JOHN AND MARY HAWKINS, MISC. NOTES
1814 - (Jan. 24)John Hawkins born in Poultney, Rutland County, Vermont.
(Temple Records, Index card 600, Book A1, pp. 47. Son of Erastus and Patty H.
1839 - (July 21)John Hawkins married Elizabeth Gouldsberry (first wife), who was born
Feb. 3, 1821
1841 - (Sept. 29) John Hawkins married Asenath Hutchinson Hoag (second wife), who
was born Slept. 1, 1814, died June 24, 1843 due to childbirth complications
1843 - (Jan.24) Theodore Perry Hawkins born (mother died 5 mo. later), at Perry Lake Co.
Ohio. Died Sept. 17, 1925.
1843 - (Oct 5) John Hawkins married Mary McKee Thompson (third wife, and a Mormon),
born May 24, 1819 in Ireland. Cleveland, Ohio. Mary's husband had died into African
War. Their daughter, Sara Jane Thompson had been born in Belfast. Ireland.
"Lot property left John H. in Cleveland, Sold property and all brought back watch.
200 ft. square YMCA blk, on Cleveland, another piece on Euclid Avenue."
"John Herrick and John H. in partnership in furniture business. Amassed fortune
from original plans John H. drew up."
(Reminiscences of William J. Hawkins, 1923)
1845/46 - Daniel Robert Hawkins born (d. Aug. 18, 1927 at Genoa)
1848 - Lester Leander (L.L.) born in Cleveland, Ohio. "L.L. weighed 14 pounds when
born, and was always robust. Mother walked nearly every step of the way from the
Missouri River to Salt Lake and much of the way drove one of the teams, and carried
L.L. on her back because he was the baby."
(Theodore Hawkins letter, 1910)
1850 - (April 29) John Hawkins baptized in Mormon church (Temple Records, Index
card No. 600, Book A1, pp. 47)
1850 - knew Kit Carson --"Look...taken about 1850, and this was given to my
grandfather back in St. Louis. I took the photograph. It showed an intense young man
with a huge beard hanging down like a swarm of bees, neatly written across the back
was C.C.Carsons." (Christopher Columbus Carson)
(Source: pp. 178, ? page titled "The Thousand-mile Summer."
1851 - "came to the Pacific Coast in 1851"
(Obit)
1851 - "Left Cleveland April 1, 1851" Arrived at Salt Lake, Sept. 29th that year."
(Notes on 1904 letter, returned by D.R. Hawkins)
1851 - "The Hawkins family consisting of father, mother, daughter, and three sons of
whom the youngest, aged three years, was L.L., set out for the West from the City
of Cleveland, Ohio, in the Spring of 1851."
(Information Theodore Hawkins, Letter, 1910)
- "we arrived in the Great Salt Lake City sometime in August."
(Information, Theodore Hawkins letter, 1910)
1852 - (April 12) John Hawkins "endowed" into Mormon church at Salt Lake
(Index card No 600, #1085, Temple Records, Book A1, pp. 47
reported to have built the first house there (verify)
1853 - George Samuel Hawkins born, Salt Lake City, Utah
1853 - "John Hawkins brought his family to the Carson Valley early in 1853. Three years
after the family's arrival, his step-daughter, Sarah Jane, married Stephen A. Kinsey,
one of the original settlers of Genoa."
(pp.57 & 58, "The Hanging of Lucky Bill." )
NOTE: this is inconsistant with the following.
1855 - "In June, 1854, the company of Mormans, headed by Elder Orson Hyde, arrived
in Carson Valley, and in the summer of 1855, Alexander Cowan and his wife, now
Mrs. Sandy Bowers, came to Washoe Valley, and purchased the Bowers Ranch of
Dodge & Cambell. William Jennings bought the ranch occcupied by Christopher
West. __Clayton, Seth Dustin, Edwin Walker, JOHN HAWKINS,and others, also came
to the valley and took up ranches." Also, note he signed a petition for a new
road from Franktown to to north end of Wassau Valley
(pp. 623, pp 624 -- "History of Nevada, 1881")
1855-1860 - "Ranch No. 2 - one-half of ranch for Alex Cowan
(Utah Territorial records, Early Maps, 1855-1860, p. 15
1856 - "In the spring of 1856 we again moved westward, taking our course around the
northern end of the Great Salt Lake..." arrived in Genoa the fourth of July"
(Letter, Theodore Hawkins, 1910) See story of wagon train west
NOTE: This differs with the History of Nevada date of 1855
1856 - "remained in Genoa until after harvest of that year and then went to
Washoe where we lived in a tent, on the creek above the place where father worked
on the Hyde Mill."
