The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-10-19
" N. n. HAWKINS is
ElGHIY-FOUR YRS old
PIONEER RESIDENT CAME TO
AMERICA FROM IRELAND IN
1s5O--AN OLD SETTLER.
Not Foot of Railroad in the State
When lie Joined Masonic
Lodge In the Year 1860.

William Needham Hawkins, one of
WatertoWn's best known pioneer citl-
zens, celebrated the eighty7fourth an
niversary of his birth last Saturday,
greeting many of his friends and old
associates at the home of his son and
daughter-in-laW, Mr.. and Mrs. George
J. Hawkins, 307 West Milwaukee
street. The guests included several of
the older members of the Masonic Or
der, of which Mr. Hawkins has been a
member since 1862. Friends called
to greet the pioneer both afternoon
and evening and wish him the return
of many more anniversaries. In the af-
ternoon and evening, the callers were
Mr.. Marshall Woodland and Mr.. S. M.
Eaton. 1t is an interesting fact to say
that the combined ages of the three
round out the figure of 252 years. In
the evening, Senator William F. Voss
and Hugo G.. jacob were two more OF
the Brother Masons who called and
paid their respects to the worthy citi-
zen. as well as several friends and
neighbors outside of the lodge. Mr..
Hawkins was presented with a beau
tiful bouquet of chrysanthemums as a
slight token of the esteem in which he
is held
The life of Mr. Hawkins is an in
teresting one and as pure as 1t is in
teresting. He came to this country i'll
the year 1850, when 10 years of age
coming from the city of Dublin, Ire
land. He remained in New York until
October, 1852, then coming to the mid
die west and locating at Kenosha. He
removed to Watertown in 1856 and has
resided here continuously with the ex-
ception of twelve years which were
spent at Fond du Lac. Upon return
ing from Fond du Lac, Mr.. Hawkins
engaged in the confectionery and ice
cream business in which he gained an
euYiable reputation. He remained in
that business until 1902, when he re-
tired.
Mr. Hawkins relates the interesting
experience of taking passage from
Liverpool to New York, which requir-
I'd over three months time. Leaving
Liverpool on May 18th, 1850, he did not
reach New York until August of the
same year This was after being
shipwrecked off the coast of New
Foundland, near ST. John. He also re-
lates that it took six weeks to get from
the scene of the shipwreck to New
York
During his residence at Kenosha Mr.
Hawkins was member Of the pioneer
member of the pioneer fire department
in Watertown in the days of the old
hand engines.
Mr. Hawkins has seen Wisconsin
grow from a wilderness to the rich
agricultural section it is to-day. AT
the time he came to the Badger state
there was not foot of railroad with
in the borders of the now great com
monwealth He was obliged to make
the trip from Chicago to Kenosha by
boat, In those early days, farmers
were to be seen driving OK teams with
loads of wheat being hauled to Milwau-
kee Kenosha, Racine and other lake
towns, distances of 100 miles and over
George and Alice Hawkins, brother
and sister. came to this country in 1856
the samer year the elder brother
came to Watertown from Kenosha
Both are living in Clyman street. The
sister in February next will reach the
age of sc years, while the brother Geo
is seventy-two years Of age. The
dear old mother, Mrs Mary Bryan
Hawkins was laid at rest in Oakhill
cemetery. The father passed away
in Ireland in 1856. The subject OF
this sketch was married in 1863 to Miss
Jane E. Smyth of this city. Two sons
are living, Charles E. of Acron, Ohio
and George j. of this city.