Morris Fant Hawes, with his wife and six children, were the first settlers in Richmond Walworth County, Wisconsin, arriving on August 1,1837, made claim to the South half of Section 1. Thomas James, Arthur and Andrew Stewart, and Perkins S. Childs also arrived in 1837. Morris Hawes donated the land for Town Line School, on Richmond/Whiterwater Townline Road. A son was born to the Morris Hawes family on January 5, 1838, and was the first born in the township. The child was Francis M. Hawes. After a few months spent in improving his land, Morris Hawes sold the claim for $560.00 and located another 3 miles eastward on the town line between Richmond and Whitewater.
Morris Fant Hawes was born at Warwick, Orange Co., N.Y., Nov. 12, 1797, and in early childhood removed with his parents, William and Martha (Wood) Hause to Steuben Co., where he remained until about 21 years of age, and during which time he served as a volunteer (though but a boy) in the war of 1812. His father, also a native of New York, participated in the war of the Revolution, and the subject of this sketch was the youngest of numerous family of boys. Mr. Hawes married, May 17, 1818 to Miss Sarah, the eldest daughter of Capt. Nathan Numm Lounsbury, of Rutland, VT. one of Col. Ethan Allen's "Green Mountain Boys" of Revolutionary renown, who reached the remarkable age of 101 years and 8 months, dying at Rutland August 1857. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Hawes moved to Chautauqua Co., N.Y, where he led for some twelve years the quiet, happy life of a prosperous young farmer, cheered and assisted by his loving and ambitious wife, a most loyal young helpmate. Though fitted by birth and education to grace a higher social station, she was ever light-hearted, brave and content, surrounded by her thrifty flock of girls and boys, of whom six were born to them during their residence in that State. About the year 1830, Mr. Hawes, hoping to better the prospects of his growing young family, made another push to the Westward, this time halting in Hillsdale Co. Mich., where he resumed his occuptation of farming, and also kept for a time a small hotel, about half way between the villages of Jonesville and Coldwater, on the great stage route between Detroit and Toledo and Chicago. Here he remained until the spring of 1837, when becoming dissatisfied with his success and prospects, and bearing much from returning exployers of the wondrous beauty and fertility of the "Rock River Valley," he resolved to make one more advance, and this time to the famed prairies beyond all the great lakes. With Mr. Hawes, to resolve was to act, and with his heroic wife and arms full of babies, he set out for the Territory of Wisconsin, reaching what now is the town of Richmond in August 1837. Here he selected a claim and erected a cabin_the first home of civilization in the township and here, on Jan.5, 1838, a son was added to his family; the first born in the township, if not in Walworth Co. After a few months spent in improving his land, he sold the claim for $500 and located another, three miles to the eastward, on the town line between Richmond and Whitewater. On a corner of the farm was subsequently built, by Mr. Hawes and some three or four neighbors, the first schoolhouse in the town. The first teacher as paid $1,25 per week. Mr. Hawes' family constituting a majority of all the pupils. Nevertheless, the handful of settlers were in possession of a free school. For twenty years, Mr. Hawes continued to till the acres he had reclaimed, much respected by the growing community, by whom he was retained in the minor offices of the county for nearly the whole time, and by whom he was elected to the first Constitutional Convention, called at Madison Oct. 5, 1846. In 1857 his wife having long been an invalid, and his sons not following the chosen occupation of their father, Mr. Hawes decided to relinquish the cares of a large farm, and removed to Whitewater, where on July 28, 1859, the gentle partner of his busy life folded her weary, loving hands in final rest. Of his family, the eldest, Lucretia, the wife of B.P. Plato, of Rock Co. died in 1866. Lucy, the second, died in childhood, in New York, Lucinda M. is the widow of Joel Clapp, late of Milwaukee; Lucena E. is the wife of William De Wolf, of Whitewater; Lucius J. married Miss Eliza Hunter, of