My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES GILBERT HAWKINS, proprietor of the Montgomery Hotel, and one of the most popular men in Pottstown, was born at Boyertown, Pennsylvania, June 14, 1870, being the son of Thomas Charles and Sallie W. (Gilbert) Hawkins.

Thomas Charles Hawkins was born in the state of New York, and was reared near Ogdensburg, that state. He was a traveling salesman, dying in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in 1878. His wife was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and is still living. She and her husband were members of the Lutheran denomination. They had three children: Charles G.; John, died at the age of six years; and Elizabeth, died at the age of four years. Sallie W. (Gilbert) Hawkins married (second husband) C. W. B. Todd, proprietor of the Merchants’ Hotel, at Reading.

Isaac Hawkins (grandfather) was a farmer near Ogdensburg, New York. Elias Gilbert (maternal grandfather) was born in Montgomery county, and was a blacksmith during the early part of his life. He later became a hotel proprietor in Berks, Lehigh and Montgomery counties. He conducted the Merchants’ Hotel, Pottstown, for ten years, and died in that borough four years after withdrawing from the business. His son, Elias Gilbert, is the present proprietor. Elias Gilbert died in 1899, aged seventy-four years. He married Rebecca Wartman, a native of Montgomery county, who died in March, 1901, aged sixty- eight years. They belonged to the Lutheran denomination. Their children were: Sarah; John W., of Reading; Ellen, wife of N. K. Gery, of Tioga, Philadelphia; Elias K., of Pottstown; Emma, wife of W. M. Stauffer, of New Holland, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and Howard, of Pottstown. John Gilbert (great-grandfather) was born in Montgomery county, and spent the greater part of his life on a farm. He was twice married, first to Miss Yerger, and second to Miss Bickel, his son Elias being the only child by the first marriage.

Charles G. Hawkins spent the early years of his life in Berks county and in Lehigh county, where he attended the common schools and obtained his elementary education. He afterwards attended the Perkiomen Seminary at Pennsburg, and the John Arms Academy at Pottstown. Mr. Hawkins held his first position with J. Fegely & Son, in their hardware store, and later became one of the proprietors of the Merchants’ Hotel, of Pottstown, where he remianed until 1902. In 1903 he purchased the furniture and good will of the Montgomery Hotel, of Pottstown, which is located on High street, and has made it one of the best hotels in Pottstown. Mr. Hawkins has been a resident of Pottstown for about twenty years, and is one of the best-known men in the borough. He is a member of the following secret orders: Manatawny Lodge of Odd Fellows, No. 214, and Encampment; Washington Camp, No. 641, P. O. S. of A.; Junior Mechanics, No. 353, and Fraternal Order of Eagles, No. 626, of Pottstown. In politics he is an active Democrat, and was tax receiver in Pottstown for six years. He is a member of the Lutheran church.