782 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
PARIS TOWNSHIP.
ELIJAH HAWLEY, farmer, P. O. Newton Falls, Trumbull Co., Ohio is the oldest living resident of Paris Township, this county, and was born near his present residence October 11, 1815; son of Chauncy and Mercy (Selby) Hawley, natives of Massachusetts, the former born March 24, 1780, the latter March 24, 1786. Chauncy Hawley was reared and educated in his native State, and there married May 27, 1808. He was a hatter by trade, at which he worked in connection with farming. In 1815 he with his family came to Paris Township, this county, where he resided till his death, which occurred June 17, 1846. His widow died June 18, 1875. Of their six children the fallowing survive: Elijah; Eliza, widow of Joseph Brown; and Urania, wife of M. M. Seymour. Elijah Hawley left home when seventeen years of age and began working at the trade of cabinet-making, but gave it up after three months, and served an apprenticeship at carpentering, at which he worked many years.
RANDOLPH TOWNSHIP - 783
In 1842 he married Jane, daughter of Thomas and Anna (Sefton) Stewart, by whom he had six children, five now living: Henry, Miles, Charles, William and George. Our subject at his marriage had but little capital, and his first purchase of land was twelve acres, which he paid for by building a house for Stephen Bingham. The result of his industry is 380 acres of well-improved land. Mr. Hawley was successful in architecture and bridge building, and was the author of a design for a substantial wooden bridge. He has held several township offices; was first Assessor of Paris Township. In politics he is a Democrat..
JOHN LEONARD (deceased) was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, March 8, 1815; son of George and Margaret (Hoffman) Leonard, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively. George Leonard, who was reared, educated and married in Washington County, Penn., was a farmer and also a carpenter and joiner. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. On coming to Ohio he first settled in Mahoning County, as did his parents. He then moved to Paris Township, this county, in 1832, and here died in the fall of 1843, aged fifty- five years. His widow died in Michigan in 1860, aged seventy-four years. Eight of their twelve children survive: Nancy, Henry, Catherine, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Sarah and Hannah. Of these, Joshua and Aaron served through the late war of the Rebellion. John Leonard, the subject of this sketch, was married, September 1, 1835, to Fanny, daughter of James and Susan (Shaffer) Patterson, natives of eastern Pennsylvania and early settlers of Trumbull County, Ohio. To this union was born one child—Lura L., who died in 1871, aged twenty years. Mr. Leonard died March 16, 1885, of heart disease. He was a consistent member of the Congregational Church at Newton Falls. He followed farming, and at his death was owner of 241 acres of good land. He filled several of the township offices of trust.