Maquoketa, Iowa and lives at that place; Lucerne E. married Miss Clara Beemer, of Albion, N.Y., and lives at Whitewater; Frances E is the wife of Dr. C.M. Palmer, of Colorado; Francis M. married Miss Jennie Housel, of Owen Co, Ky., and resides at Milwaukee; and Dean M. is the wife is the wife of Hiram S. Teall, of the same city. A single incident of Mr. Hawes' career will sufficiently illustrate a strong feature of his character. When chosen to serve as a member of the Constitutional Convention, on arriving at Madison, and before qualifying, he was called home by the serious and subsequently fatal illness of his wife. He was detained so long that upon his return to the convention the duties of that body were virtually completed. He was then urged by his fellow-members to qualify, that he might be properly enrolled and receive his compensation as a member. This he stubbornly refused to do, claiming that he had performed no public duty for which he was entitled to compensation. He died at Whitewater Jan. 13, 1868, in the 71st year of his age. Few words are needed to give to the memory of Morris Fant Hawes its fit place of this State. In all the relations of life he was a just man. With scarce an exception, he was honored and trusted and loved by all who knew him. He was punctilious and persistent in discharge of every moral and business obligation. He lived and open-handed life of usefulness. He died no mans debtor. His name will be honored as long as they live who understand and value the virtue, the heroism, the wisdom and the dignity of the man who shaped the destinies of the proud State of Wisconsin.
From History of Walworth County Wisconsin By Brookhaven Press page 783
Morris Fant Hawes was born at Warwick, Orange Co., N.Y., Nov. 12, 1797, and in early childhood removed with his parents, William and Martha (Wood) Hause to Steuben Co., where he remained until about 21 years of age, and during which time he served as a volunteer (though but a boy) in the war of 1812. His father, also a native of New York, participated in the war of the Revolution, and the subject of this sketch was the youngest of numerous family of boys. Mr. Hawes married, May 17, 1818 to Miss Sarah, the eldest daughter of Capt. Nathan Numm Lounsbury, of Rutland, VT. one of Col. Ethan Allen's "Green Mountain Boys" of Revolutionary renown, who reached the remarkable age of 101 years and 8 months, dying at Rutland August 1857. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Hawes moved to Chautauqua Co., N.Y, where he led for some twelve years the quiet, happy life of a prosperous young farmer, cheered and assisted by his loving and ambitious wife, a most loyal young helpmate. Though fitted by birth and education to grace a higher social station, she was ever light-hearted, brave and content, surrounded by her thrifty flock of girls and boys, of whom six were born to them during their residence in that State. About the year 1830, Mr. Hawes, hoping to better the prospects of his growing young family, made another push to the Westward, this time halting in Hillsdale Co. Mich., where he resumed his occuptation of farming, and also kept for a time a small hotel, about half way between the villages of Jonesville and Coldwater, on the great stage route between Detroit and Toledo and Chicago. Here he remained until the spring of 1837, when becoming dissatisfied with his success and prospects, and bearing much from returning exployers of the wondrous beauty and fertility of the "Rock River Valley," he resolved to make one more advance, and this time to the famed prairies beyond all the great lakes. With Mr. Hawes, to resolve was to act, and with his heroic wife and arms full of babies, he set out for the Territory of Wisconsin, reaching what now is the town of Richmond in August 1837. Here he selected a claim and erected a cabin_the first home of civilization in the township and here, on Jan.5, 1838, a son was added to his family; the first born in the township, if not in Walworth Co. After a few months spent in improving his land, he sold the claim for $500 and located another, three miles to the eastward, on the town line between Richmond and Whitewater. On a corner of the farm was subsequently built, by Mr. Hawes and some three or four neighbors, the first schoolhouse in the town. The first teacher as paid $1,25 per