WI BIO - Dane Co - HAWLEY, Samuel
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 391-392

Samuel HAWLEY, a farmer of section 5, Berry Township, Dane County, WI, was 
born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England, in 1830, a son of Samuel and Hannah 
(CHERRY) HAWLEY. The mother was a daughter of Thomas CHERRY. The paternal 
grandfather of our subject, William HAWLEY, came to America in a very early 
day, where he engaged in farming. While in the old country he followed 
gardening. William HAWLEY died in St. Louis [St. Louis County, MO] at about 
80 years of age, leaving a large estate. He was then the father of three 
daughters and two sons.

In 1845 Samuel HAWLEY, father of our subject, came to America to look after 
father's estate, sailing from Liverpool to Boston on the "St. Petersburg," an 
American craft. They were six weeks on the ocean, and encountered a field of 
icebergs and several severe storms. In one of the latter, a whirlwind, they 
had a most miraculous escape. They came to the second field of ice, 85 miles 
long, and on which could be seen polar bears and seals. The HAWLEYs came in 
company with three other families, relatives, and they all landed without 
money. After landing in Boston they went by rail to Albany [NY], by canal to 
Buffalo [NY], by the lake to Milwaukee, and then by hired teams to Berry 
Township, Dane County, WI.

The first winter the HAWLEY family lived on one of the Emigration and Society 
Farms, then rented a place nearby, and in the spring of 1849 purchased 160 
acres in this township [Berry Township], where the father [Samuel HAWLEY] 
died in Jan 1860, aged about 55 years, and the mother [Hannah (CHERRY) 
HAWLEY] in 1881, at the age of 76 years. At their death they [Samuel and 
Hannah (CHERRY) HAWLEY] left six children: (1) William, a farmer of Dane 
County, WI; (2) Thomas, engaged in agricultural pursuits in SD; (3) Jane, 
who died in MN at the age of 46 years, was the wife of Augustus BARNES; (4) 
Samuel, our subject; (5) John, engaged in farming near the home place; and 
(6) Mary, wife of Reuben WITCHER, also a farmer of Dane County, WI. One 
daughter, Sarah, died at the age of three years.

Samuel HAWLEY, the subject of this sketch, [p 392] was married 08 Apr 1861 to 
Miss Mary FORD, a native of England, who came to America about the same time 
as Mr. HAWLEY. They began married life in a part of the present home, a log 
house. To Samuel and Mary (FORD) HAWLEY were born seven children: (1) 
Ernest W., aged 30 years, is a farmer in NE; (2) Herbert W., a farmer of 
Springfield Township, Dane County, WI, married Miss Eugenia FORD and has one 
daughter; (3) Asa, at home; (4) Viola Mary, who has been engaged in 
teaching for three years; (5) Cornelia J., wife of Edgar FORD, has two sons, 
and they reside with her father; (6) Nellie B., aged 16 years, is at home; 
and (7) Fred S., aged 14 years. The mother of these children [Mary (FORD) 
HAWLEY] died 10 Jun 1884, aged 47 years.

Samuel HAWLEY is a stanch Republican, and has served as Supervisor of the 
Side Board one term. He has been a member of the Methodist Church for the 
past 38 years, of which denomination his wife was also a member. The home of 
our subject is most delightfully embowered.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly