J. S. HAWTHORN was born January 25, 1848, in Gloucester County, N. J., and is a son of Rev. Dr. James and Sarah Wilson (Catnach) Hawthorn, the father a native of New Jersey, the mother of Philadelphia, Penn. The paternal grandfather was a native of north of Ireland, and left that country in an early day, came to the United States and settled in New Jersey, lived there many years, and then came to Kentucky, settling in Henry County, where he died about 1862. The maternal grandfather, Daniel Catnach, was a native of Scotland; he came to America prior to the Revolution, and some time during that conflict was impressed and placed in a Jersey prison ship. After the war he engaged quite extensively in the mercantile business. He died in 1809 in Philadelphia, and now lies buried in the old Spruce Street Cemetery. The father of subject came to Kentucky in 1806, and settled in Union County. There he remained until nineteen years of age, and then went to Princeton, N. J., where he attended a theological seminary, from which he graduated in 1828. He commenced preaching in Kentucky, locating first in the central portion of the State. He came to Princeton, Ky., in 1847 and for thirty years was pastor o£ the Presbyterian Church at this point. He died here in 1877, aged seventy-four years. The mother died in Philadelphia, in 1863, at the age of fifty-seven. Dr. Hawthorn was married twice. By the first marriage but one child survives—Mrs. Susan Garrett, of Princeton. The following children are living as a result of the second marriage; Deborah, wife of R. B. McNairy; J. S. (subject); Mary, wife of C. C. Lewis and Anna. Subject remained with his parents until nineteen; he then went to New York and was engaged as salesman for David, Baker & Whitfield, wholesale notion dealers, for three and one-half years; he next returned to Princeton and merchandised for a period of seven years; he next went into the insurance business, which he still follows. Mr. Hawthorn was married in New York, May 26, 1868, to Miss Kate Richardson, a daughter of Sanford and Mary Richardson, of New York City. The following children have blessed this union: Philip (deceased), Sarah (deceased), Mary (deceased), Donald (deceased), Perle and James, the latter deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorn are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the K. of H. and in politics is a Democrat.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Page 699.