Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Hawkins, William J. March 27, 1857 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com August 28, 2010, 11:55 pm Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 537 - 539 Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company WILLIAM JOHN HAWKINS was born in Nevada, March 27, 1857. He traced his ancestry back to Erastus and Betty Hawkins, who were the parents of John Hawkins, born in Poultney, Vermont, January 12, 1814. This child grown to manhood, left New England to become a resident of Ohio and there he met and married Mary McKee who was of Scotch-Irish lineage, having come from Agnesville, Ireland. In 1851 they started westward with their family, then numbering Sarah Jane, Theodore Perry, Daniel Robert and Lester Leander. They traveled by canal boat from Cleveland to Pittsburgh and thence by river boat to Cairo, Illinois and on by way of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers where wagons were secured for the further trip westward. They proceeded to Council Bluffs, crossed the river by ferry and established camp on the present site of Omaha. There they were joined by other wagons and the train proceeded across the Nebraska plains. They forded the North Platte at Fort Laramie and continued on through South Pass, Wyoming, to Fort Bridger, a government station where they obtained supplies from the soldiers. Many hardships and dangers were encountered and it was necessary to put out guards at night for protection from the Indians. At length the family reached Washoe county, Nevada, where William John was born — the first white child to be born in Nevada. They next established a home in Carson valley, Nevada. It was in his native state that William John Hawkins was reared and obtained his education, meeting also the usual experiences of life on the frontier. Later he and his elder brother, Leander, went to California and in San Francisco he attended Heald's Business College. From his early boyhood William proved to be an individual of great reliability. He said little and thought much and though quiet he accomplished many things. In the year 1881 Mr. Hawkins went, at his brother Leander's advice, to Portland, Oregon. On arriving he went to work as time keeper for graders on the O. W. R. & N. railway from Troutdale to the Cascade Locks. It was at this time that Mr. Villard took over the Northern Pacific Railway. Mr. Hawkins knowing of the extensive improvements of that road bought out a Chinese contractor who had contracted to furnish three hundred laborers. Seeing the possibility of handling more men he had the contract extended to five thousand for construction work on the Northern Pacific Railroad. He established a camp between Ainsworth on the Snake River and Lake Ponderay. He secured financial aid from his brother, Colonel L. L. Hawkins, Captain J. C. Ainsworth and Captain George Ainsworth, each taking one fourth interest in the business. Mr. Hawkins was then twenty-five years of age. Within a short time four thousand men were obtained but an additional one thousand were needed. He cabled to various ports of the world for a ship to bring coolies from China. When the ship arrived, one thousand men were landed in Seattle just in time to begin the contract. The railroad was unable to pay Mr. Hawkins for two months, after the time stipulated for payment. He had promised to pay his laborers on a certain date so he secured the necessary funds from various banks on his personal note. The railroad agreed to deliver supplies at reduced rates but failed to meet its agreement. In the emergency Mr. Hawkins brought in teams to carry supplies until such time as the railroad should keep its contract. After the last spike was driven on the Northern Pacific, Mr. Hawkins moved three thousand men to the Blue Mountains division. Here he went in with R. R. Thompson and R. M. Steel on the Oregon Construction Company. He stayed with this company until the road reached Huntington and then sold his interest in the company. At this time he returned to Portland with the forty thousand dollars cleared in the Northern Pacific contract and divided the money with the partners of W. J. Hawkins & Company. It was decided to combine interests and establish a bank at Eagle City in Coeur d'Alene county, Idaho, to be known as Ainsworth, Hawkins & Company. During this period the Coeur d'Alene mining district was being opened. The only mode of transportation was by means of toboggans, so the supplies and the forty thousand dollars were taken in by hand over Old Baldy, the highest mountain in the Bitter Route range. Logs for cabins cost eight thousand dollars apiece, whip saw lumber two hundred and fifty dollars a thousand and the bank received as high as twenty dollars for changing a one hundred dollar bill. About ten thousand people came into the mining country that winter and the bank prospered, but by the first of June almost the entire settlement had moved to Murray, Idaho. Having sold the bank to one Warren Huzzy, Mr. Hawkins came to Portland with the proposition to the partners to continue the banking business in Portland. This was done under the name of Ainsworth & Co. Out of this finally grew the Ainsworth National Bank of which W. J. Hawkins was a director. Mr. Hawkins' attention was then turned to the improvement of property both for himself and others. In this connection he was administrator for several estates including the Captain J. C. Ainsworth's holdings in Oregon, the R. R. Thompson estate and others, accomplishing with promptness when attorneys and others said it could not be done. In the conduct of business he displayed great ability as an organizer. He looked into matters, studied the situation thoroughly, made his decision and then drove ahead, overcoming all obstacles. He never lost sight of his objective and he never deviated from a straight and honorable path. In 1892 Mr. Hawkins was married to Miss Agnes M. Parson, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Mary (Bird) Parson, both of whom were natives of England. Coming to this country, they settled in Nevada, where they always remained. In early womanhood Mrs. Hawkins taught school and in her girlhood she had attained the same school as her husband. Mrs. Hawkins feels that her husband owed much to his experiences in Nevada in pioneer times and to that country is due much of the credit for molding the man. In his early years there he had engaged in the cattle business and rode the ranges where every man had his own way to make, standing on his own feet and gaining his progress through sheer ability and force of character. All through the years he had the assistance of his wife, who was to him a wise counselor and companion. They became the parents of four children: Margaret Mary, William J. Jr., Helen and Harriet. Mr. Hawkins was a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and member of the Mystic Shrine and loyally adhered to the teachings and high purposes of the craft. He likewise belonged to the Auld Lang Syne society. In politics he was a republican, believing firmly in the party principles, was a deep reader and student of world affairs and supported all plans and projects which he believed would make for public benefit and progress. In a review of his life, it will be seen that he was connected with many picturesque phases of western development, as a stage driver, as a cowboy, as a horse trainer, as a railroad builder, as a banker and in other ways contributing to that activity which has brought about modern-day civilization and development. Though reserved in speech and action, he was always genial, always kindly, always faithful, and a wonderful friend, steadfast and true. In every relation of life he measured up to high standards and thus he left to his family not only a substantial fortune but a beautiful memory and the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. 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