In a message dated 5/30/99 11:29:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
jsend(a)hpcisp.com writes:
I am interested in any other information on the following:
HAWKINS, Harriett p.801
HAWKINS, Rebecca p.843
Thank You
Janet
Harriet Hawkins is listed in a biography of Squire Merrill which I have
transcribed below:
SQUIRE W. MERRILL is a railroad man of many years' experience. He
~ as born in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw county, Mich., June 3, 1841. His
father Squire C. Merrill, a native of Pittsfield, Mass., was born in the year
1800, and died at Wayne, Mich., in 1884. He was a son of Gad Merrill, also,
a native of Pittsfield, Mass., and a descendant of an early English emigrant
to the Bay state. In the state of New York, the subject's father married
Mary Ann Wheeler, who bore him four children. For a second wife he married
Harriet Hawkins, the subject of this mention being the only child by this
wife, who died when her son was quite young. The father married for the
third wife Cynthia Lynds, who bore one child. In 1825, Squire Merrill, Sr.,
with his first wife, set out by wagon for the west. They settled in
Washtenaw county, Mich., where they lived the remainder of their lives.
Farming was the occupation of Mr. Merrill. When he came to Michigan that
state was a territory and its governor was Gen. Lewis Cass, under whom he
served as United States marshal. He and Gen. Cass were intimate friends.
His father and mother left Massachusetts in their latter days and joined him
in Michigan, and made their home with him till death called them away.
The subject of this mention was born and reared upon a farm, and attended a
few short winter terms of school in the old log-house in his neighborhood.
At the age of fourteen years he became self-supporting, and for three years
thereafter accepted whatsoever work he could get to do. In November, 1859,
Mr. Merrill began his railroad career. At that date, he began breaking on
the Dayton & Michigan R. R., with which company he remained till 1862, when
he received a severe injury in the hip, for which, after considerable
litigation, he obtained damages, the effect of which was a change of
employers. He next entered the employ of the Detroit & Milwaukee R. R , in
the latter part of 1862, with headquarters at Detroit. With this road Mr.
Merrill remained for ten years, save one year in the meantime, when he was in
the employ of the United States government. During that year, 1864-5, he was
yard-master at Nashville, Tenn. In 1872, Mr. Merrill engaged with the Canada
Southern railroad and helped construct that line, and later he became a
conductor on the Chicago & West Michigan R. R. Afterward he held a similar
position on the Flint & Pere Marquette R. R., then was in the same capacity
on the Louisville, Paducuh & Southern, and subsequently ran on every branch
of the Louisville & Nashville R. R. When S. R. Calloway, a personal friend
of his, became receiver of the Detroit & Bay City R. R., Mr. Merrill became a
conductor on that line, and he continued with Mr. Calloway during his
superintendency. When Mr. Calloway received the management of the Toledo, St.
Louis & Kansas City R. R., Mr. Merrill still remained with him, and since
that date has either been train-master or conductor on this road, holding the
latter position at the present time. While train-master he was stationed at
Charleston Ill.; in August, 1892, he moved to Frankfort where he has since
resided.
Mr. Merrill was married August 18, 1868 to Miss Emily M. Evans, daughter of
John and Katherine (Myers) Evans, who was born at McKeesport, Allegheny
county, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Merrill have two children, namely Cad E., who is
chief clerk for the St. Louis division of the "Clover Leaf" R. R., and Madge
Emily. Mr. Merrill is a thirty-second degree Mason, belongs to the mystic
shrine and commandery. He is an experienced railroad man, and during the
long term of years spent in that capacity has had the unbounded confidence of
the large corporations by which he has been employed. Gentlemanly and
obliging in his intercourse with all, he has much of the good will of the
traveling public, and it is a compliment justly earned to ascribe to him a
popularity such as few men in his arduous calling ever attain. The domestic
relations of Mr. Merrill have been felicitous in all respects, and he may
well be congratulated on this account, also.
Transcribed by Chris Brown from pages 801-802 of "A Portrait And Biographical
Record of Boone and Clinton Counties, Ind.," published in 1895 by A.W. Bowen
& Co. Chicago.
Rebecca Hawkins is listed in a biography of John Pruitt which I have
transcribed below:
JOHN PRUITT, a prominent farmer and one of the oldest citizens of John-son
township, Clinton county, Ind. was born in Fayette county, Ind., April
29, 1820 and is of good old English stock. His grandfather, also named John,
was a native of South Carolina; William Pruitt, his son, was born in South
Carolina, December 25. 1793. He married Rebecca Hawkins, and they came, in
company with another family, to Indiana in 1817, a one-horse wagon bringing
the effects of both families. Mr. Pruitt located, consecutively, in
Franklin, Fayette, Rush and Bartholomew counties, and while a resident of the
latter was the owner of the first spring-wagon and first set of check lines
ever owned in the county.
John Pruitt attended the pioneer schoolhouse of his early days, in which
school was kept from daylight till dark. He began his business life by
purchasing twenty acres of his present farm in Clinton county, but at one
time owned, before dividing with his children 720 acres. He married Nancy J.
Stewart, who became the mother of nine children, viz: Rebecca E., William 0.,
James W., Dorcas L., Stephen A. (died an infant), Mary A., Caroline M ,
Maggie and Jennie L. To the surviving eight children of this family Mr.
Pruitt has given eighty acres of land each. Mr. Pruitt is a sound democrat,
and has been elected to the office of county commissioner twelve consecutive
years-during which period the county court house was erected. He and wife
are devoted members of the Church of God, and fraternally he is a member of
Herman lodge, No. 184, F & A. M., at Michi-gantown, Mr., Pruitt has been an
industrious, upright and enterprising citizen, and has been rewarded by a
competency and what is in one sense more precious, the esteem and respect of
his fellow-citizens.
Transcribed by Chris Brown from pages 843-844 of "A Portrait And Biographical
Record of Boone and Clinton Counties, Ind.," published in 1895 by A.W. Bowen
& Co. Chicago.