Corporate Officers:  A Hawthorn invoice dated October 2, 1900 lists five individuals as officers:

 

M. J. Mateer, President

F. L. Andrews, Vice President

W. M. Andrews, Treasurer

W. T. Putney, Secretary

E. A. Hamilton, Manager

 

 

M.J. Mateer is believed to be Melvin J. Mateer, listed as a resident of Arch Street, New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the 1910 U.S. Census – a neighbor of George W. Arblaster, who owned the land, buildings, and equipment that later became Hawthorn Pottery. In Hawthorn’s application for a corporate charter, dated November 15, 1899 Mateer was listed as the principal stockholder out of 15 total owners.  Mateer is cited as owning 50 shares of the 200 that were issued.  A June 30, 1976 article in the New Bethlehem Leader-Vindicator by Tom Andrews, Jr. (Publisher) says that Putney and Hamilton purchased the assets of “the old Spring Factory at West Millville (former name of Hawthorn).  They bought the entire plant from G.W. Arblaster …”. [Webmaster’s note:  when, and under what circumstances, Mateer, the two Andrews, and others came to also own shares when Hawthorn filed its charter five years later is not currently known.  The Spring Factory refers to the Wolf Spring Co., owned by J. J. Wolf of West Millville.]

 

F. L. Andrews was a local “Merchant and Lumber Dealer” according to the 1877 Atlas of Clarion County (PA).

 

W. M. Andrews is believed to be William Andrews, “Bank Clerk”, also listed in the 1877 Atlas of Clarion County.

 

W.T. Putney, of Allegheny Pennsylvania was one of the founders of Hawthorn, buying an existing pottery from G. Arblaster of New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1894 along with E. A. Hamilton.

 

E. A. Hamilton, was Edward Alexander Hamilton, at the time of purchase, Postmaster of New Bethlehem according to a 1976 article in the New Bethlehem (PA) Leader-Vindicator (the full article is reproduced below on this web site).  Hamilton was the second largest of the original shareholders, cited as owning 30 shares out of 200.  Although listed as “Manager” in 1900, Hamilton later became President.  His name is listed as President on a deed dated September 10, 1903, transferring a portion of Hawthorn’s real estate to the Allegheny Valley Railway Company for the purpose of building a railway siding at the pottery.  Hamilton was born May 8, 1858 in Putneyville, Pennsylvania, son of William R. and Ann Calhoun Hamilton.  He died March 28, 1943.  In addition to his role with Hawthorn and his position at one time, as postmaster of New Bethlehem, Hamilton’s obituary indicates that he also operated a foundry in New Bethlehem.

Corporate Officers After 1900