My Genealogy Hound

Lewis Hawkins (colored), farmer, was born in Bath County, Ky., in 1829, the son of Jordan and Dorcas (Fletcher) Hawkins, natives of Bath County, where they were reared and married, and where they died when our subject was about ten years old. The father was born a slave to William Ersmith, and the mother was owned by a Mrs. Wilson, until about fifty years of age. She then bought herself for $400, by borrowing the money at 12 ½ per cent interest of a Mr. Mitchell, for whom she afterward kept house, at a salary of $75 per year, until she paid both principal and interest. At this time she was living with her second husband, William De Shay. They removed to Missouri in 1867, where the mother died in December, 1885. Our subject was owned by Mrs. Wilson until sixteen years of age, when he was inherited by her son. He was afterward sold to a Mr. Johnson and a Mr. Fox, whose property he was at the emancipation. He was married, about 1854, to Angeline Travis, who was owned by Mr. Small, of Mason County, Ky. Their children are Mariah (the wife of J. Miller), Martha, Iowa, William, Lewis, Drusilla, Frederick, Angeline and Emma. In 1864 he moved to Brown County, Ohio, and the following year to Marion County, and farmed as a tenant for five years. He then bought forty acres of his present estate, which now embraces 146 acres of well-improved land. He is a man of business ability, has been very successful, and is recognized as a leader among people. He is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Gen. Grant. His entire family are prominent members of the Baptist Church.