Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 63

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1540

USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families > Part 63

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in the old homestead, and are workers in the U. P. Sabbath-school and congregation of Pigeon Creek. The bodies of those that have bowed to the sum- mons of the Pale Messenger sleep in the beautiful cemetery attached to this church.

[From the pen of Hon. John C. Messenger.

ARSON M. BERRY represents a prominent family of South Strabane township. His grandfather, William Gilmore Berry, was born December 2, 1781, in Lancaster county, Penn., which locality has been the home of the family for many years.

The parents of William Gilmore Berry came to Washington county when he was a small boy, and he there grew to manhood, receiving a good educa- tion. In 1804 he was married to Jane McConnell, who bore him children as follows: John (deceased), William, Matthew, James, Mary (who died during the winter of 1892-93), Elizabeth, Jane and Pru- dence (both deceased). Mr. Berry was among the first to engage in raising fine-bred sheep, espe- cially the breed known as Black-Top. He first en-

tered that business in 1821, and was afterward recognized as a leading authority in that branch of stock raising. In politics he was a Whig, and was one of the most pronounced Abolitionists, taking a prominent part in all political questions; he served several years as a justice of the peace. For many years he was a member of and ruling elder in the Associate Reformed Church at Robinson's Run, to which he gave l'beral support. In addition to general farming, Mr. Berry was interested in a flouring mill. About the year 1850 he retired from active work, and took up his residence in Canonsburg, where he died October 26, 1866; his wife passed away February 25, 1848, and they are both buried in Canonsburg U. P. Church ceme- tery, they having been members of that Church.

John Berry, son of William G. and Jane (Mc- Connell) Berry, was born in 1805 in Cecil town- ship, Washington Co., Penn., and received a com- mon-school education, to which he afterward added a valuable store of general knowledge. He was married in 1829 to Jane Eagleton, and the following children were born to their union: Jane, Rachel, William, John M., David W. and Carson M. Of these, John M. and David W. were mem- bers of Company G, One Hundred and Fortieth P. V. I .; David W. was mortally wounded at the battle of Cold Harbor; John M. (still living) was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness. After his marriage Mr. Berry remained fourteen years in Cecil township, and then removed to North Stra- bane township, where he engaged in farming and stock raising, also managing a gristmill. His first wife died in 1844, and, for his second, he in 1851 married Mary Barr, who bore him one son, Joseph

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(now deceased). In politics John Berry was a Whig and Abolitionist always active in the inter- ests of his party. In religious connection he was a member of the United Presbyterian Church at Pigeon Creek.

Carson M. Berry was born December 22, 1843, in Cecil township, Washington Co., Penn., and passed his youth at home and in Canonsburg, re- ceiving his education in the common schools. On November 22, 1871, he was united in marriage with Abigail Thome, daughter of Rev. Bankhead and Margaret (Thome) Boyd. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Berry settled on the farm in South Stra- bane township where they now reside, and three children have been born to them: Albert, Bank- head and Lizzie. Mr. Berry is a prominent Re- publican, and in religious connection he and his family are active members of the U. P. Church.

R OBERT HAWKINS, born in Lancashire County, England, in 1695, came to America in 1715, and in 1716 bought a tract of land of 100 acres of John Miles, of Baltimore county, Md., called "Margarets Mount," situated about eight miles from Havre de Grace, Md., and near the waters of Deer creek, in what was then Baltimore (now Harford) county, Md. In 1730 he bought another body of about 400 acres adjoining the first, of a man named Wells. He was married to Lydia Cruchet, of Anne Arundel county, Md., in 1739, and continued to live on his estate to the extreme age of nearly one hundred and six years, his death occurring November 5, 1801; his will being made April 1, 1796, and approved November 11, 1801. His wife Lydia died about 1805, aged eighty-five years. Robert Hawkins was strongly opposed to England's unjust and arbitrary control of the American Colonies, and prior to the Revolution ardently advocated a separation from the Mother Country. The writer has authen- tic information that during the war he gave over £2,000 sterling to the support of the Amer- ican armies, and sent his three sons into the service to battle for the cause of freedom, his second son, Robert, Jr., dying in Washington's memorable camp at Valley Forge; the other sons, Thomas and Richard, remained in service until the close of the war. Robert and Lydia Hawkins had three sons (but no daughters), viz .: Thomas, born in 1741; Robert, born in 1745, and Richard, born in 1748.

