ELIAS GARST HAWN, one of Concord Township Is most substantial farmers, who resides on the south side of the Covington and Troy Turnpike Road, about one and one quarter miles northwest of Troy, where his home farm of 191 1/2 acres is situated, owns a second farm, containing eighty-three acres, which lies on the north side of the highway. He was born on the old home place in Bethel Township, Miami County, Ohio, in June 1842, and is a son of John and Catherine (Sailor) Hawn. John Hawn was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and in early manhood came to Miami County, in company with another young man by the name of Knoop, and they were about the first white settlers in what is now Bethel Township. Indians still made their home throughout this section and wild animals prowled through the dense forests. The Knoop family built one of the earliest distilleries in this part of the county and John Hawn worked in the same for several years prior to his marriage. He subsequently acquired 170 acres of land and cleared up a farm on which he lived during the rest of his life, his death occurring when he was aged eighty-two years. He married Catherine Sailor, who was born in Elizabeth Township, Miami County, Ohio, a daughter of Philip Sailor, one of the early pioneers. There were sixteen children born to John and Catherine Hawn, fourteen of whom grew to mature years and five of whom still live, namely: Elias; William, who resides in Bethel Township; Matilda, who is the widow of John Davis; Eliza, who married Abraham Case; and Ellen, who married David Haines. One of the older members of the family was George W., but all trace of him was lost by his kindred during the Civil War. Elias G. Hawn helped his father clear his land and later to cultivate it. His mother died when he was about fourteen years of age and shortly afterward he began to think of starting out for himself, but in those days money was not plentiful, many of the farmers being "land rich" but "money poor." He continued to live at home until his marriage and when he finally began for himself it was with a capital of fifty cents in "shin-plaster " money. Mr. Hawn is now one of the township's wealthiest men, but he has accumulated everything he has through his own industry and excellent business management. The first farm he bought was one in Elizabeth Township, but he never lived on it, disposing of it at a profit. In 1888 he purchased his present home farm from John McClung and he has spent a large amount in improving it. His large bank barn is considered the finest structure of its kind in Miami County and people have come hundreds of miles to see it, and his other improvements are equally good. He has made farming his main business and now has several stalwart sons to assist him.

Mr. Hawn was married to Cynthia A. Nutter. who died in December, 1890. To them were born eight children, namely: Ada Jane, now deceased, who was the wife of Joseph Johnson and left three children; William, who married Sarah Iddings, now deceased, married (second) Clara Gensliner, has one child and lives at Troy; Harvey, who assists on the home farm; Charles R., who married Mary Armstrong, resides on Mr. Hawn's farm of eighty-three acres and has four children; James Alfred, who died aged seventeen years; Mack, who lives in Newton Township, married a Miss Musselman and has two children; Alfred, who died when aged twenty-three years; and Roy, who follows farming on the home place. Mr. Hawn had only meager educational opportunities, but he is one of the township's best informed men. In politics he is a Democrat, and he is a member of the Christian Church.