David C. Hawk, Probate Judge of Harper county, is a native of the Buckeye State. He was born at Athens, Ohio, March 2, 1867, and is a son of William J. and Mary Jane (Kitchen) Hawk, both natives of New Jersey. The father was born in Hunterdon county, November 13, 1831, and his parents were also natives of that State and of German descent. William J. Hawk was a farmer and teacher. In 1852, he removed with his parents to Athens, Ohio, where he followed farming and school teaching until 1899, when he removed to Bluff City, Kans., and bought a farm near Bluff City and also some town property. He immediately became a factor in the political, educational and religious life of Harper county. He was a life-long Democrat and a member of the Baptist Church. He died at Bluff City, June 13, 1911, his wife having passed away March 19, 1899, at Athens, Ohio, at the close of a consistent Christian life. She too, lived and died in the Baptist faith. They had eight children, as follows: Elizabeth, now the wife of Dr. H. F. McCoy, Houston, Tex.; Lewis C., was killed in a railroad accident in Texas, in 1902; William J. Jr., resides at Athens, Ohio; Isaac M., died in 1879; George B., died in 1913; Dr. Benjamin F. and David C. (twins), born March 2, 1867, the latter the subject of this sketch. Dr. Benjamin F. Hawk was educated in the University of Ohio and Sterling Medical College, of Columbus, Ohio, and is now superintendent of the Kansas State Hospital at Larned, having been appointed to that position when the new institution was opened in 1913. The youngest child born to William J. and Mary Jane (Kitchen) Hawk is Hadley C., born February 10, 1873, and now resides at Winfield, Kans. David C. Hawk received his education in the public schools at Athens, Ohio, and on October 2, 1882, when he was about fifteen years old, he fell from a moving construction train, and the entire train passed over him and the accident resulted in the loss of his right arm and leg. The following year he entered the office of the Toledo & Ohio Central railroad at Athens, Ohio, and learned telegraphy and station office work. Within eight months he had become the operator in charge of the station and within one year was telegraph operator in the office of the General Manager of the road and shortly afterwards became train dispatcher and by the time he had been in the employ of the railroad two years he was chief train dispatcher of the entire system. He held this responsible position for six years, and in 1893, accepted the position of chief train dispatcher for the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad at Neodesha, Kans. He remained in this position until 1897, when he resigned and came to Bluff City, where he bought land and served as station agent for the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad Co. until 1910. He had taken an active part in local politics since coming to Harper county and in 1910, became a Democratic nominee for the office of Probate Judge of Harper county, and was elected, and his career as a public official was approved by his reelection to that office in 1912. Mr. Hawk was married November 27, 1887, to Miss Nellie Martin, a native of Athens, Ohio, born September 9, 1866. She is a graduate of Drake University, of Des Moines, Iowa, in the class of 1884. She is a daughter of Abraham and Charlotte (Robinnette) Martin, natives of Ohio. The father died in Wichita, Kans., February 20, 1895. He came to Kansas in 1887, and located on a farm in Harper county. He was prominent in local politics and was a staunch Republican. In 1888, he was elected to the legislature from Harper county, and served as Post Master of Bluff City, from 1890 to 1896, his wife died January 20, 1910. To Mr. and Mrs. Hawk have been born three children: Ralph Martin, born July 31, 1891, married Helen Nold, November 24, 1912, and is now station agent for the Kansas Southern Railroad at Bluff City, Kans.; Harry M., born December 5, 1893, now a telegraph operator, and Olin LaVerne, born January 5, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Hawk are members of the Christian church and are well and favorably known in the community.