In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1898) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio (1881), A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio (1898)
MICHAEL HAWK, farmer; P. 0. Middlebury; son of Philip and Margaret Hawk. They were natives of Germany, where they were engaged in farming. In 1839, they came to Ohio, settling in Portage Co., on a farm; they lived on the farm up to the time of their death. The father died in 1862; the mother, in 1874. There were five children in the family, our subject being the youngest who was born in Germany, Sept. 27, 1835, and came to Portage Co., Ohio, with his parents, in 1839. At the age of 21 3'ears he began farming, first working the homestead. In 1870, he bought the farm he now lives on. He began life a poor boy, but, by industry and economy, has accumulated a nice property, owning 144 acres of well-improved land in the southern part of the township. He
V <s rwas married to Albertenia Bletcler, daughter of Michael Bletcler, of Randolph, Portage Co. They have two children — x\albert and L3'dia. Mr. and Mrs. Hawk are members of the Grace Church, of Akron.
As printed in History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
QICHAEL HAWK, a successful farmer and a highly respected citizen of Tallmadge township. Summit county, Ohio, was born in the grand duchy of Baden, Germany, about the year 1834, a son of Philip and Margaret (Fooreman) Hawk, who were the parents of five children, all of whom reached mature years, and of whom Daniel resides in Grand Rapids, Mich.; Abbie, who was the wife of John Ginder, died March 3, 1881, at the age of seventy-two years; Ivatherine died August I, 1894, aged sixty-three years, and the wife of Henry Swartz; Philip died August 7, 1895, aged eighty years, and Michael, whose name opens this paragraph. The family came to Ohio in 1840, and settled in SulSeld township. Portage county, where the father departed this life December 28, 1868, at the age of sixty-three years, a prominent member of the Reformed church, of which he had been a deacon for many years, after which sad event the widow joined her son Michael, in Tallmadge township. Summit county, where her decease occurred October i, 1873, at the advanced age of eighty-four years and nine months, also in the faith of the Reformed church.
Michael Hawk was but six years old when his parents settled in Portage county, which was then a wilderness, in which his father bought a tract of land. As Michael grew in size and strength, he assisted in clearing ofl the forest growth from the homestead, and aided his father until twenty-three years old, receiving, meantime, the meager education afforded by the pioneer school of his youthful days. At the age mentioned, although a poor young man, Mr. Hawk entered upon life's conflict upon his own account, and through hard work and good management has made himself one of the well-to-do farmers in the county of Summit. At the age of twenty-five years he found a helpmate in the person of Miss Albenia Bletzer, daughter of Michael and Catherine Bletzer, whom he married July 3, 1859, and which union has been blessed with three children, of whom two are still living, viz: Albert, a farmer of Tallmadge township, and Lydia, wife of Frank Pieffer, and residing in Union Town, Stark county; Salinda, the deceased child, passed away at the age of five years and five months.
Mr. Hawk, after marriage, continued his farming operations in Suffield township. Portage county, meeting with every desired success until 1870, when he came to Tallmadge township. Summit county, and purchased the large farm owned by the late Ira Sprague, on which, a few years ago, he erected his present commodious and handsome dwelling, which is furnished with every possible modern convenience; but here, although blessed with all that wealth can buy, he has met with the saddest misfortune of his life in the loss of the beloved companion of his early manhood, mellow middle age, and declining years, who died May 24, 1893, at the age of fifty-two years and three months. She was a devoted member of the Reformed church and a true Christian, a loving wife and mother and a true helpmeet for her husband. Mr. Hawk is himself a member of the Reformed church, and while living in Portage county held the office of deacon a number of years, and is how a member of the Grace Reformed congregation at Akron. In politics he is a democrat, has served as township supervisor, and has been a member of the school board for nine years.
Mrs. Albenia Hawk, the departed wife and mother, was born in Baden, Germany, March 26, 1 841, was confirmed in the Reformed church April 22, 1855, and was alwaj'S faithful to her church obligations. Mr. Hawk has ever been an industrious as well as a successful farmer, a kindly neighbor, and a free contributor of his means to the support of school and church, and to the promotion of every project designed for the advancement of the public welfare and the development of his township and county, and stands very high in the esteem of his immediate neighbors as well as in that of the community at large.
As printed in A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio (1898). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name Michael Hawk: Frank Pfeiffer (b. 1860) Daniel Hawk (b. 1848)
The printed record stops around 1881. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.