Robert, the second son, died while in the Amer- ican army, as above referred to; was a sergeant in the Maryland line; and left a widow, Elizabeth (maiden surname unknown to writer), and one son, also named Robert, who was born December 14, 1773. He inherited from his grandfather, Robert, the remainder of the latter's landed estate by will approved November 11, 1801, which was in part

as follows, to-wit: "I will and bequeath to my wife Lydia all my remaining landed estate during her natural life, and then to go to my Grandson Robert, son of Robert, Jr., deceased, and to his heirs and assigns forever; my sons, Thomas and Richard being provided for, etc." The third Rob- ert Hawkins' wife was named Ann (maiden sur- name unknown to writer), who was born in 1777, and died November 28, 1862. Robert lived on his farm in Harford county, Md., until his death March 7, 1847, leaving his estate by will to his children. The children of Robert and Ann Hawkins were Elizabeth, Mary, John, William, and George. Of these, Elizabeth married David Silvers; she died November 13, 1853. Their home was in Harford county, Md. Mary married John W. Hawkins, a second cousin, of Columbiana county, Ohio; both are still living. John lived on part of the original tract in Harford county, Md., and died about 1880. William, born September 11, 1799, lived on a farm near the old home (his wife's name un- known to writer); he died September 25, 1889. His children were three sons: John S., born De- cember 22, 1841; William A., born March 5, 1843, and Albert T., born March 24, 1847, all now living near Churchville, Harford Co., Md. John S. and William A. served in the Federal army during the late Rebellion, as members of the Sixth Maryland Infantry. George, born March 11, 1809, died in South America (date unknown to writer).

Richard, the third son of Robert and Lydia Hawkins, was born in Harford county, Md., in 1748, and lived on part of the original farm deeded to him by his father June 10, 1777. He served in the American army from 1778 until the close of the war with England. The date of his death is unknown to writer. He was married twice; his first wife was Elizabeth Cox, who died a few years after her marriage. By this marriage he had one child, a daughter named Elizabeth, who married Gregory Barnes, of Harford county, Md., where they resided.

Elizabeth Barnes died in 1859. They had twelve children, of whom only four survive, viz. :- Mary, Hosea, James, and Robert A. Mary mar- ried a Mr. Bailey; she is now a widow living with her family near the old Hawkins homestead in Maryland, Hosea also living near; James lives in Mahoning county, Ohio, and Robert A, is a resi- dent of Columbiana county, Ohio. Richard Hawkins' second wife was Avarilla Durbin (the date of her birth and death is unknown to writer). Their children were: Robert, Thomas, Casandra, Lydia, Hosea, Richard, John, Nancy and William. Robert moved to Beallsville, Washington Co., Penn., and married Ruth, a daughter of his uncle Thomas Hawkins; he lived on a farm and preached for a congregation of the Christian Church, of which he was a member; he died May 26, 1851,

