Dr. Jacob W. Hawk, actively engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Green River, prepared for his profession at Keokuk, Iowa, where he won his degree in 1882. Since that time he has concentrated his efforts and attention upon professional interests and duties and has ever been closely observant of the highest ethical standards of the profession.
    He was born in Mahaska county, Iowa, November 12, 1857, a son of the late Martin Hawk, a native of Virginia and a representative of an old Virginia family of English lineage. This family was founded in America by Jacob Hawk, an agriculturist, who crossed the Atlantic prior to the Revolutionary war. The grandfather of Dr. Hawk also bore the name of Jacob and was a Virginian, who served in the War of 1812. The Doctor's father was reared and educated in Ohio and about 1852 removed westward to Iowa, becoming one of the pioneers in that state. There he took up the occupation of farming, which he successfully followed. He was also a prominent and active worker in the ranks of the democratic party and was several times called upon to fill positions of public honor and trust. He served as county commissioner during the period of the Civil war and was ever a stalwart champion of those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and of civic pride. He reached the advanced age of eighty-two years, passing away in 1905, respected and honored by all who knew him. His wife bore the maiden name of Nancy Burroughs and was born in Ohio, representing one of the old families of the Buckeye state of English lineage founded in New England at a very early period in the colonization of the new world. Her mother's people were of the Saunders family and representatives of both the Saunders and the Burroughs family took part in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Hawk passed away in 1915 at the notable old age of eighty-nine years, both she and her husband dying in Denver, where they lived for several years prior to their demise. They had a family of eight children.
    Dr. Jacob W. Hawk, who was the fifth in order of birth, pursued his early education in the public schools of Iowa and in reviewing the vast field of business preparatory to making selection of some line of work as his chosen vocation he determined upon the practice of medicine and surgeon, and with that end in view matriculated in the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Keokuk, Iowa, from which he was graduated in 1882. Previous to the time, when a young man of eighteen years, he taught school in Iowa but regarded this merely as an initial step to other professional activity, using it as a means to provide him with some of the funds necessary to pursue his college course. Following his graduation he entered upon active practice with Dr. W. W. Hawk, his brother, at Colfax, Jasper county, Iowa, where he remained for a year. He then removed to southern Iowa, taking up his abode in Russell, Lucas county, where he was appointed examining surgeon under Grover Cleveland for the southern district of the state and thus assisted various veterans of the Civil war in securing pensions. This was his first political appointment. He remained in southern Iowa for five years and spent the following year in post graduate work in Chicago. In the spring of 1889 he removed to Denver, Colorado, where he engaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery for five years. He next took up his abode in Green River, Wyoming, where he was appointed district surgeon for the Union Pacific and for the Oregon Short Line Railroads. He is still connected with both roads in that capacity and at the same time is engaged in general practice, being the pioneer physician of Green River. His ability is pronounced and his success has been rapid and substantial. He keeps in touch with the trend of modern professional thought and investigation and while he does not hastily discard the old and time-tried methods, is ever ready to take up any new idea which his judgment sanctions as of value in connection with the onerous task of checking the ravages of disease and restoring health. He is also one of the officers and directors of the First National Bank of Green River.
    On the 28^th of February, 1883, in Newton, Iowa, Dr. Hawk was married to Miss Charlotte Gardner, a native of Canada and a daughter of William and Charlotte (Davidson) Gardner. The mother is still living but the father has passed away. Both were natives of Scotland. Dr. and Mrs. Hawk have but one child, Janet, who is the wife of George K. Hoffman, a resident of Delaware, Ohio.
    Dr. Hawk is identified with the American Medical Association, the Wyoming State Medical Society, the American Association of Railway Surgeons and other organizations which have to do with the dissemination of knowledge that is of value to the profession. He has served as county health commissioner, as county physician and as examining surgeon for the selective draft in Sweetwater county, having been appointed to the last mentioned position on the 20^th of June, 1917. His political endorsement has always been given to the republican party and for one term he represented his district in the state legislature. He also served for two terms as a member of the state senate, has been mayor of Green River for two terms and is the present incumbent in that position. Fraternally he is a Mason and an Odd Fellow and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church.
    The specific and distinctive office of biography is not to give voice to a man's modest estimate of himself and his accomplishments but rather to leave a perpetual record establishing his character by the consensus of opinion on the part of his fellowmen. Throughout Wyoming Dr. Hawk is spoken of in terms of admiration and respect. His life has been so varied in its activities, so honorable in its purposes, so farreaching and beneficial in its effects that it has become an integral part of the history of his city and has left an impress upon the annals of the state. As a city official and as a member of the general assembly of Wyoming he has done much to further public progress along those lines affecting municipal, state and national welfare. His life is characterized by a marked public spirit and devotion to the general good and in social circles he has gained prominence by reason of a charming personality and unfeigned cordiality.