ELIAS SILL HAWLEY

Joseph/Samuel/Capt. Joseph/Ebenezer/Amos/Seth/Elias Sill Hawley

28 October 1812-26 July 1899

One of the Oldest and Best Known Citizens of Buffalo Passed Away Yesterday

Elias Sill Hawley, one of the oldest citizens of Buffalo, died at his home, the Algonquin, on Johnson Park, yesterday morning.  Long ago, when Buffalo was nothing more than a pioneer settlement on Lake Erie, Mr. Hawley came here with his parents from Saratoga county.  That was in 1823, and Mr. Hawley was then eleven years old, having been born in Saratoga county in 1812.

His boyhood years in Buffalo were passed in the struggle so often necessary in those days to secure an education.  At the age of 21, through his own efforts and the assistance of an uncle, he was able to attend Cambridge Academy, where he was prepared for college, being graduated from Union College n 1833.

After leaving college, Mr. Hawley was engaged in teaching in the public schools of Buffalo for a number of years.  He then studied law and for 23 years was in the employ of Pratt & Letchworth, first as attorney and later as superintendent of the Buffalo Iron and Nail Works.  He was Superintendent of Schools in Buffalo from 1844 to 1848, and served two terms as Alderman.  In 1883, he was elected Member of Assembly in the old Third District, and the same year he was made secretary and treasurer of the Buffalo Insane Asylum, now the State Hospital.  He still held that position at the time of his death.

For many years he was an active member of the old volunteer fire department and was active in the organization of the YMCA, the Young Men’s Association and Buffalo Historical Society.

Mr. Hawley leaves his wife, a son, Edward S. Hawley, the well known insurance man and two daughters, Mrs. Edward N. Brush of Baltimore and Miss Lavina Hawley of this city.  He also leaves one brother, Lucian Hawley of Buffalo.

Funeral services will be held in the chapel of North Church, Pearl St., on Friday afternoon at 3 o’clock.  Friends are invited to attend, but the burial will be at the convenience of the family.  Flowers are gratefully declined.

Note:  There is no mention of his life-long effort in gathering the information to publish THE HAWLEY RECORD, perhaps his greatest or at least longest lasting contribution. 

MR. HAWLEY’S FUNERAL

Services Over His Remains Were Held in Chapel of North Church

The funeral services of the late Elias S. Hawley were held this afternoon, beginning at 3 o’clcok in the chapel of the North Presbyterian Church.  The chapel was filled with friends of the deceased man, who showed by their presence at these last rites the esteem in which he was held.

The services were conducted by Rev. E. H. Dickinson, pastor of the church and vocal music was by the North Church Quartette.

The honorary bearers were H. E. Perrine, John L. Romer, James Ash, Pascal P. Pratt, Nelson K. Hopkins, William Ives, William Persons, and E. P. Beals.

The active bearers were P. P. Burtis, J. B. Rich, Lyman Hubbell, Edward M. Ketchum, C. H. Woodworth, Joseph Dart, Alfred A. Berrick, and F. L. Danforth.

Internment was in Forest Lawn Cemetery.