(Notes by Dan Hawkins on 1904 letter from L.L. Hawkins)
"Then we moved into the Cowan house, where the Bower Mansion now
stands. Will was born there. Then we moved into the place now known as the
Twaddle Ranch, and fenced and put into cultivation a piece of land and brought
water from Leighton Creek now known as Ophir Creek for irrigtation purposes."
1856 - "We remained in Genoa until fall. There were about 200 people there. Then we
went to Washoe Valley and traded a yoke of oxen for a ranch with Alexander Cowan.
Father was engaged in building a sawmill for Orson Hyde near Franktown and we lived
in a tent up in the canyon until the snows. Mother was taken sick and we as yet had no
house for the winter. Cowan had only sold us half of his ranch and he had a good log
house at the hot spring where the Bowers Mansion was afterward built. He and his
wife (who afterward became Mrs. Bowers and later known as the Washoe Seeresss)
were going to Gold Canyon to mine and keep a boarding house, and they invited our
family to occupy their house until their return in the spring. Here, on the 29th of
March, 1857, was born William John Hawkins, now (1910) of Portland, Oregon
(Theodore Hawkins letter, 1910)
1856 - "Lots were sold to William Jennings, Isaac Hunter, John Vanc and Leonard
Wines, Ralph Thompson, Russel Kelly and JOHN HAWKINS."
(pp. 133, Pioneers of the Ponderosa)
1856 (October) "Records of the Probate Court of Carson County, Utah, Territory,pp 11
and 13, October 10, 1856, shows that Price sold the north one-half of the south one half
of Ranch No. 2 to Russell Kelly (p 42 Carson County , Utah Terrotorial Records, Early
Maps (1855-1860). This is same property which JOHN HAWKINS took over under
squatter's rights as his heirs testified in the Twaddle vs. Winters water suit,
Washoe County Court records No. 4633. The Utah Territorial Records do not have
any references as to how Hawkins obtained the 160 acre ranch north of Franktown.
Kelly and HAWKINS were neighbors in the town of Franktown, each owning two and
one half acres in Block 4, Kelly buring lots 4 and 5 from Richard Bentley on
October 28, 1856, and HAWKINS buYing lots 6 and 7 on October 31, 1856, and each
paying $20. (pp. 134 Pioneers of the Ponderosa)
1856 - "JOHN HAWKINS settled on one hundred and sixty acres of unsurveyed land lying
between Cowan's and Franktown, and claimed it under squatter's rights. HAWKINS,
G. Coleman and C. Layton of Ophir, laid claim to the waters of Ophir Creek and
when HAWKINS built his sturdy wood flume to carry water to his ranch little did he
dream that a half-century later this same ditch and the water claim would become the
basis of one of the most bitter water suits in the Valley - a legal battle that was to result
in the death of one litigant and the end of the dynasty for the other."
"While in the Washoe Valley JOHN HAWKINS was the central character in one of
the oft-repeated anecdotes of the times. It was said that he had two wives and a
fellow Mormon from Genoa, Nevada, had two mules. the two men men met and
agreed to exchange one mule for one wife, and all went well until the two encountered
each other sometime later. Hawkins allowed that he was well-pleased with the
bargain, but the other farmer was not so taken with the arrangements because, he
said, his wife was not so good at plowing."
"Hawkins built a good house and some barns and raised a good crop of vegetables
and hay. When the Mormon exodus from Washoe Valley took place, September, 1857,
he gave to James Sturtevant for certain personal property.'
