News Item:
Cumber Merchant for 20 Years Leaves Store to Enjoy Life on Elkland Farm
By William T. Noble.
The country storekeeper like the country physician, even in this swiftly moving twentieth century, remains a necessity. And when he serves for nearly a quarter of a century, as has Jesse Hawksworth, he becomes their philosopher, friendly critic and moral supporter.
It is little wonder that when Jesse decided to retire to a farm the citizens of Cumber were moved.
It was over twenty years ago that Mr. Hawksworth moved to Cumber, but he spent his entire life in, and around Sanilac county. His father, a traveling tailor, homesteaded a plot of land near Tyre nearly sixty-three years ago. Jesse was born there and recalls the great fire of eighty-one that consumed the rich timber and homes of the settlers, including his father's.
"I was six years old at the time," said Jesse, "but I remember that fire as though it was yesterday or some time last week it happened. We had to leave our home because the fire took it completely. We took our kitchen table to a hilltop, overturned it and spread a blanket over the legs, remaining there until my father came."
Many of the pioneers were sure it was the end of the world and resignedly sat in their homes praying, as they waited for the deadly flames.
"When my father took us from our crude shelter," recalled Jesse, "we staggered through the blinding smoke, coming upon a home that was dangerously close to the fire. The people inside were praying and waiting their destruction, but my father made them help save their home, convincing them it was not the end of the world."
The home and buildings of that pioneer's farm were saved and for several weeks the Hawksworth family lived with them until a log cabin could be fashioned on their own charred land.
Mr. Hawksworth waded through the sloppy marshes to the school at Cumber, drove oxen and was a pioneer farmer until 26 years of age when he began working for John Miller in his meat market in Ubly, thus commencing his career as a grocer. Jesse remained in Miller's market for nearly 15 years and then purchased the Cumber store from Dan Preston.
In this period Jesse has won an invaluable reputation for his fair dealing and honesty. It is his formula for success.
"I believe honesty is the only way to success," said Mr. Hawksworth, "and everything I have has been made by fair dealing, even though there may have been opportunities to obtain more other ways."
Although Jesse will not attempt farming on a large scale the chores of a farm are not new to him.
"It has been nearly 40 years since I have milked a cow," he remarked, "but I guess I'll pick it up again all right."
A desire for the less nervous tension of farm life prompted trading his store to Millard Knuckles for the present farm. Coincidently that farm was once owned by Dan Preston, first owner of the Cumber store.
Jesse is happily married and has five daughters, Mrs. Ross Brown of Shabbona, Hannah Phillips of Port Huron, Mrs. E. Burke and Mrs. Harold Ferguson of Pontiac and Vernita Hawskworth who is employed in Croswell.
Jesse feels secure in his new undertaking and has proven the path to comfortable success is really very simple.
(Cass City Chronicle, Friday, March 25, 1938, pages 1.)
Note: Above article courtesy of KMoss, Find A Grave contributor # 50380198.
Cumber Merchant for 20 Years Leaves Store to Enjoy Life on Elkland Farm
By William T. Noble.
The country storekeeper like the country physician, even in this swiftly moving twentieth century, remains a necessity. And when he serves for nearly a quarter of a century, as has Jesse Hawksworth, he becomes their philosopher, friendly critic and moral supporter.
It is little wonder that when Jesse decided to retire to a farm the citizens of Cumber were moved.
It was over twenty years ago that Mr. Hawksworth moved to Cumber, but he spent his entire life in, and around Sanilac county. His father, a traveling tailor, homesteaded a plot of land near Tyre nearly sixty-three years ago. Jesse was born there and recalls the great fire of eighty-one that consumed the rich timber and homes of the settlers, including his father's.
"I was six years old at the time," said Jesse, "but I remember that fire as though it was yesterday or some time last week it happened. We had to leave our home because the fire took it completely. We took our kitchen table to a hilltop, overturned it and spread a blanket over the legs, remaining there until my father came."
