Hawthorn, William E.

HAWTHORN, ESPY, CAIRNES, ELLIOTT, WEAVER

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 5/25/2021 at 14:46:02

William E. Hawthorn, Justice of the Peace, Riverside, Iowa, was born in Mercer County, Pa., and is the son of John R. and Margaret (Espy) Hawthorn. On both sides the ancestors were natives of the North of Ireland, emigrating to America prior to the Revolution. Both maternal and paternal grandfathers William Espy and Samuel Hawthorn, settled in Pennsylvania. Both reared families in that State, and the grandparents on both sides lived and died in that State.

John R. Hawthorn, the father of our subject, was a soldier of the War of 1812 a member of a volunteer rifle company. He was by trade a mechanic, but his life was mainly spent upon a farm. After his marriage to Margaret Espy three children were born: Our subject, Anne E., who wedded D. C. Smelser, a native of Kentucky, and who was one of the first settlers in this county, locating here in 1843, and was married in 1845. Samuel Wallace, a bachelor who was well known in this county in an early day. He left for California in 1850, and after three years of a prosperous life came back to this county. In 1859 he again started for that State, and had never been heard of since.

After the death of Margaret Hawthorn, John R. wedded Rachel Cairnes, who bore no heirs. They came to this county in the summer of 1840 and located on Davis Creek, section 31. His land warrant located a quarter section, and he entered about 300 acres adjoining. There were perhaps twelve settlers in Iowa Township at that time, R. B. Davis, the original settler on Davis Creek, being their nearest neighbor. John R. Hawthorn erected a cabin, and began improving the farm upon which he afterward lived and died. He was in his eighty-fifth year when his death occurred in 1872. His wife died in 1881. Our subject was twenty-one years of age when his father located in this county. He made a claim of a quarter section, a part of which he still owns. The first frame building erected in this township was built by him upon this tract, is yet his property and is now occupied, and is one of the oldest landmarks in the county.

In 1845, William E. Hawthorn was married to Prudence, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Elliott, of this county, who removed from Coshocton County, Ohio, to Hancock County, and then to Jefferson County, Iowa, and to this county in the spring of 1845. Mrs. Hawthorn was born in Coshocton County, Ohio in 1827. Her father was born in the North of Ireland, although of Scotch ancestry. He wedded Sarah Weaver, a native of Pennsylvania. She died in October, 1886, aged eighty-three years. She was the mother of Prudence, Martha J. and George S. (deceased), Henry L., Thomas L., Robert W., Dorcas, Florinda and Benjamin F. The family are now scattered, but several are well known in this county. Robert W. and Thomas L. were both members of the 6th Iowa, enlisting in 1861, both passing through the entire war. Robert was severely wounded at Kennesaw Mountain, but recovered. He married May McMurray, now deceased, of this county, and resides in Sedgwick County, Kan. Thomas L., was discharged on account of disability, but after his recovery enlisted in the 9th Iowa Cavalry and served until the close of the war. After his return he wedded Jane Coyner, and also resides in Sedgwick County, Kan., where he is acting as Justice of the Peace.

Our subject preferred farm life to any other, and until 1875 was engaged in that business. He was prosperous, and retired to private life with a competency for old age. His only move after marriage was from the farm to the village of Riverside, in 1875, where he yet resides. Six children were born upon the farm: Margaret S. is the wife of Caleb Sweet, a farmer of Johnson County Iowa; Sarah J., the wife of D. S. Shifflett, D. D., a United Brethren minister of Nebraska, but a native of Virginia; Thomas L. is the husband of Emma Johns, and they are residents of Sedgwick County, Kan., where he owns a farm; John R. wedded Nina B. Fuller, and they are residents of Butler County, Kan.; Ermina D. is the wife of Charles Morgan, a farmer in Webster County, Neb; Wilson Grant is the husband of Alice Coberly, a resident of Riverside, and manages his father’s farm. All the children are well settled in life and the aged parents have never been called upon to mourn a death in their home circle. They have nine grandchildren.

Mr. Hawthorn enlisted in Co. K, 13th Iowa Vol. Inf., and was a member of the famous Crocker Brigade. At the battle of Shiloh, while in the act of loading his gun, a rebel bullet pierced his right hand, producing a wound that has practically disabled him for life. He was sent home on a furlough, but afterward was discharged. During territorial days, he was a Constable in this county was elected Justice of the Peace in 1848. In 1850 he went to California, and after his return was elected, in 1855, to the same position, which was almost continuous until his enlistment in the army.

Notwithstanding his determination to live a retired life, Mr. Hawthorne was pressed to accept the nomination for Justice of the Peace after coming to Riverside, and is now serving his fourth term as Justice. His last election was almost unanimous, although he is now and has ever been a Democrat. What greater honor can come to a man than the fact of his having lived and honorable and upright life, reared a family of children who have given evidence of careful training, and who at a ripe old age still retains the utmost confidence of the public. Squire Hawthorn and wife are among the oldest couples, and his is one of the oldest living settlers of Iowa Township.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of William E. Hawthorn, pages 565-566.