week. Mr. Hawes' family constituting a majority of all the pupils. Nevertheless, the handful of settlers were in possession of a free school. For twenty years, Mr. Hawes continued to till the acres he had reclaimed, much respected by the growing community, by whom he was retained in the minor offices of the county for nearly the whole time, and by whom he was elected to the first Constitutional Convention, called at Madison Oct. 5, 1846. In 1857 his wife having long been an invalid, and his sons not following the chosen occupation of their father, Mr. Hawes decided to relinquish the cares of a large farm, and removed to Whitewater, where on July 28, 1859, the gentle partner of his busy life folded her weary, loving hands in final rest. Of his family, the eldest, Lucretia, the wife of B.P. Plato, of Rock Co. died in 1866. Lucy, the second, died in childhood, in New York, Lucinda M. is the widow of Joel Clapp, late of Milwaukee; Lucena E. is the wife of William De Wolf, of Whitewater; Lucius J. married Miss Eliza Hunter, of Maquoketa, Iowa and lives at that place; Lucerne E. married Miss Clara Beemer, of Albion, N.Y., and lives at Whitewater; Frances E is the wife of Dr. C.M. Palmer, of Colorado; Francis M. married Miss Jennie Housel, of Owen Co, Ky., and resides at Milwaukee; and Dean M. is the wife is the wife of Hiram S. Teall, of the same city. A single incident of Mr. Hawes' career will sufficiently illustrate a strong feature of his character. When chosen to serve as a member of the Constitutional Convention, on arriving at Madison, and before qualifying, he was called home by the serious and subsequently fatal illness of his wife. He was detained so long that upon his return to the convention the duties of that body were virtually completed. He was then urged by his fellow-members to qualify, that he might be properly enrolled and receive his compensation as a member. This he stubbornly refused to do, claiming that he had performed no public duty for which he was entitled to compensation. He died at Whitewater Jan. 13, 1868, in the 71st year of his age. Few words are needed to give to the memory of Morris Fant Hawes its fit place of this State. In all the relations of life he was a just man. With scarce an exception, he was honored and trusted and loved by all who knew him. He was punctilious and persistent in discharge of every moral and business obligation. He lived and open-handed life of usefulness. He died no mans debtor. His name will be honored as long as they live who understand and value the virtue, the heroism, the wisdom and the dignity of the man who shaped the destinies of the proud State of Wisconsin.
From History of Walworth County Wisconsin By Brookhaven Press page 783
Morris Fant Hawes, with his wife and six children, were the first settlers in Richmond Walworth County, Wisconsin, arriving on August 1,1837, made claim to the South half of Section 1. Thomas James, Arthur and Andrew Stewart, and Perkins S. Childs also arrived in 1837. Morris Hawes donated the land for Town Line School, on Richmond/Whiterwater Townline Road. A son was born to the Morris Hawes family on January 5, 1838, and was the first born in the township. The child was Francis M. Hawes. After a few months spent in improving his land, Morris Hawes sold the claim for $560.00 and located another 3 miles eastward on the town line between Richmond and Whitewater.
Morris Fant Hawes was born at Warwick, Orange Co., N.Y., Nov. 12, 1797, and in early childhood removed with his parents, William and Martha (Wood) Hause to Steuben Co., where he remained until about 21 years of age, and during which time he served as a volunteer (though but a boy) in the war of 1812. His father, also a native of New York, participated in the war of the Revolution, and the subject of this sketch was the youngest of numerous family of boys. Mr. Hawes married, May 17, 1818 to Miss Sarah, the eldest daughter of Capt. Nathan Numm Lounsbury, of Rutland, VT. one of Col. Ethan Allen's "Green Mountain Boys" of Revolutionary renown, who reached the remarkable age of 101 years and 8 months, dying at Rutland August 1857. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Hawes moved to Chautauqua Co., N.Y, where he led for some twelve years the quiet, happy life of a prosperous young farmer, cheered and assisted by his loving and ambitious wife, a most loyal young helpmate. Though fitted by birth and education to grace a higher social station, she was ever light-hearted, brave and content, surrounded by her thrifty flock of girls and boys, of whom six were born to them during their residence in that State. About the year 1830, Mr. Hawes, hoping to better the prospects of his growing young family, made another push to the Westward, this time halting in Hillsdale Co. Mich., where he resumed his occuptation of farming, and also kept for a time a small hotel, about half way between the villages of Jonesville and Coldwater, on the great stage route between Detroit and Toledo and Chicago. Here he remained until the spring of 1837, when becoming dissatisfied with his success and prospects, and bearing much from returning exployers of the wondrous beauty and fertility of the "Rock River Valley," he resolved to make one more advance, and this time to the famed prairies beyond all the great lakes. With Mr. Hawes, to resolve was to act, and with his heroic wife and arms full of babies, he set out for the Territory of Wisconsin, reaching what now is the town of Richmond in August 1837. Here he selected a claim and erected a cabin_the first home of civilization in the township and here, on Jan.5, 1838, a son was added to his family; the first born in the township, if not in Walworth Co. After a few months spent in improving his land, he sold the claim for $500 and located another, three miles to the eastward, on the town line between Richmond and Whitewater. On a corner of the farm was subsequently built, by Mr. Hawes and some three or four neighbors, the first schoolhouse in the town. The first teacher as paid $1,25 per week. Mr. Hawes' family constituting a majority of all the pupils. Nevertheless, the handful of settlers were in possession of a free school. For twenty years, Mr. Hawes continued to till the acres he had reclaimed, much respected by the growing community, by whom he was retained in the minor offices of the county for nearly the whole time, and by whom he was elected to the first Constitutional Convention, called at Madison Oct. 5, 1846. In 1857 his wife having long been an invalid, and his sons not following the chosen occupation of their father, Mr. Hawes decided to relinquish the cares of a large farm, and removed to Whitewater, where on July 28, 1859, the gentle partner of his busy life folded her weary, loving hands in final rest. Of his family, the eldest, Lucretia, the wife of B.P. Plato, of Rock Co. died in 1866. Lucy, the second, died in childhood, in New York, Lucinda M. is the widow of Joel Clapp, late of Milwaukee; Lucena E. is the wife of William De Wolf, of Whitewater; Lucius J. married Miss Eliza Hunter, of Maquoketa, Iowa and lives at that place; Lucerne E. married Miss Clara Beemer, of Albion, N.Y., and lives at Whitewater; Frances E is the wife of Dr. C.M. Palmer, of Colorado; Francis M. married Miss Jennie Housel, of Owen Co, Ky., and resides at Milwaukee; and Dean M. is the wife is the wife of Hiram S. Teall, of the same city. A single incident of Mr. Hawes' career will sufficiently illustrate a strong feature of his character. When chosen to serve as a member of the Constitutional Convention, on arriving at Madison, and before qualifying, he was called home by the serious and subsequently fatal illness of his wife. He was detained so long that upon his return to the convention the duties of that body were virtually completed. He was then urged by his fellow-members to qualify, that he might be properly enrolled and receive his compensation as a member. This he stubbornly refused to do, claiming that he had performed no public duty for which he was entitled to compensation. He died at Whitewater Jan. 13, 1868, in the 71st year of his age. Few words are needed to give to the memory of Morris Fant Hawes its fit place of this State. In all the relations of life he was a just man. With scarce an exception, he was honored and trusted and loved by all who knew him. He was punctilious and persistent in discharge of every moral and business obligation. He lived and open-handed life of usefulness. He died no mans debtor. His name will be honored as long as they live who understand and value the virtue, the heroism, the wisdom and the dignity of the man who shaped the destinies of the proud State of Wisconsin.
