Oseanna Catherine (Hayzlett) Hawn (1840 - 1909)

Born 11 May 1840 in Blue River Twp, Hancock Co, IN

Ancestors

Wife of Charles Andrew Hawn — married 9 Oct 1856 in Center Point or Mt. Vernon, Linn Co, IA

Died 14 Feb 1909 at age 68 in Mt. Vernon, Linn Co, IA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sara Patton [send private message]

Notes:

According to letter written by her husband, his wife "Osea C." was daughter of Andrew and Elisabeth Hayzlett, born in "Hancock" Co, Ind. May 11th 1840. She experienced religion and united with the ME (Methodist Episcopal) Church at the age of nine. She came to Mt. Vernon, IA with her parents in 1852. This basic story is confirmed in her brothers' (George W. Hayzlett and William Hayzlett) biographies and in the Minutes of the 53rd Session of Upper Iowa Annual Conference-see below.

In various records, the spelling of her changes: Osea, Ocea, Osie, and Oseanna Catherine are all used. She signed her own name as Osea on a document for her brother's (John Hayzlett) Civil War Pension. The name on her headstone is "Osie" and her marriage records give the name as Oseanna Catherine Hayzlett.... In the 1850 Hancock Co, IN census, she appears as Anna Catherine after her grandmothers and called Catherine after one of her grandmothers who was born at sea but there were so many girls called Catherine in the area that they renamed her Ossea Bell in her honor of her grandmother's birth on the ocean--(family story told by Osea's daughter in 1880.)

Biography/obit from Minutes of the 54th Session of Upper Iowa Annual Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church Mason City, IA Sept 29-Oct 4, 1909" pp.218-219 (JRA Hanner, Publisher: Epworth, IA) Includes a photo
"Mrs. Osea Hayzlett Hawn by T.E. Fleming

Miss Osea C., only daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth Hayzlett, was born in Hancock County, Ind., May 11, 1840. When she was twelve years old her parents moved to Iowa and settled on a farm between Mt. Vernon and Lisbon in Linn County. Here she grew to womanhood. When the first term of school opened in Iowa Conference Seminary, now Cornell College, in the old church, hers was the first name of a lady enrolled. Here she attended school until she was sixteen years old.

October 9, 1856, she was married to Mr. CA Hawn, who was then contemplating the law as a profession. Mr. Hawn had carefully kept from her the fact that he had deep convictions that it was his duty to preach the gospel. When he finally made up his mind that he must do his duty, and with much hesitancy broke the news to her he was greatly surprised to hear her say that she knew long before they were married that the ministry was his proper calling; that she had always expected him to decide the matter as he had done, and gave her unhesitating consent. This settled the matter.

In the spring of 1857 they, with her parents moved to Van Buren County, Iowa, and settled on a small farm near the town of Milton. Here Mr. Hawn taught school in the winter and farmed during the summer. From this time on until the end of her life, her heart and energies were devoted to the work in which her husband was engaged.

She was remarkable for grace and beauty of person. She excelled socially, always attracted friends and was welcomed in every circle. This was a great advantage to her on going to a new charge. She was especially successful in her work among the young people. She taught a young people's Bible class in nearly every charge her husband ever served, and always made it a great success. She excelled in tact and was a good judge of human nature, which enabled her to manage people with remarkable facility. For several years she was secretary of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of Davenport District and afterwards of Marshalltown. She attended promptly and carefully all the details of this work, organized many local societies that are still at work. She always had her reports complete and ready in due time. She was especially a ministering angel among the sick and unfortunate, never sparing herself or consulting her own ease. By her winning ways and peculiar tact she often won the confidence and love of persons who seemed steeled against every influence of the church and won them to Christ.

Mrs. Hawn was the mother of four children, three sons and one daughter. As a wife and mother she was loving and devoted. Two of her sons preceded her to the spirit world. Her first born was cut down at the early age of 28, a member of the same Conference with his father, leaving a wife and three small children. Her second lived to be 42 years old, a devoted Christian, and died in the full triumph of the Christian's hope. Her youngest son is a member of the Conference with his father. Her daughter is the wife of Rev. P.S. Lent of the Rock River Conference, and stationed at Elgin, Illinois. At their home, she, with her husband spent the last few months of her earthly pilgrimage, where they enjoyed the most loving and tender care from their devoted children.

The first six years of their ministry were spent in the Iowa conference from 1859 to 1865. This covered the entire period of the Civil War, and being on the border the hardships and dangers incident to the war were very great. In 1865 they were transferred to the Upper Iowa Conference. Mrs. Hawn's health was always delicate, and four small children claimed her time and care. In that day of large circuits, requiring lengthy absences from home on the part of the itinerant preacher, she did her part with heroic courage and loving devotion. She was an inspiration to her husband when he was discouraged, and a perennial blessing to the people they served.

