The Hawken Brothers

Submitted by Marrie Miller

From time immemorial there lived in Cornwall, England, a numerous family of thrift and enterprise, always alive to their opportunities and ready to make the most of them, bearing their part bravely and cheerfully in the affairs of the state, whether that part involved the weight of arms and the hazard of battle, the chance with capricious wind and wave on the high seas, or the peaceful pursuits of husbandry or mining at home, making their distinct mark in every line of activity, typifying in every phase of being the admirable qualities of their race and section. This was the family of Hawken, a scion of which, named William, lived and flourished on the native soil about the middle of the nineteenth century. He married with Elizabeth Rundel, also descended from an old and well-established Cornish family, and they had seven brawny, brainy sons, all of whom have contributed essentially to the development and improvement of Wyoming, building up profitable industries in her midst, giving character and trend to her local institutions, guarding jealously her good name in business and statecraft, ever raising the standard of her citizenship.

Charles R Hawken the eldest of these sons, was born in Cornwall, at the hereditary fireside, on January 1, 1853, and there he grew to manhood, was educated and worked for years on the farm with his father. In 1888 he came to Wyoming, there joining three of his brothers, who had preceded him to the New World by several years, and, from his arrival, he has been a respected and prosperous citizen of the state, carrying on an extensive cattle industry in Crook county, and taking an active and serviceable interest in the government and public sentiment of his section of the country. Soon after his arrival he began to acquire land by taking up a quarter-section of land adjoining the tracts held by his brothers, and he has added to his possessions from time to time, until he now owns one body of 640 acres in that neighborhood and another of 160 acres, lying not far from the town of Sundance. His stock industry has grown to good proportions and high standing, being carried on with intelligence and judgment, and his position in the community is enviable and well-secured, having been won by force of character and grace of manner. His is a high type of manhood, well worthy of esteem in every relation of life. In politics he is an ardent Republican, in business a careful and successful manager, in social life a helpful and genial factor, in citizenship entitled to a high regard.

Harry O Hawken The second in order of birth, but, by common consent of the five brothers, whose life-story is here recorded briefly, being the American head of the family, Harry C Hawken, was the pioneer of the name in this part of the country, having left his home and friends in merry England in 1878, and, in company with his brothers, William and Thomas, joined the great army of industrial conquest that was moving westward over the untamed wilderness of the United States. He was born on October 17, 1857, and remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age. In America he first, for one year, halted in Ohio, then came to Laramie City, Wyo., near which rich settlement, with his two brothers he engaged in the sheep business until 1884, when, after wintering two seasons in California, they all came to Crook county, the brothers coming first with a large band of sheep, and Harry soon after joining them. He took up the ranch he now occupies on Black's Flat, eight miles south of Sundance. In 1887 the partnership with his brothers was dissolved, and he sold his sheep and bought cattle, and since then he has given his attention to this branch of the stock industry with gratifying success. He was one. of the first settlers on the Flat and has contributed most essentially to the improvement of the region, giving to the work the benefit of a stimulating spirit of enterprise and the inspiration of an excellent example. He is a representative citizen, well-known, highly esteemed, prosperous, progressive and broad-minded. He holds allegiance to the Republican party and takes an active interest in politics, serving his people as a worker in the ranks of citizenship and also in responsible official stations. He is now a member of the board of county commissioners, and, in this important office, he has won the commendation of his fellow citizens. On October 28, 1889, he married with Miss Julia Thompson, a native of Pennsylvania, a daughter of Clinton and Rebecca (Grisley) Thompson. Her father was a leading lumberman in the Keystone state and there died in April, 1901, in Clearfield county, where her mother is yet living.

Thomas R Hawken of near Sundance, Wyoming, has been a resident of the commonwealth since 1888, having come hither with his brother, Charles, in that year. He was born in Cornwall, England, on September 8. 1867, and reached his majority on his father's homestead in that country, being educated at the country schools of his neighborhood and working between times on the farm. On their arrival in Wyoming the two brothers formed a partnership in the cattle business, and continued it until 1902 on the ranch now owned and. occupied by Charles. In that year the partnership was dissolved, and Thomas Hawken secured a lease of his brother, John's, ranch for a period of ten years, moved thither and began an enterprising cattle business on his own account. In this he is prospering and the industry is rapidly expanding, as he is utilizing judgment and prudence in its management, bringing to bear on its development and successful operation the results of reflective reading and careful observation, being fully convinced ways within the sweep of his vision the helpful and productive elements of the public life of the community, giving due consideration, reflective and active, to their proper concentration and guidance. He is a Republican in political belief and adherence, but not an active partisan, seeking rather the general weal in local affairs than any party or factional success.

The parents of these gentlemen, William and Elizabeth (Rundel) Hawken, lived long and labored faithfully in their native Cornwall, expecting, no doubt, at the end of life to rest beneath its hallowed soil, where the ashes of so many of their forefathers repose. But, as their fireside was bereft of one after another of their sons, and the hopes of the wanderers bloomed and fructified in the distant land to which they had taken them, the voice of the New World became louder and more urgent in its appeals to the parents, until at length they, too, yielded to its persuasions and joined their offspring on its fertile expanse, arriving in Wyoming in 1892. But seemingly the impulse that moved them was spent in the design to have them sleep among their children when life was over; for, within a few months after his arrival, the father was laid to rest and the mother retired from the active labors she had been so long connected with, since making her home with her son, Charles, on his attractive ranch.