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much lamented by the community. His wife Ruth died April 15, 1843. Thomas settled near New Lisbon, Columbiana Co., Ohio; married - Mo- sier, was a wealthy landowner, and lived to an advanced age; he has many descendants living in Columbiana, Stark and Trumbull counties, Ohio. Casandra married Edward Courtney; both are now dead; they lived in Stark county, Ohio. Lydia was married to three husbands-Vandegrift, Gal- lion and Barbour-and survived them all; they lived in Columbiana county, Ohio; she is now dead, but left descendants who live in different parts of the West. Hosea moved to Ohio, mar- ried, and his children and grandchildren still live in Stark and neighboring counties of Ohio. Rich- ard also moved to Ohio; married Ann Touchstone; is now dead; a large number of his descendants still live in Ohio and other Western States. John and Nancy remained in Maryland; John married Mary Vandegrift, but the writer has no further knowledge of his family. Nancy married George Smith, of Harford Co., Md., and lived near Church- ville; both are now dead, she being ninety-eight years old at decease; three of her children, viz .: Samuel, George and Cassie M., still reside near the old homestead; another son, Robert, lives in Vir- ginia, and William, a minister, is in Tuscarawas county, Ohio; other of her children left descend- ants. William died when a boy.

Thomas Hawkins the eldest son of Robert and Lydia Hawkins, was born in 1741 in Harford county, Md., was married in 1763 to Sarah Har- grove, of Kent county, Md .; she was born in 1747. Thomas lived on part of his father's farm. In 1777 he joined the American army as a "sergeant of the Maryland line," and remained in the army until autumn of 1781, attaining the rank of lieu- tenant. During the winter of 1781 he bought of William Wilson, of Harford county, Md., a toma- hawk right to a tract of land of 220 acres on the west side of the Monongahela river, now in the borough of Beallsville, Washington county, Penn. In the spring of 1782 he removed with his family to this western Pennsylvania wilderness, to found for himself and children a new home; and here surrounded by the original forest, and amid the vicissitudes and climatic changes of a newly set- tled country; contending for supremacy with the wild beasts, and subject to incursions from ma- rauding bands of Indians, he built his cabin; and in the future saw his sons and daughters enjoy the comforts he was so anxious to secure. The State of Pennsylvania granted Letters Patent to Thomas Hawkins for this tract of land called "Smithfield," and of the original tract the ownership to 182 acres has never changed in name, being still owned by A. L. Hawkins, a great-grandson. Thomas Hawkins died May 15, 1826; his wife Sarah died April 15, 1827, and the remains of both lie in the

family graveyard on the farm. The children of Thomas and Sarah Hawkins were: Absalom, Rich- ard, Lydia, Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah, William, Thomas, Ruth and Ann.

Absalom Hawkins was born July 21, 1765; mar- ried Elizabeth Crawford, daughter of James Craw- ford, of Fayette county, Penn. ; Elizabeth was born in 1779; he lived on the National pike, near Hills- boro in Washington county, Penn., owned a large body of valuable land, kept an old-time tavern, and owned a number of slaves. His children were John, Cynthia and Matilda. John and Cynthia both died unmarried; Matilda married John Cooper and a daughter was born to them, named Sarah J. The husband John Cooper having died, Matilda married Thomas Howden, and both are now dead. Sarah J. Cooper married a Mr. Bentley who is now dead; she is still living near Monongahela, Wash- ington Co., Penn. Absalom Hawkins died July 6, 1839. Elizabeth, his wife, died March 19, 1824. Lydia, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Hawkins, born March 2, 1773, married Joseph Fowler, of Washington county, Penn. ; her children were Will- iam and Thomas H. The writer has no knowl- edge of William. Thomas H. was a physician, and practiced for many years at Beallsville, Penn .; was prominent in his profession; removed to Illi- nois in advanced years, and died there. Lydia Hawkins Fowler died at Cadiz, Ohio (date un- known to writer). Elizabeth, daughter of Thom- as and Sarah Hawkins, born February 23, 1775, married Alexander McCoy, and moved to a farm near New Lisbon, Ohio. Both are now dead. (No dates). Their children were: Thomas, Absalom, Ruth, Sarah, Matilda, Eliza, Mary, and a daughter whose name is unknown to the writer.

