My Genealogy Hound

JOHN W. HAWKINS, a prosperous farmer of Liberty township, Kearney county, was born in Rush county, Ind., in October, 1839, but at the age of twelve years was taken to Illinois by his parents. He was reared to farming, was educated at the common schools, and in 1865 was married and began the battle of life on his own account by farming in Coles county, on rented land; subsequently, he bought land near Homer, Vermilion county, which he farmed, and was also engaged in running teams and manufacturing brooms, as well as acting as policeman for some time in Hoopeston, Vermilion county, Ill. In 1880 he came to Nebraska and bought a pre-empted right from a squatter on the southwest quarter of section 28, township 7, range 14, about four miles northeast of Minden. There was a sod house on the land, and some little breaking of the soil had been done; but after three years of occupancy of the sod cabin, Mr. Hawkins built himself a handsome frame dwelling, in which he now lives. His farm is improved with commodious barns and granaries, groves, orchards of apples, cherries, etc., and berry patches, the balance, not under cultivation, being in pasture and hay. He has never met with a failure in his crops since settling here, but in 1889 a hailstorm damaged his product to a small extent, and this is the only thing he has to complain of as an impediment to his otherwise successful progress. As an evidence of his skill as a farmer, it need only be said that it was but lately that Mr. Hawkins captured a prize for his exhibit at the Lincoln Corn Show, or Fair.

Richard Hawkins, the father of John W., was a native of Indiana, was a farmer, and died in Illinois in 1870. He married Miss Jane Wilson, of Indiana, and this union was crowned by the birth of nine children John W., the second born, is the only member of the family residing in Nebraska. Mr. Hawkins, the subject of this sketch, married Miss Sarah Danner, a native of Delaware county, Ind. Mr. Danner was for many years a school teacher, was a justice of the peace, and died in Delaware county, in January, 1851; his widow afterwards was married to Joseph Danner, brother of the former husband, and in 1858 moved to Coles county, Ill. Mr Hawkins is politically a republican, and with his wife is a member of the Christian church.