Betsey Hawkins's obituary, Vermontville, Eaton County, Michigan
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SUBJECT: Betsy P. HAWKINS
SUBMITTER: Jan Lubitz Sedore
EMAIL: am0773@a1access.net
DATE: Apr 06, 1999
SURNAMES: HAWKINS, SPRAGUE
SUNFIELD SENTINEL
October 1, 1908
Page 1, Col. 1
BETSY P. HAWKINS

A large concourse of relatives and friends gathered at the residence of
Miss Sylvia Hawkins at 11 a.m. last Sabbath in attendance on the funeral
occasion of Betsy P. Hawkins who departed this life on the 22 inst., being
73 years, 4 months, and 24 days of age. She was the daughter of Carr and
Cornelia Sprague and was born in Manlus, Onondaga County, New York, on
the 28th day of February 1835. While she was quite young her parents moved
to Calhoun County, Michigan, living there about one year and then came
to Vermontville where the rest of her life has been spent.

On the 25th of June 1857, she was united in marriage to Horace Hawkins
with whom she lived a happy life and with pleasure shared the hardships
attendant upon a pioneer life. Erecting a rude log cabin in the midst of
the forest they began to make a home and success rewarded their skill and
labors till prosperity was apparent on every hand.

Their home was blessed with nine children, two of whom died in infancy,
Nettie and Levi, the other seven have grown to manhood actively engaging
in business life with comfortable homes. On the 20th of December 1902,
her husband passed peacefully from this earth but not daunted with affliction
she faithfully discharging her duties until declining years prevented.

During her earlier life she was reared under Christian influence. Her father
was a class leader in the Methodist church over forty years. However she
was not entirely satisfied with her Christian experience till under the
labors of the late Rev. Geo. W. Carey she made a full surrender of herself
to God and together with her husband they joined the Free Methodist church
at Shaytown. From that time to the day of her departure her faith in God
was unshaken.

She leaves to mourn her loss five sons, two daughters, one brother and
two sisters, a host of friends.

The exercises on the occasion of the funeral began by singing a favorite
hymn of the deceased, "Tread Softly," followed by prayer and
singing. "How Firm a Fountain," a few remarks were made by C.
L. Lambertson from the words, I have fought a good fight, then was singing,
"The Saints Home." Her remains were laid to rest in the cemetery
at Vermontville.