(pp 205 Pioneers of the Ponderosa)
James Sturtevant purchased the property in 1857 -"to purchase the Hawkins place
in Washoe Valley"
1856 - John and Mary Hawkins adopted Daniel B. Hawkins
1856 - "In Wassaw Valleys (Washoe), on the second day of October, 1856, at the house
of Judge Orson Hyde, Stephen A. Kinsey to Miss Sarah Jane Thompson, by the Hon.
Orson Hyde."
(Thompson & Wests, "History of Nevada," 1881.
1856 - "In May of 1856 John "Snowshoe" Thompson, the legendary Norwegian
mountain man who skied the mountains packing mail between Carson Valley and
Placerville, carried word that Indians had burned a cabin on Clear Creek."
(pp. 36, "the Hanging of Lucky Bill")
1857 - "On March 8 the Herald reported that Snowshoe Thompson had carried news to
Placerville that Indians had stolen a horse and killed several cows, other cows had
been found with arrows in them," ...one had seven"
(pp. 42, " The Hanging of Lucky Bill")
1857 - "The recall of the Mormons by Brigham Young, in 1857, nearly depopulated the
thriving community of Franktown, leaving but two ladies in the settlement, Mrs. John
Hawkins, whose husband did not return with the others: and Mrs. Alexander Cowan,
who refused to accompany her husband back to the home of Mormondom."
(pp. 624, History of Nevada)
1857 (March 29)- William J. Hawkins born in Cowan log house.
"In the fall we moved to Genoa and lived in the adobe house there until after the
hanging of "Lucky Bill" (William Thorington) in 1858 when we moved to the Thorington
Ranch, where we remained until the spring of 1860.
(Notes by Dan Hawkins on 1904 letter from L.L. Hawkins)
1858 - "That spring we fenced with logs and rip-gut fence about 40 acres and planted to
grain and vegtables. Before the crop was harvested we sold out and moved to
Genoa." (Letter, Theodore Hawkins, 1910)
1858 - "removed to Alpine in 1858"
(Obit)
1858 (?)- "We traded a horse for a small odobe house in Genoa and settled again."
(Theodore Hawkins' letter, 1910)
"Hawkins house was on Mott's Lane (stories told WJH III by Arnold Trimmer, Genoa,
whose family came to Genoa in 1904)
"Dan Hawkins never worked, only once seen cutting wood." (Arnold Trimmer)
"Theodore Perry Hawkins -- very "anti-aristocratic." Destroyed family crest with
ladder on it." (Arnold Trimmer)
1858 - "Lucky Bill" (William thorington) was hung Hune 19, 1858. After the hanging of
"Lucky Bill," we moved onto one of the Thorington ranches on the river about four
miles from Genoa and took charge of the dairy there."
(Letter, Theodore Hawkins, 1910)
1859 - "The Comstock was discovered in June 1859. Father and Theodore about that
time went to Carey's Mills (now Woodford's) to work, and left the rest of us to run
the dairy which we did until the breaking out of the Pahute War in the Spring of
1860."
(Letter, Theodore Hawkins, 1910)
1859-60 - John Hawkins had partnership with James Bird, manufacturing furniture.
Wally's Spring Hotel built by John Hawkins. (source? --
1860-61 - L.L. Hawkins, Theodore Hawkins, rode Pony Express
L.L. Hawkins picked up main from "Snowshoe" Thompson. "Hawkins on his pony
rushing it thence to Genoa, northward along the valley."
(Oregonian, Aug. 17, 1902)
1860 - Piaute War:
L.L. Hawkins warned by Mrs. Bowers "advising him to avoid ambush on the short
road by taking the longer route, and warning him of an Indian uprising."
( Oregonian, Aug. 17, 1902)
1860 (Spring) "went to Placerville and stayed till about August, and came from
Placerville and settled on the Ranch at the end of the road, then "Nowhere," but
since known as Alpine Co. We paid no taxes until Alpine was organized. Christmas
that year 1860, I (Dan Hawkins) started for Carson to try and get a little schooling."
(Dan Hawkins notes on back of 1904 letter from L.L. Hawkins)
1860 - fire at ranch (60 cows, corrals, all provisions) - rebuilt (Source? )
1861 - "Next spring commenced the rush into Alpine or Silver Mountain as they called
it (1861)."
