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Webster Groves, named for the famous Daniel Webster of pre-Civil War America, is located just outside of the bustling city of St. Louis. Among its famous residents were Jacob and Samuel Hawken, inventors of the Hawken rifle. Their former home still stands today, open for tours and private and public events.

The Hawken family originated in Switzerland and had a family history of gun-smithing, first manufacturing on the east coast before moving to the St. Louis area to open a rifle shop. The Hawken rifle became an enormous success as the United States expanded westward. Following the direction the country was taking, the Hawken family moved west as well, settling on the Mississippi River to design and fabricate their in-demand rifle to accommodate settlers and explorers leaving the east to seek their fortunes in the west. Among these figures were Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, John Fremont, and Kit Carson—all of these adventurers carried Hawken rifles. Within a generation or two, the Hawken family enterprise lead to tremendous financial success.

Samuel and Jacob set up their shop in St. Louis, then Christopher, Jacob’s son, built a house in nearby Webster Groves. It is the oldest home in suburban Webster Groves, elegantly designed and beautifully preserved. Christopher worked in his father’s shop in St. Louis throughout his life, returning to the quiet community Webster Groves to be with his wife and family at the end of the work day. The Webster Groves Historical Society retains control and ownership of the property today, and gives tours that explore the daily life of the Hawken family in the house.

The Hawken rife is an example of how one good idea can change an entire industry. The Hawkens did not reinvent the gun, nor did they invent something brand new that had never been seen before. Rather, they worked with the existing manufacturing and design practices in rifle-making, and made them better. Hawken rifles were shorter than the standard Kentucky rifles popular in the nineteenth century, and were easier to handle as a result of the lighter weight. Shot accuracy was also improved, as well as the caliber of the bullet the gun could accommodate. The result was immediate success—sometimes academic success works in a similar way.

Students often need a review of and return to basics in order to improve where they struggle. One good idea might be the difference between failing and passing a class; that idea could come with a change in study habits, a change of learning venues, and of course, that one good idea could come from hiring a tutor in Webster Groves. Tutors are trained to help students find their strengths and improve their weaknesses. Webster Groves tutors can work from the ground up, just like the Hawken family, to truly develop something remarkable.