Richland County IL Archives Biographies.....Hawkins, S. H. 1825 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 30, 2011, 3:16 pm Source: See below Author: Lake City Publishing Co. S. H. HAWKINS, a well-known farmer whose home is on section 5, Decker Township, Richland County, is a native of the Hoosier State. The place of his birth is in Gibson County, and the date of that event 1825. His father, Henry Hawkins, was born in Tennessee and after his marriage to Martha Hill removed to Union County, Ind., where in the midst of the forest he developed a good farm. Both he and his wife passed away many years ago. In religious belief he was a Cumberland Presbyterian and took great interest in church work. He exercised his right of franchise in support of the Democratic party. The Hawkins family comprised the following children: James J., a farmer of Missouri; Thomas, of St. Joseph, Mo.; Margaret, deceased; S. H., of this sketch; David, who died in Missouri; Clara, wife of William Montgomery, of Decker Township; Eliza E., whose home is in Union County, Ind.; and William Berry, deceased. Swinging the axe and cradle, attending the subscription schools, and enjoying the pleasures which are found on the frontier, Mr. Hawkins of this sketch spent his boyhood. At the age of eighteen years he began working as a farm hand in the neighborhood, and when twenty-four years of age he bought land and began farming in the county of his nativity, where he made his home until his removal to Illinois. Ere leaving he was united in marriage with Margaret Montgomery, who died in Indiana, leaving five children, Jane, John, Samuel, David and Martha, all of Decker Township. For his second wife Mr. Hawkins wedded Mrs. Ansor, and after her death he was married in November, 1888, to Mrs. Van Matre, daughter of John and Gertrude (Lewis) Hazelton. She was born in Ohio, and removed to Clay County, Ill., with her parents, who there spent the remainder of their lives. In that county Miss Hazelton became the wife of Mr. Van Matre, and unto them was born a daughter, Jennie May, wife of Jake Patterson, of Clay County. Her first husband was killed in the army. He served for three years in the Ninety-eighth Illinois Infantry and lost his life at the battle of Selma, where so many of the company were killed. Mr. Hawkins and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church, contribute liberally to its support, and in all possible ways aid in its upbuilding. He takes an active interest in the cause of education and has done much for the advancement of schools. He cast his first Presidential vote for Lewis Cass and has since been a warm advocate of Democracy. Throughout his entire life he has followed the occupation of farming, and now owns an excellent farm, although it is a small one of only forty acres. It formerly comprised two hundred acres, but he has generously given the remainder to his children. His life has been a busy one and the success which crowns untiring and well-directed efforts has come to him in the shape of a competence, which now provides him with the comforts of life. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Portrait and Biographical Record of Effingham, Jasper and Richland Counties Chicago: Lake City Publishing Co. 1893 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/richland/bios/hawkins1702gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 3.7 Kb