Mary, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Haw- kins, born November 25, 1776, died April 28, 1791. Sarah, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Hawkins, born February 26, 1779, died March 9, 1779. William, son of Thomas and Sarah Haw- kins, born November 23, 1780, was married to Ann Mosier, who was born in 1784. He lived on a farm adjoining the old homestead now in the borough of Beallsville, Penn. ; was very successful in breeding fine sheep, and was a highly respected citizen; owned a large body of fine land; some years after the death of his father owning the old homestead. His children were: John, Susan, Sarah, Mary, Catharine, Rebecca J. and Eliza. William Hawkins died February 8, 1853; his wife, Ann, died December 31, 1876.

Thomas, son of Thomas and Sarah Hawkins, born October 14, 1784, was mar- ried to Mary Mosier, who was born in 1794. He owned 100 acres of the old homestead bequeathed to him by his father. In 1833 he sold this land to his brother William, and moved to Columbiana county, Ohio, where he resided until his death, February 5, 1868; his wife, Mary, died September

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26, 1885. His children were: William, Noah, John, Richard, Jonathan, Thomas, Samuel, James, Mary Ann and George.

Ruth, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Hawkins, born July 6, 1789, married Rev. Robert Hawkins; they lived in Beallsville, Penn. ; he was a minister of the Christian denomination, was highly re- spected, and did much good in the community. He died May 26, 1851; his wife Ruth died April 15, 1843. Their children were: Thomas, William, Elijah, Gideon, Louisa, Mary, Richard, Avarilla, Elizabeth and Robert. Ann, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Hawkins, died when a child, caused by a fall from a swing (date of birth and death un- known). Richard, the second son of Thomas and and Sarah Hawkins, was born August 25, 1770, and died February 6, 1856; he married on May 12, 1803, Cynthia, a daughter of James and Sarah Crawford, of Jefferson county, Ohio; his wife, Cynthia, was born February 8, 1786, and died July 16, 1845. Born in Harford county, Md., he at the age of twelve years accompanied his father and family to the new home at Beallsville, Penn., and worked on the farm until his marriage, when he bought of his father 100 acres of his farm, and remained there until the spring of 1814, when, selling his land to his brother William, he bought a farm of 415 acres on the North fork of Ten-Mile creek in Greene county, Penn., about two miles from its junction with the South fork at Clarks- ville, Penn. He lived a peaceful yet active life until old age grew on, when he relinquished the cares of his farm to his sons, and spent the last years of his life in quiet enjoyment. The children of Richard and Cynthia Hawkins were: Absalom, Elizabeth, James C., Matilda, Sarah, Richard C., Mary A., Casandra, Thomas H., William H., John C. and an unnamed infant daughter.

Absalom, son of Richard and Cynthia Hawkins, was born March 4, 1805, and died July 1, 1871; married Lydia Nyswaner September 22, 1826, who died in 1827, leaving an infant daughter named Lydia A., who was born June 16, 1827. She mar- ried Rev. A. H. Deaves, and died June 16, 1850, without children. Absalom Hawkins married Sarah Hawkins (second wife) July 11, 1833; she was born July 26, 1806, and died December 29, 1892, without children. After his second marriage he bought, of William Hawkins, the Hawkins homestead, at Beallsville, Penn., and lived on it until his death. He erected the commodious build- ings now on the farm, which were occupied by his widow until her death. Elizabeth, daughter of Richard and Cynthia Hawkins, born April 8, 1807, died January 27, 1859; married to Nelson Green- field, who was born February 15, 1832, and died August 4, 1865. Three children were born of this marriage, viz .: Crawford, Sarah A. and Cyn- thia H. Crawford, born February 24, 1833, died

July 15, 1834; Sarah A., born April 29. 1834, died September 4, 1891 (she married Valentine Crumrine, and left a family of four children); Cyn- thia H., born March 17, 1845, was married to A. L. Hawkins, February 4, 1869.

