Chase County Kansas Obituaries
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Hawkins, Isaac Richard
AN EARLY SETTLER PASSES IN NEWTON
I.R. Hawkins Had Lived the Greater Share of His Life at Clements
I.R. Hawkins, one of the pioneer settlers of this county, died Monday of last week at his home in Newton where he had lived since leaving Clements in 1914. Funeral services were held Tuesday at the Clements church and interment was in the cemetery there.
The following account of Mr. Hawkins�s death is from the Newton Kansan: �Final rites for Isaac Richard Hawkins were held yesterday, consisting of a brief service at the home, 701 W. Fifth, & one at Clements, his former residence. Rev. Logan Martin, pastor of the First Christian Church here, was in charge of both. Music at the morning service was furnished by a duet consisting of Mrs. Norman Ralph & Mrs. W. D. Hawley, accompanied by Mrs. A. J. Duff at the piano.�
�The funeral cortege left the home at 12:30 for Clements, where a large crowd of old time friends attended the service at the Presbyterian Church. A quartet comprised of Mrs. La Rue Duff, Mrs. W. D. Hawley, Jack Mills, & C. M. Chitty provided the musical selections. Pall bearers were selected from Mr. Hawkins�s former friends at Clements. Burial was in the Clements cemetery under the direction of Duff and Son.
The following obituary was read at the service:
�Isaac Richard Hawkins, son of John Wesley and Rebecca Ann Hawkins, was born in Andrew County, Missouri, February 14, 1850, and died at his home in Newton, Kansas, October 8, 1934, at the age of 84 years, 7 months and 25 days.
In 1857 his parents moved to Kansas and located on a homestead in the Cottonwood River valley in Chase County, about a mile northwest of the present townsite of Clements. He was then 7 years old. The community was in a pioneer state. Cottonwood Falls was about the nearest town with no means of transportation or communications, in such surroundings he grew to manhood.
�On November 10, 1875, he was united in marriage to Mary Anna Patton at Marion Center, Kans. To this union seven children were born, four of whom survive: Alfred Hawkins of Strong City; Fred Hawkins of Clements; Mrs. Alta White of Newton & Sidney Hawkins of Moline, Those dead are Ralph, Roy & Estella.
�Mr. Hawkins was the rugged pioneer stock of which few remain today. His parents made the trip to Kansas in a covered wagon drawn by a team of oxen. As a young man he worked as an ox driver, sometimes breaking the virgin soil and at other times as a fighter. He could relate some interesting experiences which he had had with the Indians. Indian raids were common in those days. The Kaws, a more civilized tribe, often camped on his father�s farm. He grew up with Chase County and his death marks the passing of another of her pioneer sons.
�Industry and honesty were among the commendable virtues of his life. When the Civil War began, Mr. Hawkins�s father became a Union soldier and died in an army camp near Fort Smith, Ark. This placed the responsibility of helping maintain the home upon him and his eldest brother, which he shared with his mother in a noble way. He was kind, sympathetic with his own children, always ready to help them through every difficulty. He delighted in small children which always made him a favorite with his grandchildren. He was also a good neighbor and friend.
�In the spring of 1914 he retired from active farm life and moved to Newton, where he spent his remaining days. Besides his widow and children, he leaves 10 grandchildren to mourn his loss: Ralph, Gertrude and Guy Jones; Bertha and Richard Hawkins; Lamar, Olion and Bruce White; and Maridene and Sidney Louranz Hawkins; also, two brothers and two sisters, P. L. and Jane Hawkins of Clements and Frances Patton of Missouri and John Henry of Oklahoma, besides two great grandchildren, many other relatives and a host of friends.�
From 2ND OBITUARY, (excerpt) �He spent a long and useful life which spanned the pioneer days of Indians, buffalo, oxen teams & covered wagons to the present day. He was an industrious man and lived close to the golden rule. His death has brought deep regret to many who knew him & lived near him as a neighbor.
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to express our appreciation to our many friends for the sympathy and kindness shown us in the recent loss of our beloved husband and father.
Mrs. I. R. Hawkins; Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Hawkins; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hawkins; Mr. & Mrs. L. V. White; and Mr. & Mrs. S. R. Hawkins.
Submitted by Margaret E. Haynes, great granddaughter of Susan Frances [Hawkins] Patton (sister of Isaac Richard Hawkins), she was five when she came to Kansas Territory. She was very like her brother Isaac Richard in character and pioneer spirit and both were much loved by grandchildren and great grandchildren. Isaac Richard Hawkins�s parents had six children: Wm. Riley, Isaac Richard, Susan Frances, Rebecca Jane, Prince Lafayette, and John Henry Hawkins.
Chase County Leader News, Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, Oct. 8, 1934