Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1917-07-05
ALMA BUSINESS MAN
PASSED AWAY SUDDENLY
G. 4. Sawkins. President Saw
kins Piano Company. Died
at Home Sunday Night.

Charles A Sawkins, president OF
the c. A. Sawkins Piano company
Of this city, died suddenly at about
II o'clock Sunday iaght, al his home
on Center street, of'heart failure He
had been in i'll health for several
years past, but up until the last two
months was around on the streets
and attending to business. He was
fifty years Of age.
A few Of his friends visited him
in the evening until late. He retired
about eleven O'Clock and at eleven
forty he was distressed fcr want of
breath. His wife, who had been with
his constantly and was a faithful
watcher, heard his heavy breathing
and called 10 him, but received no an
swer. From that time on until he
passed away he was speechless. Rev.
j. A. Mulvey was summoned and ad-
ministered the last rites of the church
before he died.
The deceased leaves wife and
seven children-one son and six
daughters-besides three brothers,
George w. Of Toledo, Ohio; j.. Oscar
of Long Beach, California;; and Ed
ward A. of Detroit, TO mourn their
death
The services were. held in St.
Mary's Catholic church on Wedncs-
day morning. at nine o'clock, and in
terment was made in the Catholic
cemetery in this city.
A nephew of the deceased, the Rev.
A. j. Sawkins, of Toledo, Ohio, con
ducted the services which was a
Solemn Requiem High Mass, the
deacon and sub-deacon assisting.
! The Mt. Pleasant council of the
Knights of Columbus of which he was
"a member, was in attendance in a
body The following gentlemen act
ed as poll-bearers: John Burns, Louis
j. Hofistetter and Felix O'Melia Of
st. Louis; V. p Cash, Daniel Gaggin
and Neil Mcnamara of Alma.
Charles A. Sawkins was born in
Tiffin, Ohio, August 25, 1865. When
a child he removed to Toledo with his
parents, where he lived IA number of
years. When very young man he
was connected with the New York
Freeman's Journal and Catholic Reg
lister. He was employed in the cap
acity of a reporter and travelling rep
resentative and covered nearly the en-
tire United States in this work.
He was for number of years sec
retary and treasurer of the North
Baltimore and Ohio Furniture COM
pany, which company he organized.
Later he was engaged in selling pia-
nos. For some time he was man
ager of the German Piano company
of Saginaw, Michigan. From there
he went with the Grinnell Brothers of
Detroit, and opened the territory in
this part of Michigan for them. lie
spent one summer in Alabama as
travelling auditor for the +. +. Forbes
Piano company of Birmingham, aft
erwards returning to his home in st.
Louis, where he lived for a number
Of years.
About two years ago recognizing
the growing activity and the prosper
Gus future of Alma, he purchased the
victrola business of 5. l.. Bennett. and
recently Incorporated the G. A. Saw
kins Piano company, of which he was
president
Mr. Sawkins was an exemplary ia
thcr, being ever watchful in the at
tending of bringing up his family, to
whom he was very much devoted.
He and his family were thoroughly
Christian and being pronounced
Catholic in faith he imbued his fam
lily with the Christian spirit which
betokens good moral and honest con
duet. c.