Hawkins, Henry Jackson 1858-1929 & Margaret Moir Family

HAWKINS, MOIR, JACKSON, ROSS

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 7/29/2024 at 05:39:21

Hawkins, Henry Jackson 1858-1929 & Margaret Moir Family

This story was taken from pages 368-369 of the Maurice Centennial Book (1891-1991). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added.

Mr. Henry Jackson Hawkins is, and always has been, successful in the stock and farming business. His farm is located two miles east and two miles south of Maurice, and three miles east and three miles north of Struble.

H. J. Hawkins is of staunch Irish descent with a grandparent of English descent perched in the family tree. His parents were born in Ireland, and in 1849, when the rush was made to the gold fields of California, his parents immigrated to the back-woods of Canada. Here amid the howl of the timber wolves at night, pioneer life was begun. Bears, deer and birds furnished meat for the only settlers, and soon the land began to produce grain and vegetables. Life was full of variety in those days, although there were no movies or professional ball games. In 1876, the family moved to Maurice, Sioux County, where they bought a quarter section of land. There the parents died. They had paid $18 per acre for this quarter, and in accumulating 1,200 acres with the start his parents gave him, Mr. Hawkins is the Ford of this country and can be counted as a successful farmer. He now has eleven of the 80’s left, most of which is let out to tenants.

On October 28, 1884, he was married to Miss Margaret Moir, the third child of Jessie (Ross) and Alexander Moir of Canada. She was born in Canada, January 23, 1859, one of thirteen children. She taught schools in Sioux and Plymouth counties, and had the distinction of being the first school teacher in Sherman Township. They were the parents of three children, a baby son, who died in infancy; a daughter Jessie; and a son Merritt.

Margaret had a special talent for doing excellent oil paintings. In later years she had a lengthy illness and passed away at the home of her daughter Jessie Simons, near Ireton, Iowa, in 1924. She was buried in the Ireton Cemetery.

After Margaret’s death, Jackson Hawkins married Mrs. Mary Dermis of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He died October 17, 1929, at age 72, in Needles, California, while on an extended trip to the Western States, and was interred next to his wife Margaret, in the Ireton Cemetery.

When interviewed, Mr. Hawkins said, “My aim, as a farmer, was to feed everything that was raised on the farm, and drive it to market on foot.”

After getting started in raising grain, he began studying how best to get results, and this led to studying beef and hogs, and how to buy and feed; and the result was he got to be efficient in this particular line of business.

“Go where you please, the man who feeds his grain every year is the man who succeeds in farming.” Mr. Hawkins shows executive ability. Some of his rules on the farm are more for himself than for his help. One of his rules is: a farmer should never say “go”, but “come”, and never send a man to the field until he knows what is expected of him. Another rule of his life is worthy of being printed in every farm paper in the country. It is: always allow your wife and family to know all your business transactions. Mr. Hawkins said that the first three crops of wheat raised on Iowa land were good, but after that it did not pay. This is a stock country and the land is too loose and rich, and is not fitted for wheat. This is the first time, said Mr. Hawkins, that I ever knew it to pay to sell a bushel of corn. Mr. Hawkins believes that it is best for a farmer to settle down on his farm. With all the modern conveniences, such as automobiles, electric lights, hot and cold water, bathrooms, of the City left out, he believes that the average farmer should be more contented than in town, and no wonder. We believe he is right.

The publisher of the Times and Mr. Hawkins have not always agreed on the question of how to get better schools, but we must admit that he is interested in good schools, but is jealous of the country right in the matter. He has always been mixed in the school affairs and the Farmer’s Elevator. He was one of the first electors of the elevator at Struble, and is also a stockholder of the elevator at Maurice. Mr. Hawkins is not a politician. He has been too busy farming to take the office the Township has offered him. He is the product of the rural community, and is proud of it.
(end of the family story in the Maurice Centennial book)

RESEARCH Notes: From a report on ancestry.com public member tress submitted by other than this submitter.

Henry J. Hawkins born 4 Nov 1858 Hay, Huron, Ontario, Canada died 17 Oct 1929 Needles, San Bernardino, California. His parents were William Hawkins 1817 born Ireland died 4 Oct 1879 Huron Ontario, Can and Martha A. Jackson 1826 born Ireland died 31 Aug 1914 Exeter Huron Ont. Can. Henry married Margaret R. Moir 28 Oct 1884 Sioux County IA. After Margaret died in 1926 he married Mary E. Dermis 1878-. at Luzerne County PA after meeting her in California.

Margaret R. Moir born 23 Jan 1859 Usborne, Huron, Ontario, Canada died 25 Jun 1924 Ireton IA. She was the daughter of Alexander Moir 1821 -1898 Le Mars IA, and Jessie Russel Ross 1835-1899 Le Mars IA. Henry and Margaret had three children.

CHILDREN of Henry Hawkins and Mary Moir

1. William H. J. Hawkins born 17 Aug 1885 Huron, Ontario, Canada died 21 Aug 1886 Sherman, Sioux Iowa. See his death record as Hawkins, William Henry 1 yr of Henry died Aug 1886 on the web page.

2. Jessie A. Hawkins 1886-1966 born 25 Jul 1886 Sherman, Sioux, Iowa died 25 Dec 1966 Le Mars IA She married Merle O. Simons 1885-1962. They had children Merle E Simons 1915-1983, Lois M. Simons 1916-1984, Lloyd M. Simons 1919-2000, Grace E. Simons 1924-2012, Helen L. Simons 1926-2019. See her obit as listed Simons, Mrs. Merle (Jessie) 1886-1966 on this web page.

