Biographies

Surnames: Hathaway, Estel, Carson, Anderson, Wiley, McGinnis

J W Hathaway, deceased, who was a merchant in Carmicheals for many years, was born in Jefferson Township, this county, May 19, 1821, and was a son of Samuel Hathaway and Elizabeth Estel Hathaway. His mother was born in New Jersey and his father in Pennsylvania, and they were of English an Dutch descent. when Mr Hathaway was only one year old his father died, and he was reared by his grandfather, Matthias Estel, who sent him to school and induced him to learn a trade. He chose the chair maker's trade, served a regular apprenticeship, and worked at the business for a time in Newtown. There he began business as a clerk in a store at the age of sixteen. At nineteen years of age he went to Carmichaels as clerk. He was for many years junior member in the firm of Carson & Hathaway, merchants; afterwards buying his partner's interest he became sole owner of the large merchandising establishment there. He was an energetic, careful and thrifty manager of business, always exercising the keenest tact in his venture and investments, yet conducting the same with a motive of honesty and fair dealing toward all, bearing the respect of everybody.

Years ago, when Carmichaels was the business center of Greene County, Mr Hathaway added to a continued large retail trade, did considerable business at wholesale. He also dealt quite extensively in stock and real estate, and at the time of his death was the owner of 550 acres of valuable land.

He was united in marriage January 1, 1846, with Miss Ary Anderson, daughter of William Anderson and Keziah Wiley Anderson, who were of Scotch Irish descent. Her father was a millwright, and she had two brothers in the War of 1812. To Mr and Mrs Hathaway a family of ten children were born, six of whom, together with Mrs Hathaway, survive the deceased. The children are: Charles Hathaway; Samuel Hathaway; William Hathaway; Jacob Hathaway; Lawrence Hathaway; of Carmichaels; and Mrs Mary McGinnis of Lincoln, Illinois. Mr Hathaway was well known and was regarded as a man of great business ability, sound judgment and sterling integrity. He had been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for over forty five years, and was a ruling elder in that church for thirty two years. He was without question a true Christian.

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