The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-08-04
Active in Politics.


of Pennsylvania.
Active in Politics.
After moving to Washington county he
took an active part in the Republican
politics of Washington county and was
one of its most ardent workers after the
Of the Republican committee in 1875, and
on q number of occasions since. In the
fall Of rs he was elected treasurer of the
county by a large majority
that he began his career with the Tenth
Pennsylvania regiment OF the national
guard with which he has been Identified
tver since and which Is recognized as one
Of the best state organizations in the
country. Company II, the local com
pany Of the Tenth, was in 1872 In a some
was danger of it's being disorganized. BY
the advice of S. l.. Wilson, the first cap
tain of the company, but at this time
senior major of the regiment, A. l.. Haw-
kins was chosen commander of the com
pany. He received his commission Janu-
airy /, 1877. He saved the disbandment of
the company and proved the right man
for the place and built up a strong organ
Shortly after this the company was
called out to quell the Pittsburgh riot.
burg and at this time Hawkins showed
himself a skillful and efficient officer and
a valuable acquisition to the Pennsylva-
mia guard.
Ihc
On February q, 1S79 he was elected
colonel of the regiment to succeed Col.
Black of Greensburg. He was reelected
in 1884. 1889 and 1894. His fourth term ex-
pired when he was in the volunteer serv-
Ice in the Philippines He has for long
time been the senior colonel in the Penn
sylvania guard and he was instrumental
in its reorganization.
With the reorganization of the regiment
and Col Hawkins at the head it became a
afr mia nffiRinnt mil a rN
service. The companies were all from
country towns, and as many of its mem.
bers were fresh from the farm, 1t became
known as Hawkins hayseed regiment.
1t, however, always stood close to the
leaders in the annual state inspections
During his twenty years service as
commander Of the regiment Col Haw-
kins has never missed an encampment or
been absent at any occasion where his
regiment was represented. He was in
command at the Inauguration Of Presi-
dents Garfield Cleveland, Harrison and
Cleveland, also under the call OF the gov
ernor of Pennsylvania for three weeks in
April, 81, during the labor strike in the
coke region of Western Pennsylvania He
was again with his regiment in the sum
mer of '92 during the strike of the steel
workers at Homestead.
In the Spanish War.
When President Mckinley issued his
call for volunteers for the Spanish war
Hawkins, as colonel of the Tenth, was
anxious TO go TO lne front WIN MS reSl-
ment. His command was selected as the
only one from the keystone state to be
taken to the Philippines, and this was
considered a mark of honor to the gal
liant colonel and his efficient regiment.
Col. Hawkins has had a political record
of some interest, as well as a military
one, being now the representative from
the Washington and Beaver district In
the state senate. He was elected to this
office while on his way to the Philip
pines, and had no opposition, receiving a
phenomenal vote in the district.
He preferred to remain in the distant
land of the Philippines to fight for AMI
serve his country, to look after the boys
of his command who had been intrusted
to his care, than to come home merely to
gain political honor.
He had been a candidate for the senate
eight years before, but the presence of
another Republican in the field at the gen.
.eral election resulted at that time in the
election of the Democrat.
Col. Hawkins was married In 1869 to
Miss Cynthia Greenfield, to whom were
born three children, Clyde E., graduate
OF West Point and now a member of the
Third United States cavalry as second
lieutenant and on his way to the Philip
pines; Frank, a graduate of Washington
and jefferson college and who was cap
tain OF Company c, but now a second
lieutenant in the regular army and still
in the Philippines, and a daughter, Jessie,
who is at home with her mother. He has
a beautiful home in East Washington
borough and was the chief burgess of the
town when he left for the seat of war.