From History of Walworth County Wisconsin By Brookhaven Press page 783
Morris Fant Hawes was born at Warwick, Orange Co., N.Y., Nov. 12, 1797, and in early childhood removed with his parents, William and Martha (Wood) Hause to Steuben Co., where he remained until about 21 years of age, and during which time he served as a volunteer (though but a boy) in the war of 1812. His father, also a native of New York, participated in the war of the Revolution, and the subject of this sketch was the youngest of numerous family of boys. Mr. Hawes married, May 17, 1818 to Miss Sarah, the eldest daughter of Capt. Nathan Numm Lounsbury, of Rutland, VT. one of Col. Ethan Allen's "Green Mountain Boys" of Revolutionary renown, who reached the remarkable age of 101 years and 8 months, dying at Rutland August 1857. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Hawes moved to Chautauqua Co., N.Y, where he led for some twelve years the quiet, happy life of a prosperous young farmer, cheered and assisted by his loving and ambitious wife, a most loyal young helpmate. Though fitted by birth and education to grace a higher social station, she was ever light-hearted, brave and content, surrounded by her thrifty flock of girls and boys, of whom six were born to them during their residence in that State. About the year 1830, Mr. Hawes, hoping to better the prospects of his growing young family, made another push to the Westward, this time halting in Hillsdale Co. Mich., where he resumed his occuptation of farming, and also kept for a time a small hotel, about half way between the villages of Jonesville and Coldwater, on the great stage route between Detroit and Toledo and Chicago. Here he remained until the spring of 1837, when becoming dissatisfied with his success and prospects, and bearing much from returning exployers of the wondrous beauty and fertility of the "Rock River Valley," he resolved to make one more advance, and this time to the famed prairies beyond all the great lakes. With Mr. Hawes, to resolve was to act, and with his heroic wife and arms full of babies, he set out for the Territory of Wisconsin, reaching what now is the town of Richmond in August 1837. Here he selected a claim and erected a cabin_the first home of civilization in the township and here, on Jan.5, 1838, a son was added to his family; the first born in the township, if not in Walworth Co. After a few months spent in improving his land, he sold the claim for $500 and located another, three miles to the eastward, on the town line between Richmond and Whitewater. On a corner of the farm was subsequently built, by Mr. Hawes and some three or four neighbors, the first schoolhouse in the town. The first teacher as paid $1,25 per week. Mr. Hawes' family constituting a majority of all the pupils. Nevertheless, the handful of settlers were in possession of a free school. For twenty years, Mr. Hawes continued to till the acres he had reclaimed, much respected by the growing community, by whom he was retained in the minor offices of the county for nearly the whole time, and by whom he was elected to the first Constitutional Convention, called at Madison Oct. 5, 1846. In 1857 his wife having long been an invalid, and his sons not following the chosen occupation of their father, Mr. Hawes decided to relinquish the cares of a large farm, and removed to Whitewater, where on July 28, 1859, the gentle partner of his busy life folded her weary, loving hands in final rest. Of his family, the eldest, Lucretia, the wife of B.P. Plato, of Rock Co. died in 1866. Lucy, the second, died in childhood, in New York, Lucinda M. is the widow of Joel Clapp, late of Milwaukee; Lucena E. is the wife of William De Wolf, of Whitewater; Lucius J. married Miss Eliza Hunter, of Maquoketa, Iowa and lives at that place; Lucerne E. married Miss Clara Beemer, of Albion, N.Y., and lives at Whitewater; Frances E is the wife of Dr. C.M. Palmer, of Colorado; Francis M. married Miss Jennie Housel, of Owen Co, Ky., and resides at Milwaukee; and Dean M. is the wife is the wife of Hiram S. Teall, of the same city. A single incident of Mr. Hawes' career will sufficiently illustrate a strong feature of his character. When chosen to serve as a member of the Constitutional Convention, on arriving at Madison, and before qualifying, he was called home by the serious and subsequently fatal illness of his wife. He was detained so long that upon his return to the convention the duties of that body were virtually completed. He was then urged by his fellow-members to qualify, that he might be properly enrolled and receive his compensation as a member. This he stubbornly refused to do, claiming that he had performed no public duty for which he was entitled to compensation. He died at Whitewater Jan. 13, 1868, in the 71st year of his age. Few words are needed to give to the memory of Morris Fant Hawes its fit place of this State. In all the relations of life he was a just man. With scarce an exception, he was honored and trusted and loved by all who knew him. He was punctilious and persistent in discharge of every moral and business obligation. He lived and open-handed life of usefulness. He died no mans debtor. His name will be honored as long as they live who understand and value the virtue, the heroism, the wisdom and the dignity of the man who shaped the destinies of the proud State of Wisconsin.
From History of Walworth County Wisconsin By Brookhaven Press page 783
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