In 1857, he moved to Portland, Oregon, where he was well received by the medical community, and soon acquired a large private practice. In 1858, he took charge of the county hospital under a contract from Multnomah County, subsequently establishing a private hospital for the insane. The hospital was so successful that the state government, during GovernorWhiteaker's term in 1862, contracted with him to assume the care of the insane of Oregon. Assisted by Dr. A. M. Loryea, this grew into Oregon Hospital for the Insane. This contract was from time to time renewed by the State Legislature, and until his death Hawthorne had charge as Superintendent and Physician of the unfortunate wards of the state, which at the time of his death numbered some 500 inmates. Hawthorne was known for his kindness toward his patients and his devotion to his work. During the 21 years that he had charge of the Oregon Hospital for the Insane, it became widely known and was regarded as one of the best institutions of its kind in the United States. Hawthorne was highly proficient in every department of his profession and is highly honored by the record he made as authority upon diseases of the mind. He gained national renown in the treatment of insanity, and the curative rate of his institution was considered equal to that of any similar establishment in the United States. Hawthorne took an active interest in public affairs. Politically, he was originally a Whig, but after the overthrow of that party he became a Democrat. He commanded respect from members of both parties, and he was retained in office for many years when the state was under Republican rule. He declined to become a candidate for high public stations. He was a Christian, and for many years was a consistent member of the Episcopal Church. He was a productive and highly regarded man at the time of his death.
Family and later life
Hawthorne was twice married. His first wife, Miss Emma Curry, a niece of Congressman Kelly of Pennsylvania, died in Portland in 1862, only a few weeks after their marriage. Hawthorne remarried in 1865 to Mrs. E. C. Hite of Sacramento, California, one of California's favorite pioneer daughters. Their two daughters, Louise H. and Catharine, later inherited large real-estate interests in East Portland, Oregon. James Hawthorne died on February 15, 1881, at the age of 61 and was buried at Lone Fir Cemetery.
Asylum Patients Memorial
A memorial for the patients of the Oregon Hospital for the Insane is being planned by Metro at the Lone Fir Cemetery, where it was recently uncovered that several hundred asylum patients are buried in unmarked graves. Local historians are joining with mental health advocates to shape the memorial area. The gravesite and memorial area adjoins another segregated area for Chinese workers where a separate memorial is planned.
