The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-15
DEATH OF HON. E. R. HAWN.
rhe Ex-secretary of State Dies Sud
denly of Apoplexy.
Brief Biographical Sketch of One of the
States Most Popular CItizens-His
Last Sickness

DR.. Emanuel R. Hawn, the secretary of the
State Board of Health, and the ex-Secretary OF
State, died last night shortly after O'Clock
Although his health has not been good for some
time, he has been able to attend to his official
duties, and not until last Friday did his cOndi
ION become such that he could not leave his
home. He has long been troubled with an affec-
ton of the heart. caused by his excessive ard
abnormal corpuleuce, and at times his breath
Ing was difficult. He was, however.
frequently confined to his room for a
day or two at time by attacks of his peculiar
disease, and his illness caused no special alarm
to his family or friends. His sickness men
toned in the Journal yesterday, but it was not
supposed that he was in a dangerous condition.
From Friday until yesterday afternoon there
was nothing unusually alarming in the syInp-
toms OF his illness, but at 8 O'Clock he was
seized with an attack of spasmodic breathing,
and, with only slight intermissions, the con
WILSON'S continued until his death, the an
nOuncement of which is quite as sad news for
the Journal to record as it will be for the thou
sands of his friends in Indiana to receive,
The only data which can be obtained relating
to the life of DR.. Hawn is very mesger. He was
born at Milford, IL Oiermont county. Ohio, on
Sept. IL, 1881, and he was, therefore, in the
Hlty-becOnu year Vi HIS dB0. WHEN OHiE bl6Ue6n
years old he enlisted in the United States army
and was in the war with Mexico, being a MEM
Der of the late General William A. Lytle's COM
mand. In 1852 he located at Leavenworth,
Crawford county, Indiana, and began the prac-
tice of medicine. He has made Leaven orth his
home for more than thirty years.
In May 1861, he enlisted in the Seventeenth
Indiana volunteers; he was immediate commits
stoned lieutenant, and shortly afterward pro-
NOTED to captaincy In October, 1861, he was
appointed assistant surgeon OF the First artil-
lery, which position he held until he was made
surgeon of the Forty-ninth regiment. He re-
manned with this command until the final mus
1ering-out Of the regiment, 1864. He afterward
served as surgeon Of the 'One-hundred-
and-forty-fourth regiment, continuing
IN this position until the close of
the war He remained in this city
aDout one year after the close of the war, and
then returned to Crawford county. In 1879, in
chased the Crawford Comfy Democrat and con-
verted 1t into Republican paper, the name
In 1880 he was nominated by the Re-
publicAns as their candidate for Secretary of
State, and was elected, along with Governor
Porter and the remainder of the Republican
ticket In 1882 he nominated by the Re-
publicans for reelection, but was defeated.
Last March he was chosen secretary OF the
State Board of Health, to succeed DR.. Thad. NJ.
Stevens, and has since been devoting his atten-
tion to the duties of the office He leaves a
widow and family of six children-three boys
and three girls.
Dr. Hawn was a remarkable man. There are
few men better known in the State, and there
dAo low hcn hluES pOpuldT dulOHG bubiF dS-
quaintances. His acquaintances became his
friends, and his friends became devotedly at
taohed to him. Generous, conscientious and
a man of the most sterling integrity,
his character could but commend it.
self to friendship. Aside from his
many excellent qualities of heart,
he was a man of extraordinary abilities and
those who were not attached to him from appre-
citation of his genuine worth were attracted to
him by his qualities OF mind. He possessed the
gifts of an ntertaining conversationalist to a
rare degree. He had fine sense OF wit, was a
ready talker-fiuent, perspicuous and forcible
In language-to all OF which was added large
amount Of coed common sense. He had fund
OF anecdote no less astounding than amusing.
He was not the man TO cause one to wonder at
his brilliancy, but he could entertain a
whole regiment at any time and under any con-
ditions. His death will be more than noted and
commented upon. 1t will be sincerely incurred.
DR.. Hawn died as he expected to. Only last
Friday, when the first sy mptoms of his last at
tack were coming upon him, he remarked
to the writer: ''When lie IL will be suddenly
I will drop off," His excessive corpulency-his
weight varied from 317 to $40 pounds-ren-
dered him susceptible TO apoplectic troubles,
aud 1t was from popularity of this
disease thai he died The physician
who attended him in his last illness was DR.; E.
8. Elder.
There will be no services in the city, and the
remains will be taken to Leavenworth, his late
nome, at O'Clock tomorrow morning, his
family accompanying them.