Allen E. Hawkins

     Allen E. Hawkins, who is successfully engaged in general farming in Washington township, Randolph county, Ind., is a native of Wayne County, Ind. He was born April 15, 1846, and is a son of Nathan and Sarah (Wright) Hawkins, both natives of Wayne county, the former born April 15, 1808, and the latter April 10, 1811. They were the parents of ten children –William, a farmer of Illinois; Eliza, wife of Dan Comer; Lydia, wife of Corne3lius Turpening; John W., a farmer of Arkansas; Henry, of Lynn; Eli, who died July 4, 1864; Jane, wife of John Burgoyne; Allen E.; Charles, who died September 28, 1868, and George, a teamster of Richmond. The father was a wealthy farmer of Wayne county, and at one time owned 541 acres of valuable land. He and his wife were members of the ‘society of Friends. His death occurred July 14, 1890; and she passed away in October, 1867, both being laid to rest in Earlham cemetery. The grandparents were natives of North Carolina, and in 1807, in a two-wheeled gig went to Ohio, where they remained a year, and then removed to Wayne county, Ind., entering the land on which Richmond now stands. They had four children –Tamar, wife of Isaac Runnells; Sarah, wife of David Jessup; Nathan and John.

    Allen E. Hawkins remained at home until twenty-three years of age, and for two years engaged in operating a farm, which was situated where Nineteenth street, of Richmond, now lies. He carried on agricultural pursuits and also operated a saw mill until May 18, 1875, when he moved to an eighty acre farm belonging to his father, upon which he resided until February 27, 1884. At that time he came to his present farm, which now comprises 148 acres, but in November, 1885, he returned to Richmond to take care of his father, who died four years later, and our subject again came to his present home. Mr. Hawkins was married August 26, 1869, to Eliza Hockett, daughter of Louis and Teresa (Kain) Hockett, who were born, reared and married in North Carolina. The daughter was born in that state, January 14, 1847, and went with her parents to Tennessee. Their family consisted of the following children: James, Eli and Wyatt, who follow farming; Luzena, wife of William Derryberry; Eliza, now Mrs. Hawkins; Selina, wife of John Hager; John; Sarah, deceased wife of Alvin Harmel; and Elizabeth, the present wife off Mr. Harmel. The parents of this family are both deceased. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and were highly respected people. Mr. Hawkins has one of the best improved places in the community, and is recognized as one of the substantial agriculturists. In politics he is a stalwart republican.

Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Delaware and Randolph Counties, Indiana by A.W. Bowen & Co., 1894. Page 1251, 1252.