Many of the pioneers were sure it was the end of the world and resignedly sat in their homes praying, as they waited for the deadly flames.
"When my father took us from our crude shelter," recalled Jesse, "we staggered through the blinding smoke, coming upon a home that was dangerously close to the fire. The people inside were praying and waiting their destruction, but my father made them help save their home, convincing them it was not the end of the world."
The home and buildings of that pioneer's farm were saved and for several weeks the Hawksworth family lived with them until a log cabin could be fashioned on their own charred land.
Mr. Hawksworth waded through the sloppy marshes to the school at Cumber, drove oxen and was a pioneer farmer until 26 years of age when he began working for John Miller in his meat market in Ubly, thus commencing his career as a grocer. Jesse remained in Miller's market for nearly 15 years and then purchased the Cumber store from Dan Preston.
In this period Jesse has won an invaluable reputation for his fair dealing and honesty. It is his formula for success.
"I believe honesty is the only way to success," said Mr. Hawksworth, "and everything I have has been made by fair dealing, even though there may have been opportunities to obtain more other ways."
Although Jesse will not attempt farming on a large scale the chores of a farm are not new to him.
"It has been nearly 40 years since I have milked a cow," he remarked, "but I guess I'll pick it up again all right."
A desire for the less nervous tension of farm life prompted trading his store to Millard Knuckles for the present farm. Coincidently that farm was once owned by Dan Preston, first owner of the Cumber store.
Jesse is happily married and has five daughters, Mrs. Ross Brown of Shabbona, Hannah Phillips of Port Huron, Mrs. E. Burke and Mrs. Harold Ferguson of Pontiac and Vernita Hawskworth who is employed in Croswell.
Jesse feels secure in his new undertaking and has proven the path to comfortable success is really very simple.
(Cass City Chronicle, Friday, March 25, 1938, pages 1.)
Note: Above article courtesy of KMoss, Find A Grave contributor # 50380198.
News Item:
Cumber Merchant for 20 Years Leaves Store to Enjoy Life on Elkland Farm
By William T. Noble.
The country storekeeper like the country physician, even in this swiftly moving twentieth century, remains a necessity. And when he serves for nearly a quarter of a century, as has Jesse Hawksworth, he becomes their philosopher, friendly critic and moral supporter.
It is little wonder that when Jesse decided to retire to a farm the citizens of Cumber were moved.
It was over twenty years ago that Mr. Hawksworth moved to Cumber, but he spent his entire life in, and around Sanilac county. His father, a traveling tailor, homesteaded a plot of land near Tyre nearly sixty-three years ago. Jesse was born there and recalls the great fire of eighty-one that consumed the rich timber and homes of the settlers, including his father's.
"I was six years old at the time," said Jesse, "but I remember that fire as though it was yesterday or some time last week it happened. We had to leave our home because the fire took it completely. We took our kitchen table to a hilltop, overturned it and spread a blanket over the legs, remaining there until my father came."
Many of the pioneers were sure it was the end of the world and resignedly sat in their homes praying, as they waited for the deadly flames.
"When my father took us from our crude shelter," recalled Jesse, "we staggered through the blinding smoke, coming upon a home that was dangerously close to the fire. The people inside were praying and waiting their destruction, but my father made them help save their home, convincing them it was not the end of the world."
The home and buildings of that pioneer's farm were saved and for several weeks the Hawksworth family lived with them until a log cabin could be fashioned on their own charred land.
Mr. Hawksworth waded through the sloppy marshes to the school at Cumber, drove oxen and was a pioneer farmer until 26 years of age when he began working for John Miller in his meat market in Ubly, thus commencing his career as a grocer. Jesse remained in Miller's market for nearly 15 years and then purchased the Cumber store from Dan Preston.
In this period Jesse has won an invaluable reputation for his fair dealing and honesty. It is his formula for success.
