Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-30
COACHMAN OF PRESIDENTS.
HAWKINS, THE NOTED COLORED
DRIVER OF WHITE HOUSE, WEEDS.
Drove Garfield on His Fats Ride to
the Depot-A Man Who Resem
bied George Washington
Very Closely.
and Isabella E.

George Albert Hawkins and Isabella E.
H Williams, as the names were given
in the marriage license, We're married at
the parsonage Of the Peoples church.
Washington. d. -, by Rev. Mr.. John H.
Daley, its pastor. Hawkins is the old
White House coachman. now al employe
in the pension office. and Miss Williams
resigned Il ~clerkship in the Treasury de
partment II marry MIN. In procuring the
marriage license Hawkins stated that ne
Is .. years oil! and his bride Is ~.
Albert hawkins looked ike George Wash
inEton in bronze during the quarter of 4
century that he served as White House
coachnan, but ~latterly he has been wear
ing u snowy whit. beard. which makes
him, with his whitening hair, look older
than he probably Is.
Just how Old he is is difficult TO tell. for
he was born in slavery in Missouri near
the plantation of Mr.. Dent. whose daughter
Julia became the wife of General Grant.
in the vicinity of St Louis, over sixty
years ago. and has no authentic record
of the year.
When he sat on the box of the presi-
dents carriage he was 4 line figure. He
was as tail and straight and as strong
looking as General Washington. and the
resemblance in his face and head to Cen
eral Washington was very striking. The
and it was through the old acquaintance
that he became attached to General Grant,
50 that the latter, when he became presi-
dent, put him at the head OF the White
House stables.
As the presidents head coachman, he
not only drove the official carriage, but
had general charge of all the presidents
horses and equipaGes.
1t seemed like removing 4 landmark
almost when President Cleveland deter
mined that he could no longer keep Albert
Hawkins as head coachman. because of his
advancing years. Il was in the second.
and not in the first, Cleveland admins
tration that this occurred. and it was
through President Cleveland's thoughtful
ness that Hawkins was provided with d
transfer 10 a messengers place first in the
government printing office and afterward
in the pension office. where he is now at
work.
During the time that Hawkins was the
White House coachman he was most con-
s%picuous on inauguration days. when he
held the reins over four horses, to the adj
miration OF many of the spectators along
the route of the inaugural procession. eN-
cept on one occasion. and that was the
day President Garfield was shot by Guiteau.
Hawkin is very fond of telling how he
drove the presidents carriage. with Gar
field and Blaine in il, down Pennsylvania
avenue that beautiful morning to the Penn
sylvania railroad station, and how PreSi-
dent Garfield. when he got out to go into
the station. shook hands with him. babe
him good-by. and told him to take care
of himself. and, then, how he heard the
shots as he turned to go away. and saw
Blaine come rushing OUT. and heard him
say: The president is shot
Then Hawkins raced with time to the
White House up the We'll filled Pennsyl-
vania avenue. and says he made the trip
of a dozen blocks in less than two minute
TO carry the news and bring aid. The Car
fields. like the Grants. have always re-
membered Albert Hawkins. and have sent
him wedding presents now. Hawkins has
several educated children by a former
wife.