Clinton O. Hawes
Clinton O. Hawes, one of Liberty Township's representative citizens, was born at Lewis Center, in Orange Township, Delaware County, Ohio, March 22, 1860, and is a son of Orlando O. and Lucy (Searles) Hawes.
The paternal grandfather was Benjamin A. Hawes. who was born in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and when he came to Ohio, settled first at Euclid, near Cleveland, where he married Mary Walton. She was a daughter of Davis Walton. Benjamin A. Hawes was born January 24. 1799, and his wife was born August 21, 1804. He died in 1885 at the age of 86 years and was survived four years by his wife, who died aged 85 years. They had the following children: Minerva, who married T. T. Wilcox, had her home in Orange Township and died at Edison. Ohio; Fannie, who resided in Orange Township, married John Hall and died young; Orlando O.; Luva, who married James Slane, died in Orange Township; Elizabeth, who married John Keller; and Mary, who married Philander Searles. All are dead except Elizabeth, who is a widow.
In 1826 Benjamin A. Hawes settled in Orange Township, Delaware County, later moved to Liberty Township for a short time and then returned to Orange Township. By trade he was a carpenter and he assisted to put up some of the first buildings at Cleveland. He worked on the frame jail which took the place of the old log calaboose at Cleveland, it too having long since given way to the march of progress, it being a fact that malefactors in modern times are much hotter housed than were honest man in the days of our grandfathers.
Orlando Hawes, father of Clinton O., was born in Liberty Township, Delaware County, Ohio. June 9. 1831. and died in 1862, aged 31 years. He married Lucy Searles, who was born in 1840, and died in 1892, aged 52 years. Her father, Lewis Searles. came to Lewis Center from Galena, where he engaged in a mercantile business until his death. A family of five children was born to Orlando O. Hawes and wife, namely: Alice, Minerva and Willard, all died young; Lucy Luella, who was reared at Akron, married Michael Birmingham, and died at Akron, in September. 1894; and Clinton O. Mrs. Hawes remained a widow for some years and then married Dempster Gifford and became the mother of four more children: Horace, Lelland. Minnie and Edward. Minnie is deceased.
Clinton O. Hawes remained in Orange Township until he' was 25 years of age. attending school at Lewis Center and keeping busy at various employments. He worked on farms in Orange and Liberty Townships to some extent and then learned telegraphy, which he followed for seven years. He was both operator and agent at Radnor and later at Powell, working as night operator at the latter point until he turned his attention to farming and dairying, when he gave up work at the "keys." He owns a tidy little farm of 27 acres adjoining Powell and its convenient location near the town, assists in making his dairy industry a profitable one.
On March 7, 1887, Mr. Hawes was married to Emma L. Bennett, who is a daughter of E. A. and Mary (Clements) Bennett, of Orange Township. Mrs. Hawes was born in Champaign County, Ohio, but her father was born in Orange Township, Delaware County, where both he and wife reside, in comfortable circumstances, his age being 70 and that of his wife 66 years.
In political sentiment. Mr. Hawes is in accord with the Socialist party. He is a member of Powell Lodge, Knights of Pythias. No. 684. He has been clerk of Liberty Township for the past five years and served three years as notary public for the township.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens by James R. Lytle