Matilda, daughter of Richard and Cynthia Haw- ins, born May 5, 1810, died, April 15, 1886; mar- ried to Isaac Stull, a farmer of East Bethlehem township, Washington Co., Penn., who died De- cember 26, 1889. Eight children of this family are living. Sarah, daughter of Richard and Cyn- thia Hawkins, born November 1, 1811, died Sep- tember 1, 1883; married James S. Crawford, a farmer near Beallsville, Penn., who died April 3, 1869. Three children of this family are living: One son, Edwin E., died at Nashville, Tenn., Feb- ruary 12, 1863, a member of Company K, Fif- teenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Richard C., a son of Richard and Cynthia Hawkins, born November '11, 1814, married Emeline, daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth Wise, November 25, 1841; his wife was born November 28, 1820; he is a farmer, living near Jefferson, Greene county, Penn. ; both are still living; they have a family of seven living children, all married. Mary A., daughter of Richard and Cynthia Hawkins, born March 17, 1817, died August 9, 1884, unmarried. Casandra, daughter of Richard and Cynthia Hawkins, born January 17, 1819, died May 17, 1841; married to Stephen Ulery. One son, Henry H., was born May 1, 1841; he was drowned August 21, 1850. Thomas H., son of Richard and Cynthia Haw- kins, born January 11, 1821, died January 25, 1892. married Emily Parshall; he lived on a farm near Fredericktown, Penn. From this marriage nine children were born, all living. William H., son of Richard and Cynthia Hawkins, born August 10, 1823, died October 27, 1885, unmarried. John C., son of Richard and Cynthia Hawkins, born De- cember 15, 1825, married Lizzie McMurray, June 8, 1882; no children; both still living, he owning his father's farm in Morgan township, Greene Co., Penn.

James C., a son of Richard and Cynthia Haw- kins, born October 8, 1808, died January 15, 1891; married to Margaret, daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth Wise, March 24, 1836. Margaret (Wise) Hawkins was born October 2, 1818, and died January 15, 1892. James C. was born on the old Hawkins' homestead, near Beallsville, Penn., remained there with his parents until 1814, and with them moved to the new home on Ten- Mile creek. He received a good common-school education, and some additional training in a select school at Beallsville, Penn. Until 1835 he fol- lowed teaching and farm work, and then purchased a farm in East Bethlehem township, Washington Co., Penn., known as the "Montgomery Patent," lying on the waters of North Ten-Mile creek, im-

alex. L Hawkers, 1

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mediately adjoining the farm of his father. Soon after his marriage, in 1836, he moved on this farm, and carried on farming, sheep breeding, and the carding of wool and fulling of cloth. For several years he owned a general store in Clarksville, Penn., and bought wool for the general market for a number of years. He was successful in busi- ness, and retired in 1881 from active life (his sons assuming his business cares), and moved to a home opposite Clarksville, Penn., spending his declining years in quiet comfort. He and his wife were for many years members of the Baptist Church; in 1849 he built a church on his farm, and gave it a willing support, leaving by his will a generous annuity to its pastor. He was benevo- lent, a promoter of public enterprise, and many will remember his acts of charity. The children of James C. and Margaret Hawkins were as fol- lows: Emeline W., Absalom W. H., Cynthia A., Alex. L., Elizabeth W., James R. and William N.

