NONEGENARIAN’S DEATH.

Mrs. Elizabeth Hawkins, Olathe, Died Early Monday Morning, March 26th, 1923.

 All Olathe, and the west half of Johnson county, was called upon this week to mourn the death of one of her aged and best-loved women, Mrs. Elizabeth Hawkins, who was in her ninetieth year.

The body lay in state at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Fred Ruppelius, 315 South Cherry, from 10 o'clock until 1 Tuesday, where it was viewed by scores of friends from town and country.

 The funeral service was in the First Baptist church, at 2:30 Tuesday, conducted by Rev. William W. Searcy, formerly pastor of the church here, for several years, until a year ago. Burial was made in the Olathe cemetery.

Elizabeth Tarwater, daughter of John and Ruth Tarwater, was born near Gallatin, Daviess county, Missouri, January 8, 1834 and was the first white child born in that county. Here her early girlhood was spent, coming later to Cass County, Missouri, where she was married to J. B. Tipton, in 1855. To this union three children, all boys, were born Scott, Murray and Jim. Of that number only Murray survives. He lives in Kansas City, Kansas,at 1127 South 38.

About the close of the war Mr. Tipton died. The widow came to Kansas, later, and on November 8, 1876, she was married to J. D. Hawkins.To this union only one child was born, Mrs. Fred Ruppelius, of Olathe. The home for 19 years was on the farm 8 miles West of Olathe. In 1894 Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins and the daughter, Erma, moved to Olathe, and Mr. Hawkins died December 19, 1901.

"Grandma" Hawkins, as she was lovingly and commonly called, had remarkable health for one of her years. It has only been very recently that she has been unable to get about, even if it was rather slowly. Her eye sight almost left her in September, September, but 3 months ago it partiall returned, so that she was able to move about the house at will. Her intellect was keen.

In her early youth she became a member of the Baptist church, and probably no one adhered to its teachings with greater punctuality. She was patient, kind and gentle in all her ways, and she won and held the admiration and respect of all. The passing of Grandma Hawkins, marks the loss to this community of one of the strong links connecting its early history, with present development and expansion.

Olathe Mirror
March 23, 1923
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