PIERCE HAWLEY

PIERCE HAWLEY was born in Vermont, near Lake Champlain, November 14, 1789, and is the son of Gideon and Levina (Darrah) Hawley, natives of Connecticut and Nova Scotia respectively. Pierce Hawley was reared to the occupation of a farmer, which he followed through life. He resided in his native State until his twenty-seventh year, when he came as far west as White County, Illinois. There he met Miss Sarah Schrader, and was married to her July 4,1822. She was the daughter of Jacob and Mary (Wolf) Schrader, the father being a native of Germany, and the mother of Pennsylvania. Sarah Hawley was born in Knox County, Tennessee, June 3, 1800, and lived in the State of her birth until she was fourteen years old. Her parents then came to Indiana and resided there four years; at the end of that time they removed to Illinois and settled in Lawrence County. After she and Mr. Hawley were married they continued to reside in White County for a short time. They then removed to Sangamon County, Illinois, and lived there four years. Thence they removed to Fort Clark, now Peoria, Illinois, and resided there one year. They continued their residence upon the frontier, making a change whenever there seemed a chance of improving their fortunes.
About the year 1839 they came to Iowa and settled in Lee County. There they remained until 1845, when they went to Texas and made their home there until 1853. The following seven years were spent in the Indian Territory, where Mr. Hawley died August 16, 1858. The family returned to Grove Township, Shelby County, where Mrs. Hawley makes her home with her son, Gideon Hawley. Pierce Hawley and wife were the parents of ten children - Mary (deceased), George, John, Aaron (deceased), William, Priscilla, widow of John Young ; Isaac, Henry (deceased), Levina (deceased) and Gideon. Mr. and Mrs. Hawley were members of the Latter-Day Saints church. Mr. Hawley was a soldier in the war of 1812, and also in the Black Hawk war. Mrs. Hawley, although at the advanced age of eighty-nine years, has excellent health and retains full possession of her mental faculties. Gideon Hawley is the youngest of a family of ten children of Pierce Hawley and Sarah (Schrader) Hawley. He was born in Lee County, Iowa, April 21, 1842. When he was three years old his parents removed to Texas, and resided there until he was eleven years old. They then went to the Indian Territory, and lived there seven years, at the end of which time they returned to Iowa and settled in Grove Township, Shelby County. Gideon Hawley was reared to the life of a farmer and stockman, and received a very limited education in the common schools. He has supplemented these narrow opportunities by the cultivation of a naturally observing mind, and has secured a good fund of information. At the age of sixteen years he began life for himself, taking his widowed mother under his care. After coming to Shelby County, in 1861, he rented land for one year; he then bought twenty acres on section 11, Grove Township, which he made his home for six years. He then purchased forty-five acres in the same section and built a house and made other improvements, and moved to this place. He afterward purchased eighty acres in section 13, and later an adjoining forty acres, which he improved. In 1876 Mr. Hawley bought eighty acres of land in section 7, Union Township; he afterward made additional purchases until he now owns 240 acres, which he has improved to a high degree. In 1879 he removed to this farm, having disposed of his property in Grove Township. Mr. Hawley is one of the leading stock men in Shelby County, having followed the business of buying and shipping for ten years. He is a staunch Democrat, taking an active interest in the welfare of his party and the spreading of its principles. In 1882 he erected a livery barn on Main street, Defiance, which was destroyed by fire in June of the same year; he also erected a livery barn on Second street, Defiance, the same year. He owned a livery barn in Persia, Iowa, which he sold in 1889. From 1864 to 1870 Mr. Hawley followed teaming and breaking prairie in connection with his farming. In 1862 he enlisted in the State Militia of Iowa, serving four months. He was then discharged to go south, but was taken sick in March of 1863, and was disabled from further service. March 28, 1864, he was married to Miss C. Mary Holcomb, daughter of 0. E. and Sallie Holcomb, who was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, December 15, 1842. They are the parents of six children-Lovina (deceased), Nellie J., engaged in school work; Priscilla Adelle, Willard A., Carl H. and Chloe C. The family are members of the Latter-Day Saints church.

Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 472-474. Transcribed and submitted by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs