Hawkins, Smith

   Events:

• his Biography was published in the Portrait and Biographical Album of Osceola County in 1884 in Hartwick Township, Osceola County, Michigan, USA. ²

(see also the biography of Andrew J. Mapes)

Mr. Hawkins was born Nov. 4, 1809, in Otsego Co., N. Y. His father, Rufus Hawkins, was born in Rhode Island, of English parents. Mr. Hawkins remained in New York until he was 27 years old, when he came to Michigan and settled where Battle Creek is now situated, and moved thence to Ohio in 1851, where he remained until 1866. He then moved to Hartwick Township, settling on 160 acres on section 24, clearing 25 acres with his own hand. He was a man of poor health and had not been able to do any labor, having been a school-teacher for 21 years. The school room being too confining for him, he started out with a wagon load of dry goods and crockery, which he peddled through the country, selling goods all the way from Ohio to this township. He had located his land here the year before. His mother was born in Rhode Island in 1759, of German and English descent, and went to New York in 1800, where she remained until her death.

Mr. Hawkins was the first settler in Hartwick; was the first Supervisor of the township, holding the position for many years. A man had com in here before him, but Mr. Hawkins' was the first land located. Himself and wife were members of the Baptist Church, joining in 1841. They came to Michigan in 1837, settling where Battle Creek now stands and residing there 14 years. They then moved to Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, and after 14 years residence there, in 1866, they came to this county, where they both have since died, he at the age of 73 and she at the age of 63 years, and they are buried on the farm of Mr. Mapes, where is located the little grave yare designated by the family name.

• Appeared on the 1870 US Census 5 Aug 1870 in Hartwick Township, Osceola County, Michigan, USA, Page: 1.

Name: Hawkins, Smith
Age: 60
Sex: 52
Color: W
Occupation: Farmer
Value - Real Estate: 1000
Value - Personal Property:
Birth Place: New York
Father Foreign Born: N
Mother Foreign Born: N
Month Born in Census Year:
Month Married in Census Year:
Attended School in Census Year:
Can Not Read:
Can Not Write:
Deaf and Dumb, Blind, Insane, or Idiot:
Eligible to Vote: Yes
Date of Enumeration:

• Appeared on the 1880 US census 1 Jun 1880 in Hartwick Township, Osceola County, Michigan, USA, Page: 1.

Name: Hawkins, Smith
Color: W
Sex: M
Age Prior to June 1: 71
Month of Birth in Census Year:
Relationship: Head of Household
Single: N
Married: Y
Widowed: N
Divorced: N
Married in Census Year: N
Occupation: Farmer
Other Information:
Can't Read or Write: N
Place of Birth: New York
Place of Birth Father: Rhode Island
Place of Birth Mother: Rhode Island

• Avondale, Osceola County, Michigan, USA, Cherry Valley Cemetery

Click here for a larger view

Smith married Lucy Villa Gardner. (Lucy Villa Gardner was born on 19 Mar 1818 in New York, USA, died on 22 Dec 1881 in Hartwick Township, Osceola County, Michigan, USA and was buried in Avondale, Osceola County, Michigan, USA, Cherry Valley Cemetery ³.) The cause of her death was neuralgia of Heart.