My Genealogy Hound

JOHN R. HAWES, farmer; P. O. Arcanum; a Buckeye by birth and an old resident of Darke Co.; is a son of James Hawes, who is mentioned among the pioneers of Butler Township; was born in Montgomery Co. in 1827; his parents removed to Darke Co. and settled in Butler Township in 1829. John grew up during the early years of Butler Township, and, while he received such education as was common in those days, was much more proficient in disentangling the knots from trees and extracting roots from mother earth than in unraveling the knotty questions of books or extracting the square and cube roots; he had acquired a knowledge of the carpenter’s trade when 21 years of age, and continued to work at that trade for several years. In 1861, his parents being advanced in years, he took charge of the farm, which he has continued, and now owns, having purchased it after the death of his parents, his father dying in 1862, and his mother in 1866. He has continued to reside on the old homestead ever since. His father entered this land and moved on to it in 1831; it was then a complete wilderness, and Mr. Hawes was poor, but he persevered, and had at his death a very good home. The son, John, has further improved it since it came into his possession. The old log house, now used as a hog-pen, still stands, a reminder of the former days. Mr. Hawes also owns 77 acres of land a little east of his homestead, and adjoining the Twin Township line; this is also under a good state of cultivation. He was married in 1860 to Catherine Eliker, a daughter of Henry Eliker, of Fairfield Co. They have seven children—Fremont, Lafayette, James H., Ida, Emry, Julia A. and Myrtel.