"Portland The Rose City, Pictorial and Biographical." Chicago, Philadelphia, Portland: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1911. pg. 77 JAMES C. HAWTHORNE, M.D. The life of Dr. James C. Hawthorne was one of signal usefulness and success, and there were accorded him high honors because of his ability in his profession, together with loyal friendship, warm regard and broad mindedness. He was free from ostentation and display, and his personal worth won him the deep regard of the most intellectual and highly favored. Personally he was tall, square shouldered and of noble, manly appearance. Dr. Hawthorne was a native of Mercer, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred on the 12th of March, 1819. His parents, James and Mary (Donnell) Hawthorne, were of English and Scotch descent. The father was a representative of one of the oldest families of the county. He was a man of liberal education, being graduated from Washington (Cannonsburg) College. His patriotic spirit was evidenced by his active support of American interests as a soldier of the war of 1812. Throughout his life he followed merchandising and was a prominent and influential resident of his community. The grandfather, James Hawthorne, was a large landowner of Pennsylvania. The maternal great-grandfather served his country during the Revolutionary war, taking an active part in establishing American independence. The original home of the Hawthornes was built of logs in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in the form of a blockhouse for protection against Indians. Dr. Hawthorne completed his literary education in Pennsylvania and, determining upon the practice of medicine as a life work, became a student in the office of Dr. Bascom, of Mercer. He afterward matriculated in the medical university of Louisville, Kentucky, and later practiced medicine with a relative, Dr. Hawthorne, of that city, their business association being maintained until 1850, when the subject of this sketch, made his way to the Pacific Coast, where he took up his abode at Auburn, the county seat of Placer county, California, engaging in general practice and hospital work. Dr. Hawthorne's well known loyalty to citizenship and his progressive views led to his selection as a candidate for the state senate. He was elected and served two terms and left the impress of his individuality upon the early legislature of the state. This was during the stormy and memorable Broderick and Gwinn contest. In 1859, Dr. Hawthorne removed to Portland, Oregon, and the following year took charge of the county Hospital under contract with the county board. In the meantime he had given close study to mental and nervous diseases, and as a neurologist and specialist of insanity he won fame that made him known not only in the Pacific coast country but to the profession throughout the United States. Later he founded a private hospital for the insane and subsequently contracted wit the state of Oregon for the care of the unfortunate ones of this class. This contract was renewed from time to time and was in force at his death, after which his estate, under the supervision of Dr. S. E. Josephi and others conducted the asylum until the state institution was built at Salem, Oregon. His skill and worth were evidenced by the fact, that although a firm democrat, he retained his contract during all republican administrations. Miss Dorothy Dix, the famous philanthropist, paid a great tribute to Dr. Hawthorne, when after inspecting his hospital, she said "she regarded the management as one of the best she had ever seen, either in America or abroad." High political honors would have been accorded Dr. Hawthorne had his ambition been directed in that channel, but he received with disfavor any suggestion that he become a candidate for political office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his professional duties. During the twenty-one years in which Dr. Hawthorne had charge of the hospital for the insane its curative standard was of the highest. The plans and methods which he instituted in this connection made him a power in the field of treatment of the insane and won him honors from the medical fraternity as well as the general public. Dr. Hawthorne was interested in the state's advancement along many lines, and in his importations and raisings of fine live stock always had in mind the improvement of the Oregon standard. He perhaps did as much as any other man toward raising the quality of stock in Oregon, and his work in this connection would entitle him to the grateful remembrance of the agricultural community of the state. Dr. Hawthorne belonged to the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Washington Lodge, and he was a consistent member of the Episcopal church. Dr. Hawthorne was twice married. His first wife was Miss Emily Curry, niece of Congressman Kelly of Pennsylvania and a first cousin of Governor Curry of Oregon. Her death occurred a few months after marriage in 1858. In 1865 Dr. Hawthorne was married to Mrs. E. C. Hite, of Sacramento California. Of this union three children were born, Louise H., Catherine H. and Mary Cossett, the last named having died in infancy. Dr. Hawthorne died on the 15th of February, 1881, and his remains were interred in Lone Fir cemetery, Portland, Oregon. All who knew him were proud to call him friend. He was honored by young and old, rich and poor. A contemporary biographer has said: "He died at the summit of usefulness, universally regretted, and left behind the memory of a broad-minded, courageous man, gifted with rare talents which he used for the benefit of his fellowmen." Those who knew him recognized in him a gentleman of high culture and of earnest, Christian spirit. Master of his profession, his scientific interest therein was well balanced with a wide humanitarian spirit that prompted the most conscientious performance of all professional duty. He was a man of deep and abiding sympathy who in his ministrations to the needs of his fellowmen took a prominent part in the promotion of the world's work. At his death the editor of the Oregonian (Harvey Scott) said of him: "The fact that J.C. Hawthorne is dead is known and realized in this community. No minute guns or booming cannon announce his death, no warrior's wreath adorns his brow, no monuments will be erected to tell of battles fought, but from hundreds of hearts will go forth the memory of kindness done, of sympathy rendered and of charity bestowed by him which will arise and keep his memory green, and float over his grave with the sweetness and perfume of crushed and broken flowers. In a cosmopolitan city where the antecedents of each are unknown to the other, and there are no early ties of association, and no link to bind the great tie of humanity, no suppliant for assistance was ever repulsed by him, and his heart gave before his judgment was allowed to decide whether his philanthropy was against his self-interest. Whether or not a man is justified by good work I know not, but I would fain believe that charity in thought and deed, and a discharge of duty toward all, aye, even to the poor and insane, over whom he had charge and to whom he was as a ministering angel do not all county for naught. Kind friend, firm man, well regulated gentleman, 'Hail and Farewell!' Write 'Emigravit' on his tomb, for he is not dead, but departed." ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2005 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.