3. Merrit A. Hawkins born 7 Oct 1889 Sioux City, Woodbury IA died 1 Nov 1987 Le Mars, IA. He married Eva M. Buss 1892-1985. One son listed Kenneth M. Hawkins. See his obituary posted on this web page.

OBITUARY OF HENRY JACKSON HAWKINS
Source: Ireton Ledger (10-24-1929) Born: November 4, 1858 Died: October 17, 1929
Henry Jackson Hawkins, son of William and Martha Hawkins, was born near Ester, Ontario, Canada, November 4th, 1858 and passed away in a hotel at Needles, California, October 17, 1929, thus having nearly attained the age of 71 years. Death which was caused by acute appendicitis, came after a brief illness.
His boyhood days were spent at his birthplace, and he came to Iowa in March, 1886.
On October 28, 1884, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Moir at her parental home near Carnes and following their marriage they went to Canada where they spent two years later returning to Iowa and farmed one year in section 27, Sherman Township. Afterward they purchased a farm in the same section and continued to reside there for many years.
Three children, 2 sons, Merrit and William Henry, and one daughter, Jessie A. were born to this union, one son, William Henry passed away in infancy. The mother was taken on June 25, 1924.
Since the death of his wife, Mr. Hawkins had spent considerable time in travel and spent the winter of 1925-26 in California. Here he met Mrs. Mary Dermis and this friendship culminated in their marriage November 17, 1926, at Wilkesbarre, Pa. Since their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins have spent their winters in California and the summers in Wilkesbarre.
The remains were brought to the home of his son, Merrit, near Maurice and services were held at 1:30 o’clock Wednesday afternoon, with Rev. McGogney, retired pastor of Le Mars officiating. The body was laid to rest beside the remains of his first wife in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Hawkins acquired considerable land in this part of the country and was always ready to lend to any worthy cause. He was a man well liked and highly respected by all who knew him, a kind father, a good husband and his passing away came as a blow to the family and friends.

OBITUARY OF MARGARET HAWKINS
Source: Alton Democrat (7-5-1924) Born: January 23, 1859 Died: June 25, 1924
Mrs. Henry J. Hawkins, a pioneer of Sherman township, passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. M.O. Simons, near Ireton, on Wednesday of last week. Mrs. Hawkins was taken ill on Mothers Day and the family doctor was called, who pronounced her ailment jaundice. Three weeks later when she did not seem to improve, she was brought to her daughter’s home. Here, as before, all was done that medical skill and loving hands could do but to no avail, and quietly, on the morning of June 25th, she passed to her Eternal Home, having attained the age of 65 years, 5 months and 2 days.
Margaret R. Moir, third child of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Moir, was born near Exter, Ontario, Canada, on January 23, 1859. She was educated in the schools of that place and was of great assistance in the home caring for a large family of brothers and sisters. In her girlhood she united with the Presbyterian Church, to which faith she clung through life.
In the year 1882 her family moved to the prairies of Iowa and homesteaded near Carnes where the family suffered many of the privations of the early pioneers. For two years she taught school in Sherman township and by her faithfulness and perseverance won the love and respect of the early settlers and their children.
At her father’s home on October 28, 1884, she was given in marriage to Henry J. Hawkins of Exter, Ontario, Canada. Together they returned to Canada to make the new home, but this was for a short time only, for in the spring of 1886 they heeded the call of the west and located four miles southwest of Maurice where they have resided for thirty-seven years. About this time Mrs. Hawkins was taken seriously ill and for months her life hung in balance. With the coming of spring she rallied but the trouble had left her with lameness. Three children were born to them, the eldest, William Henry, who passed to the Home Beyond at the early age of one year, Mrs. Jessie A. Simons, who resides near Ireton and Merrit A. Hawkins of Maurice.
Mrs. Hawkins was an ever helpful friend and neighbor, a loving wife and a devoted mother. Characteristic of her life was her manner of leaving it. For days she knew the end was near and up until the last few hours retained the full power of her keen intellect. The approaching end held no terrors for her. She spoke of it with the calmest and most peaceful feeling, bidding her dear ones good-bye and God-speed.
The funeral, which was largely attended, was held from her daughter’s home, south of Ireton, Saturday afternoon, June 28th. Rev. A.Z. McGogney of Le Mars, a lifelong friend of the family, conducted the service. A quartet composed of B.T. Bay, William Brown, Mrs. George Campbell and Florence Brown rendered very beautifully several favorite selections.
Besides her sorrowing husband and children she is survived by four grandchildren, Merle, Lois and Lloyd Simons and Kenneth Hawkins, and by seven brothers and four sisters: George R. Moir of Orange City, Mrs. R. Hawkins of Seney, Mrs. F.T. Eason of Orange City, Mrs. A. Van Wechel of Barnesville, Minnesota, Gavin Moir of Kent, Minnesota, Mrs. M.C. McMullen of Larchwood, Iowa, R.J. Moir of Le Mars, R.S. Moir of Mitchell, South Dakota, J.T. Moir of Andover, South Dakota, P.W. Moir of Orange City and A.C. Moir of Andover, South Dakota.

OBITUARY OF MARY HAWKINS second wife of Henry Hawkins
No obituary was found for Mary, she is presumed to have died in Pennsylvania.

Picture of Henry J. Hawkins and Margaret Moir was from page 368 of the Maurice Book.

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