"I believe honesty is the only way to success," said Mr. Hawksworth, "and everything I have has been made by fair dealing, even though there may have been opportunities to obtain more other ways."
Although Jesse will not attempt farming on a large scale the chores of a farm are not new to him.
"It has been nearly 40 years since I have milked a cow," he remarked, "but I guess I'll pick it up again all right."
A desire for the less nervous tension of farm life prompted trading his store to Millard Knuckles for the present farm. Coincidently that farm was once owned by Dan Preston, first owner of the Cumber store.
Jesse is happily married and has five daughters, Mrs. Ross Brown of Shabbona, Hannah Phillips of Port Huron, Mrs. E. Burke and Mrs. Harold Ferguson of Pontiac and Vernita Hawskworth who is employed in Croswell.
Jesse feels secure in his new undertaking and has proven the path to comfortable success is really very simple.
(Cass City Chronicle, Friday, March 25, 1938, pages 1.)
Note: Above article courtesy of KMoss, Find A Grave contributor # 50380198.
Cumber Merchant for 20 Years Leaves Store to Enjoy Life on Elkland Farm
By William T. Noble.
The country storekeeper like the country physician, even in this swiftly moving twentieth century, remains a necessity. And when he serves for nearly a quarter of a century, as has Jesse Hawksworth, he becomes their philosopher, friendly critic and moral supporter.
It is little wonder that when Jesse decided to retire to a farm the citizens of Cumber were moved.
It was over twenty years ago that Mr. Hawksworth moved to Cumber, but he spent his entire life in, and around Sanilac county. His father, a traveling tailor, homesteaded a plot of land near Tyre nearly sixty-three years ago. Jesse was born there and recalls the great fire of eighty-one that consumed the rich timber and homes of the settlers, including his father's.
"I was six years old at the time," said Jesse, "but I remember that fire as though it was yesterday or some time last week it happened. We had to leave our home because the fire took it completely. We took our kitchen table to a hilltop, overturned it and spread a blanket over the legs, remaining there until my father came."
Many of the pioneers were sure it was the end of the world and resignedly sat in their homes praying, as they waited for the deadly flames.
"When my father took us from our crude shelter," recalled Jesse, "we staggered through the blinding smoke, coming upon a home that was dangerously close to the fire. The people inside were praying and waiting their destruction, but my father made them help save their home, convincing them it was not the end of the world."
The home and buildings of that pioneer's farm were saved and for several weeks the Hawksworth family lived with them until a log cabin could be fashioned on their own charred land.
Mr. Hawksworth waded through the sloppy marshes to the school at Cumber, drove oxen and was a pioneer farmer until 26 years of age when he began working for John Miller in his meat market in Ubly, thus commencing his career as a grocer. Jesse remained in Miller's market for nearly 15 years and then purchased the Cumber store from Dan Preston.
In this period Jesse has won an invaluable reputation for his fair dealing and honesty. It is his formula for success.
"I believe honesty is the only way to success," said Mr. Hawksworth, "and everything I have has been made by fair dealing, even though there may have been opportunities to obtain more other ways."
Although Jesse will not attempt farming on a large scale the chores of a farm are not new to him.
"It has been nearly 40 years since I have milked a cow," he remarked, "but I guess I'll pick it up again all right."
A desire for the less nervous tension of farm life prompted trading his store to Millard Knuckles for the present farm. Coincidently that farm was once owned by Dan Preston, first owner of the Cumber store.
Jesse is happily married and has five daughters, Mrs. Ross Brown of Shabbona, Hannah Phillips of Port Huron, Mrs. E. Burke and Mrs. Harold Ferguson of Pontiac and Vernita Hawskworth who is employed in Croswell.
Jesse feels secure in his new undertaking and has proven the path to comfortable success is really very simple.
(Cass City Chronicle, Friday, March 25, 1938, pages 1.)
Note: Above article courtesy of KMoss, Find A Grave contributor # 50380198.
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