My Genealogy Hound

COLUMBUS BIERCE HAUK. A familiar figure in Springfield is that of Capt. Hauk, who for a number of years has been enjoying the fruits of his former industry in the freedom from anxiety or toil which his abundant share of this world’s goods allows. He moved to this city early in the ‘70’s, buying property at the corner of East High Street and Belmont Avenue, where he and his cherished companion still live. He erected a fine brick house, under whose hospitable roof good cheer for body and mind are found by all who enter there. Although both Mr. and Mrs. Hauk are on the shady side of life, they enjoy quite good health, and are still capable of an active interest in current events and all worthy enterprises. For forty-six years they have shared each other’s joys and sorrows, and a retrospective view of these years gives them no cause to regret their union.

Capt. Hauk is of German ancestry, his grandparents having been born in the Fatherland, whence they emigrated to Pennsylvania. There their son Conrad was born and grew to man’s estate. He went to Virginia, in which State he married a Miss Reed, the couple coming to Ohio about 1808. Mr. Hauk bought a farm in Athens County and engaged in agricultural pursuits as a pioneer there, living but about a decade after his arrival. The natal day of our subject was July 23, 1819, and he was but two weeks old when his mother died. He was taken into the family of Judge Abel Miller, who resided on a farm one and one-half miles from Athens, and there remained until 1833, when he started out in life for himself.

Going to Cincinnati, which was then a city of about thirty-five thousand inhabitants, young Hauk secured a situation on a river steamer, his intention being to learn the business of a pilot. In three years he had acquired a thorough knowledge of the business and become acquainted with the channels of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, upon which he acted as pilot and commander until 1865, his home during those years having been in Cincinnati. During the perilous times of the Civil War he commanded a boat, the trips of which were attended with considerable danger to the officer in charge. After the Rebellion Capt. Hauk resigned and settled on a farm he had previously purchased in Clark County, near South Charleston. After living upon it seven or eight years, he removed to his present home, believing that he and his wife merited a more restful life than their past had been.

The companion of Capt. Hawk, with whom he was united in marriage February 4, 1844, was born in Cincinnati and bore the maiden name of Joanna Norton. She is a daughter of Elijah and Joanna (Lyon) Norton. Her father was born at Edgartown, Mass,, and when but a boy began sailing before the mast. His last voyage was on a whaling cruise, and while away the War of 1812 began, and in order to reach home the vessel had to run the gauntlet of pirates and blockaders. This determined him to abandon the sea and he settled in Cincinnati, which was then a small city. After having followed the trade of a carpenter for a time, he embarked in the ice trade, being the first in the city to follow that business and for a time supplying the entire population. The infirmities of age finally compelled him to abandon it and his last years were spent in retirement, his mortal remains being finally deposited in Spring Grove Cemetery.

His wife was a native of New Jersey and daughter of James Lyon, a Cincinnati pioneer. She died when her daughter, Mrs. Hank, was an infant. Mr. Lyon at one time owned five hundred acres of timber land, including the locality known as Walnut Hills, a great part of which is now in the city of Cincinnati. He cleared a farm, erected good buildings upon it, and made it his home until his death.

Capt. and Mrs. Hank are the happy parents of four children. James Norton, the oldest son, resides on a farm near South Charleston; Charles D. lives in Chicago; Ella married Gomer Highley and lives in Chicago; Henry resides in Springfield. James was attending college when the late war broke out, and was anxious to enter the army, but as he was only seventeen years of age, his parents would not give their consent. Finding, however, that his patriotic ardor did not abate, in 1862 they gave their consent to his enlistment and he became a member of the Seventh Ohio Cavalry. He served in Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia, participating in the Atlanta campaign under Sherman, and gallantly discharging his duties until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged with his regiment and returned to his home. The first political affiliation of Capt. Hank was with the Whig party, but he has been a Republican since the party of that name was organized. Both he and his wife belong to the East High Street Methodist Episcopal Church and both are highly respected for their Christian character, intelligence and long years of usefulness.