William Franklin Hawkins, 1855-1945

  William Franklin Hawkins was born in Lincoln Township, Appanoose County, Iowa, 19 October 1855, son of David H. Hawkins and Hannah Ankrum Criswell, died at his home in Jerome, Lincoln Township, Appanoose County, Iowa, 24 August 1945, and was buried in the Jerome Cemetery following funeral services at the Jerome Methodist Church conducted by the Rev. James A. Wilson of Mt. Pleasant and former pastor of the Jerome church, assisted by the Rev. M. R. Gonzales, pastor of the Jerome church.

William Franklin Hawkins

  He was married in Kansas City, Jackson County, MO, 11 October 1885, Mary Belle Hagan who was born in Lincoln Township, Appanoose County, Iowa, 17 October 1856, daughter of James Hagan and Elizabeth Burch Chriswell, died in Jerome, Lincoln Township, Appanoose County, Iowa, 19 April 1917, and was buried in the Jerome Cemetery following funeral services at her home conducted by the Rev. Johnson of Des Moines, Iowa.

Mary Belle Hagan Hawkins

  To this union were born seven children:  Cadd Ruth Hawkins, Kathryn Elizabeth Hawkins, John William Hawkins, James Hagan Hawkins, Archibald Franklin Hawkins, William Earl Hawkins, and Edmund David Hawkins.

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The Seymour Herald - 6 September 1945

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  William Franklin Hawkins was born October 19, 1855, in Lincoln township, Appanoose county, near Jerome, Iowa, and passed away at his home in Jerome August 24, 1945, at the age of 89 years, ten months and five days.  
  He was the fourth child of a pioneer family of seven children, being the son of David and Hannah Ankrum Criswell Hawkins, and was the last surviving member of the family.

  At the age of 14, he journeyed with his parents in a covered wagon to Wyandotte county, Kansas, where he lived until 1898, when he returned to Jerome where he spent the remainder of his life.

  Soon after the family arrived in Kansas, the father of the family died as a result of his army life, having served as a Civil war soldier.  William Franklin then became the head of the family, supporting his mother and younger members of the family.

  He was united in marriage on October 11, 1885, to Mary Belle Hagan, establishing their home in Kansas City, Kansas.  His wife was also a member of an Appanoose county pioneer family, but was working as a dressmaker in Kansas City at the time of their marriage.  The entire family of seven children were born there.

  The surviving children are Cadd R., Kathryn E. and Archibald F. of Jerome; William E. of Seymour, Iowa, and James H. of Kalispell, Montana.  John and Edmond E. passed away in childhood.  His wife also preceded him in death on April 19, 1917.  Since then his daughter Kathryn has kept his home for him and been his constant companion in his last illness.

William Franklin Hawkins 
with Five Adult Children

James, Cadd, Archibald, Kathryn, and William

  All the children were with him at the time of his death with the exception of James H. who had spent some time with him during the month of May, but was unable to attend last rites because of transportation facilities.

  Four grandchildren, Phyllis, Betty Jane, Margaret and William R., all children of William E. mourn his passing together with other relatives and a host of friends which he had made during his long life spent in this community.

William Franklin Hawkins

With Grandson William Richard Hawkins

  Funeral services were conducted at the Jerome Methodist church, Sunday, August 26, by Rev. James A. Wilson of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, assisted by the Rev. M. R. Gonzales, who also was soloist, with Mrs. Gonzales accompanying him at the piano, in his rendition of 'I Won't Have to Cross Jordan Alone,' 'Death is Only a Dream,' and 'In the Land Where We Never Grow Old.'

  Interment was in Jerome cemetery.

  Relatives attending from out of town were J. J. Crouch of Wheaton, Ill.; J. E. Simpson, of Kansas City, Kansas; Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Chappell and sons, of Keokuk, Iowa, and Ray Crist of Seymour, Iowa.

CARD OF THANKS

  We wish to thank all the kind, thoughful neighbors and friends for their assistance, sympathy, and the many beautiful floral offering in our recent ebreavement.

The Hawkins Family

Hawkins Family Headstone in Jerome Cemetery

William Franklin Hawkins Footstone