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JOHN HAWK, one of West Franklin township's energetic farmers, is a man who has met with good success in the
various kinds of business in which be has been engaged for over thirty years. He is a son of Conrad and Esther
(Slonaker) Hawk, and was born in what is now Lower Burrell township, Westmoreland county, Pa., April 6, 1834. The
Hawk family is of German descent, and is one of the oldest and most highly respected families of Westmoreland county.
One of its members, Daniel Hawk (grandfather), was born in that county, and engaged in agricultural pursuits until
his death, which occurred in 1822, when he had attained the advanced age of eighty six years. He was a member of
the Evangelical Lutheran church, married, and had several children, one of whom, Conrad Hawk (father), was born
near Greensburg, Westmoreland county, in 1795. He was a farmer of Lower Burrell township, a democrat in politics,
a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and commanded the respect of the community in which he resided. He
died in 1881 at his home in Lower Burrell township, when be was in the eighty seventh year of his age. He married
Esther Slonaker, who was. born in Martinsburg, Va., was a member of the Lutheran church, and died in 1874, when
in the sixty seventh year of her age.
John Hawk grew to manhood on his father's farm, and received a common school education. At the age of sixteen years
he went to Pittsburgh, where he pent two and one half years in learning the trade of coach builder and wagon maker,
at which he worked for twelve years.
On December 27, 1860, he married Mary Bair, daughter of Henry Bair, of Allegheny township, Westmoreland county.
They have six children: Adina J., Margaret C., Franklin R., Daniel L., John B., and Mary E. The oldest four were
born in Westmoreland county, Pa., and the youngest two in Armstrong county, Pa.
In 1864 be bought a saw mill on Chartiers creek, which he operated for five years. He then (1869) pnrchased a farm
of one hundred and thirty four acres in West Franklin township, Armstrong county, Pa., which he has cultivated
ever since. He also purchased a steam thresher and saw mill, which he has operated with good success.
John Hawk is an influential member of the Evangelical Lutheran church of Worthington, and in 1864 and 1865 built
the present house of worship of that denomination in Lower Burrell township, in Wesrmoreland county. Mr. Hawk is
a prominent democrat in his township, has served as a member of the school board, and has always been watchful
of the interests and progress of our public schools.
From:
Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia
of Indiana and Armstrong Counties, Pennsylvania
Samuel T. Wiley, Historian & Editor
John M. Greshan & Co.
Philadelphia, 1891
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