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Everyone has an ancestor who presents a challenge, a mystery waiting to be solved. One such ancestor for me is Charles Hawley, my great granduncle. In the summer of 1910, Charles seemed to drop off the face of the planet.
Today, I am going to share his story in hopes someone out there will be able to help me find him.
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Charles was born in March of 1859, most likely in Nunda, Livingston, New York to William Hawley and Mercy Brown. He was the second child of three. His older brother Frank was born on January 3rd, 1856 and his younger sister Minnie Belle was born sometime between 1861 and 1864.
About 1866, Charles and his family move from New York to a small logging community named Long Rapids Township in Alpena County, Michigan.
Charles lived with his parents working on the family farm, until on July 30th, 1871 Charles loses his mother Mercy due to a tragic gun accident.
His father William remarries Sarah Ann Healy on May 15, 1872. William and Sarah have seven children; Ellen Hawley born about 1871, William Martin Hawley born in 1873, Mary Ann Hawley born in 1875, Edward James Hawley born in 1880, George Washington Hawley born in 1881, Sarah "Sadie" Maud Hawley born in 1887 and Lavina Mae Hawley born in 1889.
By 1880, Charles is living on the property adjacent to his father and stepmother. I believe that he is living on a property originally purchased by his mother Mercy, before her death, on January 2nd, 1869. The property was left to him and his older brother Frank after his mother's death. Later this land would be transferred to their younger sister Minnie Belle. Living with him and his older brother Frank and two boarders, Wesley Jaynes and his wife Adelia.
About 1885, Charles marries Sarah Flewelling. I have yet to find a marriage record to validate where they were married. Sarah is the widow of George T. Howard. She has three children from this marriage; Frank T. Howard born in 1879, Clinton Dewitt Howard born in 1883 and Etta Agnes born in 1885.
By April 26th, 1887, the family has moved to West Branch, Ogemaw, Michigan. Over the next 15 years, Charles and Sarah have eight children:
- John William Hawley born April 26th, 1887 in West Branch, Ogemaw, Michigan
- Charles Alvin Hawley born June 29th, 1889 in West Branch, Ogemaw, Michigan
- James Edward Hawley born February 3rd, 1892 in Ogemaw County, Michigan
- Joseph D. Hawley born January 10th, 1894 in Churchill, Ogemaw, Michigan
- Elsie R. Hawley born November of 1895
- Amanda M. Hawley born January 1898
- Sero Hawley born January 1st, 1900 in Cumming, Ogemaw, Michigan
- George Russell Hawley born July 29th, 1902 in Cumming, Ogemaw, Michigan
After their last child, George was born in 1902, I lose track of Charles for a while.
At the time of the 1910 US Federal census recorded on April 27th, Sarah, is still living in Cumming, Ogemaw, Michigan with her six children. The children living at home are; John (23), James (18), Joseph (16), Elsie (14), Amanda (12) and George (7). Although Sarah states that she is still married, however, the census does not list Charles as living in the household. She is living on a mortgaged farm.
I was able to locate a newspaper article that helps me pick up on Charles' trail. Based on information found in the Thursday, June 9th, 1910 edition of The Alcona Review, Charles returned from California to see his half-brother George who was seriously ill. The family was living in Ossineke, Alpena, Michigan at the time.
Charles' brother George passes away on June 26th, 1910 from Pulmonary Tuberculosis
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Only five months later, on November 11th, 1910, Charles's half-sister Sadie (Hawley) Bates also dies from Pulmonary Tuberculosis. She leaves behind a husband and two young daughters.
Charles' father William and stepmother Sarah are living alone after the death of George and Sadie. Evidence shows William passed away in Bellflower, Los Angeles, California, I believe when Charles left to go back to California, he brought his father and stepmother with him.
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The obituary for William Hawley who passed away on August 28th, 1914, states Charles is “living in Buena Park, Orange County, California.”
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On January 20th, 1920 Sarah, Charles's wife is recorded on the 1920 census living in Grayling, Crawford, Michigan with her sons Charles Alvin and George Russell Hawley. The census shows “divorced” as marital status.
Based on the information found thus far, it appears that Charles left his wife and children and moved to California sometime between July 29th, 1902 and April 26th, 1910, For reasons not yet known. What we do know is that Charles and Sarah were divorced sometime between April 27th, 1910 and January 19th, 1920.
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This is where I lose track of Charles. The only indication I have of his death is the obituary of his older brother Frank Hawley.
Frank's obituary states that he has two surviving siblings: Lavina (Hawley) Burt and William Hawley. The obituary does not make any mention of his younger brother Charles. This leads me to believe either the family has lost touch with Charles or he passes away before July 23rd, 1942. |
I have not been able to find any record of Charles living in California after August 28th, 1914. I continue to search for records, as well as, working with descendants of Charles and DNA evidence.
