Elijah Hawley
Elijah Hawley, farmer, P. O. Newton Falls, Trumbull Co., Ohio is the oldest living resident of Paris Township, this county, and was born near his present residence October 11, 1815; son of Chauncy and Mercy (Selby) Hawley. natives of Massachusetts, the former born March 24, 1780, the latter March 24, 1786. Chauncy Hawley was reared and educated in his native State, and there married May 27, 1808. He was a hatter by trade, at which he worked in connection with farming. In 1815 he with his family came to Paris Township, this county, where he resided till his death, which occurred June 17, 1846. His widow died June 18, 1875. Of their six children the following survive: Elijah; Eliza, widow of Joseph Brown; and Urania, wife of M. M. Seymour. Elijah Hawley left home when seventeen years of age and began working at the trade of cabinet-making, but gave it up after three months, and served an apprenticeship at carpentering, at which he worked many years. In 1842 he married Jane, daughter of Thomas and Anna (Sefton) Stewart, by whom he had six children; five now living: Henry. Miles, Charles, William and George. Our subject at his marriage had but little capital, and his first purchase of land was twelve acres, which he paid for by building a house for Stephen Bingham. The result of his industry is 380 acres of well-improved land. Mr. Hawley was successful in architecture and bridge building, and was the author of a design for a substantial wooden bridge. He has held several township offices; was first Assessor of Paris Township. In politics he is a Democrat.
From History of Portage County, Ohio, Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885