For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 330
THOMAS HAWKER....The owner of a highly improved farm of two hundred and forty acres in Muscatine county, Thomas Hawker may truly be designated as one of its prosperous citizens. He is a native of Warwickshire, England, born June 18, 1832, a son of John and Sarah ( Thompson ) Hawker, both of whom spent their entire lives in England. There were six children in their family, all of whom are now deceased except our subject.Thomas Hawker was educated in the schools of his native land and continued there until thirty-seven years of age. However, he was not satisfied with England, the conditions being such that a laboring man can acquire a competence only by extraordinary exertions. He came to the conclusion from what he had read and heard that the land across the ocean presented opportunities that could scarcely be hoped for in any thickly settled community. Accordingly, he decided to seek his fortune in America, and going aboard an ocean vessel he landed under the sheltering influence of the republic on December 12, 1869. He spent the first two years of his residence in this country in Beardstown, Illinois, and in 1871 came to Nichols, Muscatine county, Iowa, and for eight years was identified with the railroad business. By diligence and economy he accumulated sufficient capital to engage in farming upon his own account and he purchased eighty acres of land in Goshen township, which he proceeded to improve and cultivate. As his resources steadily increased, he was able to buy more land, and acquired in all two hundred and forty acres. His farm is one of the pleasing features of the landscape, being kept in almost perfect order, and it annually yields golden harvests which are exceeded in quantity and value by those of no other farm of equal area in the county.
In 1870 Mr. Hawker was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Evenden, who was born in Kent, England, July 6, 1835, a daughter of John and Ann ( Higgins ) Evenden. Her parents came to America in 1881, both being past seventy-one years of age, the father departing this life at the age of eighty and the mother when ninety-five years of age. Three children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hawker : Horace H., who is married and is now a landowner of Muscatine county ; E. J., of Wapsinonoc twonship ; and Arthur H.,who is also married and lives in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Hawker have four grandchildren to whom they are greatly attached.
Mr. Hawker has for forty years been a resident of Muscatine county and has lived to witness great improvement not only in the farms but in the towns and cities, the entire appearance of this part of the state having undergone a marked change since he landed in this section. Politically he votes independent of party ties, preferring to support the men and measures that he believes best calculated to advance the general welfare. He has served most acceptably as a member of the school board and also as road supervisor. Fraternally he is identified with Lodge No. 95, A. F. & A. M., of West Liberty. He and his wife hold membership in the Methodist church and in its various activities they are greatly interested, being also prominent members of the community with which they have been closely connected during the best years of their lives.
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