(Dan Hawkins notes on back of 1904 letter from L.L. Hawkins)
1862 - "About '62 terrible cold winter, cattle froze, only few left. Last station on route to
mining district. Mother ran mule pack train to Placerville for supplies, stored
provisions for whole county. Took in milk pan full of money per day."
(Reminiscences of William J. Hawkins, 1923)
1863 - "1863 Father and Theodore went east -- rich in mining stock and returned with a
little span?? of mules, and richer in experience than in money or stocks."
(Dan Hawkins notes on back of 1904 letter from L.L. Hawkins)
"Left home about 9 years. Hearded(herded) cows for Peter Volume, head Carson
Valley, $40 per month and board. Shortly after went to live with Sarah to attend
school ???? worked for board. Lawrence Fray, butcher, German - delivered meat.
about 16 years old. Mother attended school same time, about 14 years old. Broke
horses to earn money."
(Reminiscences of William J. Hawkins, 1923)
1866 - "He (L.L.Hawkins) commenced attending the Oakland College School (I believe)
in the fall of 1866. During his vacations he would come home, break horses, split
posts, drive logging teams, work in a sawmill, or do anything else that presented
to earn all he could."
(Theodore Hawkins letter, 1910)
1868 - "Men who said they attended Sandy Bower's funeral in 1868 testified they had
never seen the flume Twaddles said they had purchased from Sturtevant who had taken
it over from the builder, John Hawkins"
(pp. 213, Pioneers of the Ponderosa)
Twaddles vs Winters water suit. "Theodore P. Hawkins testified that his father was
on the ranch in the fall of 1856. D.R. Hawkins, another of John's also testified. They
verified father's claim and the building of the ditch."
(pp. 215, Pioneers of the Ponderosa)
1869 - L.L. Hawkins, age 21, climbed "Hawkins Peak," inscribing name and date.
1870-80s - logging of Silver King -- last drive in 1889
1870 - Census, Alpine Co. Daniel R. Hawkins, Markleeville
George S. Hawkins, Woodfords
Lucy A.F. Hawkins, Monitor
Mary Hawkins, Woodfords (dwelling 16)
William J. Hawkins, Woodfords (dwelling 16)
Mary Hawkins (then age 45) listed occupation as "Keeping House." Value of
personal estate $1,200. Born in Ireland
William J. Hawkins (then age 12), born in Nevada
George S. Hawkins (then age 17) listed occupation as "attending school"
born in Utah.
1874 - John Hawkins moved to San Diego, "estranged from wife."
(pp. ?
"John Hawkins was a roamer. Mother H. worked the land."
(Reminiscences of William J. Hawkins)
1882 - John Hawkins died in San Francisco (68 years of age). "Deceased was father of the
Hawkins "boys" of Alpine, one of whom, William J. Hawkins, was the first white child
born in Washoe Valley in 1857."
(Obit.) Internment at Genoa Cemetery
1886 - Mary Hawkins moved to Genoa, where she spent the remainder of her days."
(Obit., Sept. 19,1906)
1903 - (Mar.8) - Death of Stephen A. Kinsey -"On the fourth of July, 1851, Mr. Kinsey
selected and took possession of the ground known as Morman Station, the name
being retained until 1855, when the site being surveyed, "Genoa" was subsituted."
(Obit. "Passing of a Pioneer)
"Immediately upon their arrival at Mormon Station the building of a log cabin was
commenced that, when completed, was the only house in what is now Nevada."
"A stockade corral was also put up at a cost of two thousand dollars that enclosed
something over an acre of ground." thus was commenced in 1851 the first permanent
settlement in western Utah."
(Obit. Mar. 8, 1903)
1906 - (Sept. 18) - Mary McKee (Thompson) Hawkins died in Genoa at home of her
daughter,Sarah Thompson Kinsey (Mrs. Stephen Kinsey). Internment at Genoa Cemetery
"Grandma" Hawkins, as she was familiarly known, was one of the best known and most
beloved women in the vicinity. Bright, cheerful and of a lovable disposition, she made
scores of friends and brought happiness to those about her."
(Funeral notice, obit)