Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-05-25
NOTED MAN GONE.
Hon. John b. Hawley's Death In the Fs
West-Bi0graphical.

Hon. John B. Hawley's Death in the Far
west-Biographicsl.
A dispatch received by c. H.
Deere, of Moline, from Omaha, Neb.,
yesterday afternoon conveyed the in
telligence of the death at. Hot
Springs, S. D., of Hon. John B. Haw-
lev, formerly of this city. Capt.
Hawley had been at the Springs for
some time in hopes of benefiting his
health.
The deceased was for years a con-
spicuous figure in Illinois politics
and. locally speaking, no man was
perhaps better known. For many
wears he was identified with the poll
tics, not only of Rock Island, but Of
this section of the state, and eventu-
ally of the entire state. Born in
Connecticut, he was about IS years Of
age, and came to Rock Island from
Hancock county in the early sos.
Having served as county clerk and
states attorney, he served in the re-
bellion as a member of company H,
45th Illinois volunteer, infantry. and
came out with the commission of
captain for meritorious services.
After returning from the war he was
appointed postmaster at Rock Island
by President Lincoln in 1864, but
was removed by President johnson
in 1866. and Ma j. H. c. Connolly APP
pointed in his place. The senate
failing to confirm Maj. Connolly, C..
NJ, Osborne finally became post
| master.
Capt. Hawlev then entered the field
for the republican congressional
nomination in the old Fourth district,
EN- bracing the counties of Rock Isl
and, Schuyler. Hancock. Warren
aud Adams. He succeeded in getting
the republican nomination and in
the fall of 1868 was elected over Gen.
Singleton, of Quincy. Two years
later Hon. p. L. Cable, of Rock ISL
and. was his opponent on the demo-
cratic ticket, and while Capt. Haw-
ley was declared elected by 81, there
was always a great doubt as to the
result. and many to this day believe
that Mr.. Cable was really the choice
of the district and was fairly elected.
Prior to the next congressional
election the state was redistricted by
the legislature, and Rock Island
became one of the counties of the
Sixth district, composed also of Lee,
| Bureau, Henry, Whiteside and Put
nam. Capt. Hawley was elected over
DIR. Calvin Truesdale. who ran on
the Greeley ticket in 1879, but in
| 1874, after an earnest factional con-
test. Judge Cornelius Lynde car
ried Rock Island county for the
nomination, and Gen. L. j. Hender-
son, of Princeton. captured the NOM
ination and was elected. Capt.
Hawley having been previously en-
gagged in the practice Of law returned
to his profession with Hon. w. H,
Gest, but in 1873, during President
Hayes administration, he became
assistant secretary of the treasury,
resigning later to" come back to
| Illinois, to contest for the re-
publican gubernatorial nomination
which Shelby NJ. Cullom finally cap
tured. He retired forthwith from
politics and became associated with
ex-Attorney General James X. Ed.
sail in the practice of law in Chica.
go, but in 1882 the partnership was
dissolved. when Capt. Hawley &C.
cepted the general solicitorship in
Nebraska for the c. & N. w. road
and his home has been at Fremont
and Omaha since.
He was originally democrat. but
later he became republican. He
was aggressive and positive in his
character. but he felt disappointment.
keenly and never got over them Hi:
cam paigns aften aroused deep bitter
ness of feeling, and in fact the sting
of the convention the time of his de-
feat for denomination is felt in the
politics of this congressional distric
to this day.
He leaves a wife and three daugh
tiers.