[p. 879] came from Cumberland County, near Carlisle, about or shortly after 1800. He built the first hotel in New Castle, which he called the "Exchange Hotel," at the southwest corner of what is now Mercer and North Streets, about 1804 or 1805. The hotel was boarded on the sides and was one of the first buildings built of sawed stuff in this section of the country.
Buildings were generally left unpainted in those days, so when the newly finished building was painted with a purplish paint made from iron ore found near by, it caused much comment. The peculiar hue soon earned for the hotel the name "Pokeberry Exchange," which it carried for many years. The hotel was finally sold to one of the Reinholts. Mr. Hawthorne purchased a farm in Neshannock Township, about 1804, and finally moved from town to the farm, probably about 1840, where he remained until his death.
In 1807 Mr. Hawthorne was married to Mary McMurray, daughter of Joseph McMurray, a Revolutionary soldier, who had settled in what is now Taylor Township about 1800. From this union was born: James, 1808; Eliza J., 1810; Joseph, 1813; Alexander S., 1821; and Samuel Sample, 1823. The oldest son, James, married and lived in Mercer County until his death. James's only son, Samuel Wilson Hawthorne, is now living in New Wilmington Borough.
Eliza J. Hawthorne married Rev. J. R. Locke and later removed to Decatur, Ill., where her descendants are now living. Joseph Hawthorne died unmarried in California. Alexander S. Hawthorne married Salina Leilla Boies, and removed to Illinois, where his children now reside. Samuel Sample Hawthorne, after spending a number of years in California and other Pacific Coast States, returned to Pennsylvania and married Mattie F., daughter of Frederick Halle, of Taylor Township. His son, Louis Halle Hawthorne, is now living in Taylor Township. Mary, wife of Alexander Hawthorne, died in 1854. Mr. Hawthorne later married Cynthea Locke, having no children from this marriage. His second wife died in 1860, and Mr. Hawthorne in 1864.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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