strength; to his family all of that and a world of tenderness beside. He was at ease in the presence of the highest dignitaries of the nation, and was so simple and kindly that no one, however humble, felt abashed in his presence. At his death it could truly be said, "Know ye not that there is a prince and great man fallen this day in Israel?"
Taken From the Past and Present of Marshall and Putnam Counties
|