Hawes Family Pages

This is the landing page for research of the ancestry of Harold Hawes. Links to Profiles and Posts are below.

Interestingly the "Hawes" line was somewhat more difficult to research (see Hawes is Haws). The family originally migrated from Montgomery County, Maryland to Ohio in the early 1800's, settling first in Belmont County, then Guernsey County. The ancestry prior to the Ohio migration has been challenging to research.

At some point, Harold's paternal grandfather, John V. Hawes, made his way to Vermilion County, Illinois, where he met and married Elizabeth "Lizzy" Duncan. Both the Duncans and the Newells (Elizabeth's maternal side) were prominent families in that county and among the early settlers there. John and Elizabeth eventually returned to Ohio where he farmed until his death. Elizabeth then moved with Harold's father, Ross, to Indianapolis in the early 1900's. Ross went to Fredricksburg, Indiana to build a bridge, and there met and married Laura Allen. They returned to Indianapolis and remained. Their daughter, Charlene, wrote a notebook about each of her parents that really started my genealogy research. See Notes from Aunt Charlene.

Some of Ross Hawes' ancestry can be traced to the late 1700's, but most lines have been challenging. In contrast, research into several lines of Harold's mother, Laura Allen, has revealed many generations. The Allens, along with the Cravens and Shanks, have been prominent in Indiana since early settlement of the state, especially Washington County. Prior to that, there are ancestors among the earliest settlers of New York (Long Island) and Virginia; there are Revolutionary soldiers; and there is a common ancestor with several presidents and a music icon!