Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 260
REV. JAMES B. HAWLEY, who for many years has been a resident of this county, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., near Rome, on the 8th of March, 1809, and is a son of Bryan and Harriet ( Blakely ) Hawley, both of whom were natives of Connecticut. The father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and participated in the battle at Sackett's Harbor. To them were born a family of eleven children, eight of whom lived to maturity, but our subject is now the only survivor. In 1825 Bryan Hawley went to Eerie County, N. Y., and two years later emigrated to Lee County, Ill., where he passed the remainder of his days. He and his wife were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he acted as Class-Leader for many years.

Our subject was reared and educated in Eerie County, N. Y., where he resided until the fall of 1830, when he went to Ohio. He there became acquainted with Miss Rhoda Colver, a native of Vermont, and the lady afterward became his wife. In 1836, accompanied by his family, Mr. Hawley removed to Lee County, Ill., where he entered land and developed a farm, upon which he built a log cabin, and there passed many happy years. In 1852 he came to Muscatine, Iowa, where he engaged in the mercantile business for a short time, when he sold out, embarking in the manufacture of stoneware, near Fairport. In 1862 he enlisted as a private in the 37th Iowa Regiment, known as the Greybeard Regiment, remaining in the service until November, 1863, when he was discharged at Columbus, Ohio, on account of physical disability.

By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hawley nine children have been born, five of whom are living : Clarinda H., widow of Charles Higbey, is now a resident of Creston, Iowa; Henry B. residing in Woodbury County, Iowa, served as a soldier during the Rebellion; Huldah, widow of William Spencer, of Creston, Iowa; Clarissa, wife of W. P. Egbert, of Cass County, Iowa; Mary, wife of George Robey, of Hyde County Dak.; Oran, also a soldier of the late war, died in Henry County. The mother of these children died in 1860, and Mr. Hawley afterward married Margaret I. Warren, widow of Sylvannus Warren, and her death occurred in 1868. He was united in marriage with his present wife in 1870. She was formerly Mrs. Sarah Morford, widow of Thomas Morford, whose sketch appears on another page of this work.

Mr. Hawley is one of the highly respected citizens of Muscatine County, having lived an upright and honorable life, against which naught can be said. He was ordained in Winnebago County, Ill. as Elder by Bishop Jayne, and as local preacher by Bishop Scott of Oskaloosa, Iowa. Politically, he is a Republican, having affiliated with that party since its organization.

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