My Genealogy Hound

George W. Hawkins, the subject of this sketch, is one of the oldest citizens of Franklin County, Mo., and at present is superintendent of the county farm. He was born in St. Louis County, Mo., December 24, 1819; son of William and Nancy (Walton) Hawkins. The father was born in Halifax County, Va., in 1777, and went to North Carolina with his parents when twelve years of age. He removed to Missouri in 1812, and settled near where the town of Labaddie is now standing, on what is known as the old Hawkins farm. At that time there were but few settlers in Franklin County, and the Indians were numerous. He was a farmer, and followed that occupation until his death, in 1843. The mother was born in North Carolina in 1787, and died April 7, 1863. They were married in North Carolina, and to them were born eight sons and four daughters, of whom only two are now living. The other surviving child, besides our subject, is his elder brother, James W., who was born in 1817, and is now a resident of Franklin County, Mo. George W. was reared on the farm, in St. Louis County, and attended the neighborhood schools. At the age of twenty-one he removed to Franklin County, and located near South Point. March 29, 1840, he married Miss Mary Ann Kelso, a native of Kentucky. Eleven children were the result of this union, nine of whom are now living. In 1854 Mr. Hawkins was elected judge of the county court at a time when the probate business was transacted in the county court. He served for four years as judge, and then retired to his farm and continued tilling the soil until 1876, when he was appointed superintendent of the county farm, and has had charge of that institution up to the present.