Biography of John W. Hawthorn

John W. Hawthorn is one of the well known and prosperous business men of Culdesac, at the present time operating a livery stable in partnership with John Whalen. He is a man of uprightness and integrity and is the recipient of the confidence and esteem of the people. In addition to the livery business they handle a hundred and eighty acres of land that is rented from the Indians, and which they farm to flax, oats and barley. Mr. Hawthorn has a good business and the untiring care and attention bestowed for the comfort, accommodation and safety of his guests has built it to its present lucrative dimensions.

John W. Hawthorn was born in Jefferson County, Iowa, on July 1, 1854, being the son of Jesse and Hannah (Barnett) Hawthorn. He grew up on a farm and was educated in the schools of his native place. When twenty-four he started into the battle of life on his own responsibility and his first ventures were to rent land and farm and then to operate on different railroads and in livery work.

About 1891 Mr. Hawthorn came to Washington, landing first at Pomeroy. Then he worked on ranches in Asotin County about three years. It was 1894 when he came to the reservation in the vicinity of Lapwai. Here he was engaged for wages on different farms until the reservation opened and then he took a quarter section and proved up on it in 1901. In the same year he opened the livery and since has divided his time between it and the prosecution of the fanning industry. Mr. Hawthorn had but little of this “world’s goods when he filed on the land but by his industry and wisdom in management he has accumulated gratifying holding. Mr. Hawthorn was married in 1872.

One daughter was born to him, Josephine, wife of Arthur Haskins, a farmer on Snell gulch, in Nez Perces County. Mrs. Hawthorn was called away by death.

Mr. Hawthorn has four sisters and no brothers, and the other members of the family, besides himself, all live in Iowa. In his career here, it is with pleasure that we are enabled to state that Mr. Hawthorn has so conducted himself that he has won the hearty good will and approval of all who know him and he is one of the prosperous and substantial citizens of good standing.

Back to: Nez Perce Biographies

Source: An Illustrated History of Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903

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