Emeline W., daughter of James C. and Margaret Hawkins, was born May 3, 1837, died August 24, 1864; was married to Jackson L. Thompson June 26, 1862, and two daughters were born to them, named Eldora and Ida, both of whom died in in- fancy. Absalom W. H., son of James C. and Margaret Hawkins, born January 22, 1839, died November 10, 1876, unmarried; he was graduated from Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Penn., in the class of 1858, read medicine, graduating at the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia in the spring of 1861; was appointed by President Lin- coln an assistant surgeon of the U. S. navy in May of 1861; in 1863 he was promoted past assistant, and in 1864 full surgeon; he was a ripe scholar, speaking and writing fluently, in addition to the English, the French, German and Spanish lan- guages. On account of failing health he resigned from the navy in 1866, and was killed by the cars at Mansfield, Ohio. Cynthia A., daughter of James C. and Margaret Hawkins, born October 7, 1841; unmarried, and since the death of her parents has been living with her brother, A. L. Hawkins. [A sketch of Alexander L. Hawkins (the next in order of birth), son of James C. and Margaret Haw- kins, appears further on. ] Elizabeth W., daugh- ter of James C. and Margaret Hawkins, born Octo- ber 10, 1847, was married to John C. Sargent October 7, 1875, and died July 26, 1877, leaving a son, Harry H., now in his sixteenth year. James R., son of James C. and Margaret Hawkins, born October 3, 1852; was married to Decema Addle- man, February 28, 1878, and has four children; he lives on a farm in West Bethlehem township, Washington Co., Penn., and is engaged in breed- ing horses.

William N., son of James C. and Margaret Haw- kins, born July 14, 1855, was married to Mary Ada Farquhar February 16, 1881, who died February

26, 1893, leaving five children. William N. owns and lives on the old farm of his father, on Ten- Mile creek, Washington Co., Penn .; he is exten- sively engaged in breeding fine draft horses.

ALEXANDER L. HAWKINS, the subject proper of this memoir, was born September 6, 1843. He was educated at George's Creek Academy and Waynesburg College, after which he taught school two terms. On August 7, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, fill- ing the various grades of non-commissioned officer until the spring of 1864, when he was promoted to first lieutenant; in the spring of 1865 he was commissioned captain, and he was mustered out of service January 21, 1866.

He participated in the battle of Antietam, Md., and his regiment then being transferred to the "Army of the Cumberland," he was with that or- ganization in its various engagements from "Stone River." until the close of the war. After hostili- ties ceased, he served on the staff of Maj. - Gen. Clinton B. Fisk until mustered out. In the fall of 1866 he went into the drug business in Pitts- burgh, Penn., continuing for two years, when he sold his store, was married and moved on a farm in East Bethlehem township, Washington Co., Penn. He was elected treasurer of his county in 1875, served as such during 1876, 1877 and 1878, and then returned to the farm, where he still resides. On January 1, 1877, Capt. Hawkins entered the National Guard of Pennsylvania as captain of Company H, Tenth Regiment; was with his com- pany during the riots at Pittsburgh, Penn., in 1877; on February 27, 1879, he was elected colonel of the regiment; re-elected February 27, 1884, and re-elected February 27, 1889, and is still in com- mand, being now the senior colonel in the State. He was with his regiment under the call of the governor of Pennsylvania for three weeks in April of 1891, during the labor strike in the coke regions of western Pennsylvania; was in command of a Provisional Brigade for a month during the strike of steel workers at Homestead, Penn., in July and August of 1892.

The children of A. L. and Cynthia H. Hawkins are: Clyde E., Jessie B. and Frank B. Of these, Clyde E., born November 16, 1869, entered Wash- ington and Jefferson College, leaving at close of sophomore year in spring of 1891; was admitted as a cadet to the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, N. Y., June 1, 1891, by appointment of the Secretary of War, on recommendation of Hon. J. W. Ray, member of Congress from the Twenty- fourth District of Pennsylvania, and he is still there. Jessie B., born June 29, 1871, attended Beaver College, at Beaver, Penn., for one year; entered the sophomore class of the Western Female Seminary, Oxford, Ohio, in September, 1890, and is now in the class to graduate June 8, 1893.

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Frank B., born July 14, 1874, is now in the fresh- man class of Washington and Jefferson College.

While none of the Hawkins family have attained distinction, it is a matter of pride that from Robert, the founder of the family in America, through the generations to the present, they have been quiet, law-abiding patriotic citizens, and all loyal to their Country.

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Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 63

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1540

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1540