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- GEORGE HANTHORN, ex-sheriff of
- Rock county, and one of the representative men of
- Janesville, was born in Dilworthtown, Chester Co., Penn.,
May 26, 1832, a son of Thomas and Louisa (COBOURN) HANTHORN.
- George HANTHORN, the paternal
- grandfather of our subject, was of Irish descent; he had
seven or eight children. The maternal grandfather was John COBOURN,
a native of Chester county, Penn., of English descent, a shoemaker
by trade, who died when nearly ninety; he had six children.
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- The parents of our subject were natives of Chester county,
Penn., and of the two sons and two
- daughters born to them George HANTHORN is the only survivor.
Thomas HANTHORN was a school teacher in his younger days, and
later was assessor and collector for many years, dying in his
native county in 1851, aged fifty; his wife survived until 1891,
when she, too, passed away, aged eighty-three. In religious belief
the mother was an adherent of the Baptist faith, and was a very
good and worthy woman. Their son Oscar F. was a soldier in the
war of the Rebellion, and died in Alexandria, Va., immediately
after the battle of Antietam, from disease contracted in the
service.
- George HANTHORN was reared in Chester county, Penn., attending
the district schools when
- opportunity afforded, and began to learn the trade of stone-mason
when but fifteen, which occupation he followed many years. In
1857 Mr. HANTHORN migrated to Illinois, but after spending one
summer in that State removed to Wisconsin, and has resided in
Rock county ever since. Upon coming to this State, Mr. HANTHORN
followed his trade for many years, but later purchased eighty
acres of land in Johnstown township, where he resided three years.
This property he then sold, and bought 160 acres in the same
township, farming same until 1885, when he was elected sheriff
and removed to town, and his son Duane took charge of the farm.
Two years ago Mr. HANTHORN sold this property, and bought 240
acres in the town of Bradford, which his son now operates.
- On Sept. 7, 1862, George HANTHORN married Miss Rebecca A.
VANDENBURG,
- daughter of William G. and Mary Ann (LEAVENWORTH) VANDENBURG,
and two children, Oscar Duane and Orlando Van, were born of this
union. Oscar Duane married Miss Minnie HANKIE (whose parents
own a farm in the town of Harmony, Rock county), and five children
have been born to them, four living, Harold Leo (who died at
the age of six years), Earl, Le Roy and Carroll. Orlando Van
married Miss Nellie INMAN, and lives in Janesville, where he
is a letter-carrier; they have two children, Lottie and Mabel
R.
- The paternal grandfather of Mrs. HANTHORN, Gilbert VANDENBURG,
a native of Holland,
- died when over eighty years old, in New York State, and was
the father of a large family. The maternal grandfather of Mrs.
HANTHORN, David LEAVENWORTH, who was a native of New York State,
of English descent, and a millwright by trade, died when he,
too, was over eighty. All of his seven children lived to a good
old age, longevity being a characteristic of the LEAVENWORTHs.
- Mrs. HANTHORN's parents were natives of New York State, came
West in 1845, and
- located in the town of Bradford, Rock county, engaging in
farming. The father died March 24, 1893, aged nearly eighty-six
years, and his wife survived him but four days, passing away
on March 28, 1893, aged eighty-three. Both were consistent members
of the Congregational Church, and people of prominence in their
community. Ten children were born to this worthy couple, four
sons and six daughters, for now living: Elizabeth C., wife of
Stanley H. JOINER, of La Prairie township; Rebecca A., wife of
our subject; Addie V., wife of James A. KIPP, of Badger, S. Dak.;
and David L. VANDENBURG, of Clear Lake, Iowa. One son, Minard
A. VANDENBURG, was a soldier, and died at home from the effects
of exposure and hardships during the war. One died in infancy.
The others were Caroline, Sarah, Josiah and Burzinah.
- Politically Mr. HANTHORN has always espoused the cause of
the Republican party, and has
- ably represented its principles upon several occasions, having
been sheriff of Rock county in 1885 and 1886; supervisor of Johnstown
township several terms; chairman of the township board a couple
of times, and alderman from the Second ward, one term. Mr. HANTHORN
was also street commissioner for four years, and county coroner
for two terms, and in every capacity proved himself an able exponent
of the wishes of his constituents, and faithful in the discharge
of his duties.
- Mr. and Mrs. HANTHORN have a beautiful home on the Delavan
road, corner of Vine street,
- where they are surrounded by the comforts of life. Their
residence was erected in 1895, and is surrounded by six and one-half
acres of ground. Prior to building, Mr. HANTHORN resided on Milton
avenue. In the community where he has lived so many years, and
to which he has always given his hardy support in all matters
of public improvement, Mr. HANTHORN enjoys a well-earned popularity,
and his friends number legions.
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-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin"
(c)1901, pp. 280-281; lithographs from same book.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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