After thirty-seven years work in the ministry her husband took a supernumerary relation on account of ill health. In 1902 he bought a home in Mt. Vernon and settled down, calculating that their working the ministry was done, but in this they were mistaken. A vacancy occurring on the Viola charge they were sent there to fill out the year and build the church that had just been started. At the next Conference Brother Hawn was again made effective and stationed at Solon for two years.

At the end of this time, Mrs. Hawn's health became so impaired that they were compelled to again return to their home in Mt. Vernon. In spite of medical skill the disease made steady progress. The winter of 1907-08 they spent at Hammond, La.(sic), in hopes that a change of climate might be of benefit, but this hope was also vain. Her health continued to decline more rapidly. At last it was ascertained that she was suffering from Bright's disease. After going to Elgin last November she declined more rapidly and on Sabbath, February 14th, she ceased from suffering and "was no more for God took her."

Mrs. Hawn was converted at the early age of eight years and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, from whose fellowship she was transferred to the church triumphant. Her piety was of the practical kind. Her life was one of faithful and self sacrificing service to the church of her choice. Her ministrations to the sick and sorrowing were most tender and helpful. It was during the last three months that her richest experience came to her. About a month before her departure she received a great victory of faith. From that hour her only thought was of heaven. The world and its charms lost their power, and the heavenly world flooded her soul. She longed to be with Jesus and almost her last rational words were, "Dear Lord, take me home." The morning before her departure when the family gathered in her room for family worship as was their custom, she said, "Let us pray around." Her little grand-daughter read a Psalm and when the other members of the family had prayed, she closed a prayer so full of unction that the room seemed to be filled with the Divine presence. She seemed to be talking to God without a veil between, while she prayed for children, husband, grandchildren, kindred, friends and the cause of God. So die God's saints.

She was buried at Mt. Vernon; the funeral services being held in the Methodist Episcopal Church, under the conduct of Rev. Dr. Billingsley, the pastor, and the sermon preached by the writer from the text Sister Hawn had selected, "She hath done what she could."

Ocea died on Feb 14, 1909 and is buried Mt. Vernon Cemetery next to her parents and husband. See Find A Grave Memorial# 97597828 for Oseanna Catherine Hayzlett Hawn,

Page from Linn Co, IA Cemetery Records lists following: Andrew Hayzlett died 11-22-1885 aged 84; Mt. Vernon cem., Mt. Vernon, IA wife Elizabeth d. 11-2-1889- age 91 also on lot Rev. C.A. Hawn & wife Osie (Hayzlett) Hawn

Hawn, C.A. (Rev.) 1836 to 9-9-1915; Ossie (Hayzlitt) Hawn & wife Mabl) May 11 1840 to 2-14-1909 also on lot with Andrew Hayzlett Above compiler was confused about these people and misinterpreted headstone readings when he/she concluded that Ossie Hawn was a man who married a woman named Mabel. Ossie Hayzlett Hawn was the wife of CA Hawn; The word "Mabl" is probably "May 11" her month and day of birth. The Hawns are buried on the same lot with Andrew and Elisabeth Hayzlett, parents of Osie (Osea). A visual check of the tombstone will clear this up.

Sources

'Minutes of the 54th Session of Upper Iowa Annual Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church Mason City, IA Sept 29-Oct 4, 1909" pp.218-219 (JRA Hanner, Publisher: Epworth, IA) On line at https://books.google.com/books?id=bN8pAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA1&lpg=RA1-PA1&dq=Mt.+Vernon,+IA+Oct+7-Oct+12,+1908&source=bl&ots=888rzNFhJe&sig=BUrvqEHOiGjGvxQp8l2ikKoGvos&hl=en&sa=X&ei=VWGcVbH2EcHxoASdzYCwDw&ved=0CB8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=hawn&f=false

Census Records in Iowa and Hancock Co, IN

Van Metre, Isaiah, ed.  History of Black Hawk County (Iowa) and Representative Citizens  (Chicago:  Biographical Publishing Co.,1904) -Bio of George W. Hayzlett (Osea's brother)  pp 341-343.

Linn Co, Iowa Portrait and Biographical Album: 1887 p. 168-Bio of William H.. Hayzlett (Osea's brother.)

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Sara Patton for creating WikiTree profile Hayzlett-20 through the import of hayzlett-hughart-black-waln-adams.ged on Mar 10, 2013.