Henry Hawkins
Henry Hawkins, one of the enterprising and prominent citizens of Lynn, was born in Wayne County, Ind., December 25, 1838. His father, Nathan Hawkins, was born in the same county, April 15, 1808, and is a son of John and Lydia (Commer) Hawkins, who immigrated to Indiana in 1806. John Hawkins entered 320 acres of land in Wayne County and began the development of a farm. He also engaged in the saw-mill business. His death occurred in 1859, at the age of eighty-two years. He was very successful in his business dealings ant one time owned a large tract of land which he gave to his children. He was a member of the Society of Friends, was an abolitionist, afterwards a whig, and later a republican. His children were Tamar, deceased; Sarah, of Richmond, and Nathan and John also deceased.
Nathan Hawkins was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads and like his father followed agricultural pursuits in connection with the operation of a saw-mill. The last years of his life were spent in retirement in Richmond, where he died July 14, 1890. He was married in 1829, to Sarah Wright, who was born in Wayne County in 1811, and was a daughter of Elijah and Susanna (Hoover) Wright, natives of North Carolina. The family numbered ten children: William, a farmer of Illinois; Eliza, deceased wife of Daniel Commer; Lydia, wife of C. Terpening, of Arkansas; John, of Darke county, Ohio; Henry; Eli, deceased; Jennie, wife of J. Burgoyne; Allen, of this county, Charles, deceased, and George of Richmond. The mother died October 10, 1867, and in 1873, Mr. Hawkins wedded Minnie Long, by whom he had two children: Belle, wife of O. Quigg, of Lynn; and Omer, of Richmond. Mrs. Hawkins died in 1884. The father of our subject was a republican and a member of the Society of Friends. He owned 250 acres of land in this county and other valuable property.
Henry Hawkins was early inured to the hard labor of the farm, but thereby developed a self reliance and force of character which have proven of incalculable benefit to him in later years. He also learned the trade of a miller and blacksmith. He remained with his parents until he had attained his majority. When the country became involved in civil war, he went to the defense of the Union, enlisting, August 16, 1862, in company I, Eighty-fourth Indiana infantry, with which he remained until wounded at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863. He was taken to the field hospital and afterwards lay in hospital No. 1, in Nashville, until December, when he was granted a furlough. Remaining home until May, 1864, he then returned to Nashville, and was sent to Louisville, New Albany and Indianapolis, where he was transferred to the reserve corps. He was wounded by a gunshot through both feet and lay on the field eleven days before aid came. He received his discharge at Indianapolis, June 30, 1865, and once returned home, but was disabled for some two years. In 1870, Mr. Hawkins, in company with Christian Fetta, bought a saw mill, which he operated until 1883, when he removed it to Richmond, where he still carries it on. For four years he was the owner of a tile factory in Lynn, and is the owner of an eighty-acre farm, which is well improved and cultivated and yields to the owner of a golden tribute. He is a man of excellent business ability and industrious, and deserves great credit for his success in life.
On the 26th of November, 1874, in Darke County, Ohio, Mr. Hawkins was united in marriage with Jennie Owen, who was born in Preble County, Ohio, November 17, 1844, and is a daughter of William and Jane (Albright) Owen. In 1884 they adopted a daughter, Maud P., daughter of John Sipple. She was born in 1880, and finds in the Hawkins home all the care and attention which our subject and his wife would bestow upon a child of their own. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a Mason and Odd Fellow. He was a faithful soldier during the late war, always found at his post of duty, and is alike true to his country in days of peace, and now draws a pension of $8 per month.
