40                      HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

    WILLIAM B. HAWKINS, A. M., M. D., deceased, was born at The old
college town of Washington, in Washington county, Pennsylvania,
August 28, 1818. He descended from an English family who landed here
at an early date, Sir John Hawkins having been sent out from his country
to explore the Pacific coast, being a member of the Royal Navy at the
time. In his fleet was also Sir John Drake. Dr. Hawkins attended the
preparatory school and college until he graduated from the classical
course in 1835, when but eighteen years of age. He had chosen medicine
as his profession and immediately began its study with the distinguished
Dr. John Wishard, with whom he studied for four years, including his
lecture course, at the end of which time he graduated from Washington
and Jefferson College with the degree of A. M. from Washington College
and M. D. from Jefferson College (medical branch). In April, 1840, he
commenced the practice of medicine in Connellsville, Fayette county,
Pennsylvania, where he remained ten years. During the panic of 1848
he lost ten thousand dollars, which money he had invested in iron works
in and around Connellsville. Gathering up what little he had left, he went
to Illinois in search of a new location, but upon arriving at Cincinnati,
Ohio, on account of a cholera epidemic, the steamboats were all laid up
and the doctor accepted a position as physician and surgeon to the out-
door poor of the Sixth ward of the city, doing good service under very
trying circumstances. Later the doctor went on to Terre Haute, where
he practiced medicine until 1854, establishing in the meantime a well
equipped drug store on the corner of Fourth and Main streets. At the
end of two years he sold out to his partner, and located at Prairieton,
Vigo county, where he had a large practice for thirteen years. In 1867
he saw a fine location in the then newly opened up block coal mines of
Clay county and bought a home there on the corner of Main and Depot
streets, Brazil, where he lived for nearly twenty-five years, actively
engaged in his profession, to the very last days of his life in 1891.
    October 15, 1840, the doctor was married to Christina Darling, a native
of Scotland, who died in 1866. To them were born six children, three of
whom lived to maturity, viz.: Alice, wife of Judge John Cosson, of
Somerset, Kentucky; Charles W., who was a member of the Thirty-first
Indiana Infantry during the Civil war; and James D. On March 12, 1867,
the doctor married to Mrs, A D. McLain, who was born at Marietta,
Ohio, and educated at the Female Seminary of that place. Mrs. McLain
had been a teacher for about fifteen years and was employed in the graded
schools of Terre Haute at the time of their marriage. For years she has
been devoted to literary, work. Her book “The Odd Fellows’ Orphans”
was dedicated to the Daughters of Rebekahs and was highly honored by
having a call for the second edition approved by. the Supreme Grand
Lodge of the I. 0. 0. F., with the permission that the emblems of that
order he placed on the covers in gold. Her miscellaneous articles, some
of which have been published, would make quite a large volume. Some
of these are war time reminiscences from, personal knowledge, and others
on travel on the Pacific coast.
    Mrs. Abigail (McLain) Hawkins is the daughter of Stephen and
Sophia (Warren) Daniels, Her father was born in West Bloomfield,
New York, in 1779, and served in the war of 1812-14, dying aged sixty-
five years. The mother was born in Shirley, Middlesex county, Massa-
chusetts, January 31, 1804. Their children were seven in number, three
of whom still survive—J. J. Mrs. Hawkins; and Sarah.