DAWKINS, HERBERT E. Union Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 509-510. Edited by Alc‚e Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dawkins, Herbert Elmer, attorney at Farmerville, son of James Monroe Dawkins, was born Aug. 25, 1882, in Union Parish, La. The father was born July 3, 1854, in Union country, Ark.; son of Duncan D. Dawkins. The last-named, a native of Newberne, N. C., was the son of Samuel Dawkins, a Methodist Episcopal minister, who moved from Virginia into North Carolina. It is supposed that the Dawkins family in America originated with 2 brothers who came from England shortly after the Revolutionary war, settling first in Virginia, whence one moved to Maryland and the other to North Carolina. The sons of Samuel Dawkins were Minor, Anguish, George and Duncan D. Minor settled in Bienville parish, La. George and Anguish settled near Fort Worth, Tex., and their children are scattered as far west as California. Duncan settled in Union parish, La., and his sons were George, Robert B., John R., Oliver C., Edgar A., Thomas and James M. John R. Dawkins' children were Dan and Annie, both of whom are living in Texas. Edgar A. Dawkins' children were Edgar, Ben C., Joseph E., Thomas C., Gertrude and Lillie. James M. Dawkins' children were Herbert E., Emmette, Sam D., Willie, James R., Gordie, Emma and May. Children of Oliver C. Dawkins were Bruton T., Joseph B., Margaret, Lamar and Frank. Thomas Dawkins had no children. George Dawkins and John R. Dawkins were both Confederate soldiers. George, who started as a private and became a caplain, was with Stonewall Jackson in Virginia. John R. was with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston and also with Gen. Bragg. James M. Dawkins left Arkansas when about 5 years old and came with his parents to Union parish, La., and there attended public school. His father, Duncan D. Dawkins, had a number of slaves, and the loss of these and general conditions caused by the Civil war, crippled him badly, but he still kept on and accumulated considerable property after the war. J. M. Dawkins had but little schooling. He was a farmer till 1910, at which time he became deputy clerk of the district court. In 1902-1903 and also in 1904-05 he was a member of the state legislature from Union parish. He was parish treasurer in 1906- 07-08-09. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, a deacon in the Missionary Baptist church, a democrat and active in politics. In 1881 he married Caroline Smith. Herbert Elmer Dawkins lived on a farm until 18 years old. He taught school 1 year, after which he entered as a student in the Louisiana industrial institute at Ruston, La., where he graduated in 1905, receiving the degree of bachelor of industry. He was class orator at graduation. In 1904 he represented the Agatheridan literary society in a debate with the Lomax literary society and won a medal. He was literary editor of a school annual called Langanappe. After finishing school at Ruston, Mr. Dawkins taught 1 year and in the fall of 1906 entered the Louisiana State university, where, in 1909, he graduated in both literary and law courses, receiving at the same time the degrees B. A. and LL. B. The last year of the course in L. S. U. he was editor of the college annual called Gumbo. In June, 1909 Mr Dawkins was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of Louisiana, and in August he formed a partnership with H. G. Fields, under the name of Fields & Dawkins. This partnership lasted 1 year and he then became a member of the firm of Everett, Elder, Hodge & Dawkins. This continued until 1911, when the partnership was dissolved and since that date Mr. Dawkins has practiced law alone at Farmerville. He was married May 10, 1910, to Miss Ruth Webb, daughter of A. M. and Alice Webb of Union Parish, and they are members of the Missionary Baptist church. # # #