My Genealogy Hound

REV. ADAM HAWKER. In addition to being an efficient minister of the Reform Church, the subject of this notice is also recognized as one of the leading farmers of Beaver Creek Township, Greene County. Of this he has been a life-long resident and is approaching the seventy-seventh year of his age, having been born November 1, 1813. His father’s old homestead was the farm adjoining that which he now owns and occupies. He has thus grown up with the county, becoming one of its solid landmarks and has contributed in no unworthy manner to its growth and development.

Andrew and Susan (Coy) Hawker came to Beaver Creek Township with the well-known Coy family in 1800, two years before Ohio was admitted into the Union as a State. They settled on a half section of land in the western part of the township, where Andrew Hawker spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1850, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. He served in the War of 1812, and lived to see Southern Ohio transformed from a wilderness to the abode of a civilized and prosperous people.

To the parents of Mr. Hawker there were born family of ten children, viz: Elizabeth, the wife of Abram Morgan; Mary, Mrs. John W. Wolf; Jacob who died near LaFayette, Ind.; Frederick; Catherine the wife of Emanuel Retter; Susannah, Mrs. John Arey; Eve the wife of John Weaver of Dayton and now deceased; Adam, our subject; Barbara Mrs. William S. Vancleaf; Abraham and Otto. The mother was the daughter of Jacob Coy and survived her husband a number of years, dying in 1868, in the ninety-third year of her age. In making the journey hither the two families setting out from Guilford County, Term., traveled overland to Wheeling and then took a flatboat to Cincinnati. Thence they came by teams to this county. Indians were numerous, also wild animals. When Mr. Hawker harvested his first crop of corn, the wild turkeys and squirrels ate it nearly as fast as he could husk it and throw it on the ground.

The Hawker family is of German origin. The subject of this sketch spent his early days amid the wild scenes of pioneer life, receiving only the advantages of a limited education and remaining at home with his parents until his marriage, at the age of twenty-three years. This event occurred November 10, 1836, the bride being Miss Hannah Westfall. She likewise was a native of Beaver Creek Township and was born June 15, 1819. Her parents were John and Mary (Shinepp) Westfall who spent their last years in Ohio. This union resulted in the birth of eight children, one of whom — Susannah, died in infancy. Mary C. is the wife of Valentine Costler; Harriet J. is the wife of Joseph H. Kable of Clark County; Permelia, Mrs. Christopher Haverstick; David W.; John A. of Dayton; Jacob L. and John A. The mother of those children departed this life at the homestead October 11, 1883.

Mr. Hawker contracted a second marriage in Carroll County, April 8, 1887, to Miss Martha S. Hamm, a native of Maryland and the daughter of Henry and Hannah M. Hamm who are now deceased. Mr. Hawker commenced his ministerial labors as a local preacher of the Reformed Church and was regularly ordained in October, 1871. He identified himself with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows twenty-five years ago and is a warm admirer of the principles of the order. In politics, he is an uncompromising Democrat. He held the office of Township Trustee five years. His farm comprises one hundred and sixty acres of choice land which yields him a comfortable income. He is recognized as one of the leading citizens of his township and his name will be held in remembrance long after he has been gathered to his fathers.