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The Life of John Wesley Hawkins

Obituary:
Death of Mr. J. W. Hawkins.

The death of Mr. J. W. Hawkins occurred Tuesday night, February 19, at his home in northwest Olathe, corner Walnut and Poplar. the funeral service was held at Juliens Chapel at 2:30 Thursday, conducted by Rev. F. W. Ollis of the Community church. Burial was made in the Olathe cemetery.

Mr. Hawkins, who was almost 85 years of age, was a son of gregory and Elizabeth Shultz-hawkins and was born in Highland county, Ohio, September 10, 1844. he was united in marriage to Miss Burnette Standsbury at Lebanon, Boone county, Indiana, on the 7th day of March, 1872.

On the 18th day of September, 1861, Mr. Hawkins enlisted for service in the Civil War from Boone county, Indiana, to serve for three years or during the war. he was mustered into united States service at Indianapolis, Indiana on the same day as a private of Captain John W. Perkins, Company I, 10th regiment Indiana Volunteers Infantry with Colonel Mahlon D. Manson, commanding.

The 10th Regiment was first organized at Indianapolis, April 25, 1861 and was mustered into U.S. Service for three months Col. Joseph J. Reynolds, later Col. Manson, Commanding.

July 11, 1861 it participated in the battle of Rich Mountain, Virginia, and on July 28 was mustered out. On September 18, 1861, the regiment was re-organized as we have stated above.

it left the state on the 22nd for Kentucky and encamped at Bardslon, for about one month. January 19, 1862 it participated in the battle of Mill Springs and there achieved an enviable reputation for gallantry - at one time saving the say by its fierce resistance of a desperate charge by General Zollicoffer.

it was attached to the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 14th Corps, and took part in the march of Buell's Army to the Tennessee river in 1862, reaching the battle field of Shiloh the night of April 7, 1862, where it went into camp and later took part in the siege of Corinth, Miss.

It joined in the pursuit of Bragg and was engaged in the battles of Perryville, Kentucky; Chickamagua, Buzzard Roost, Resaca, Rome, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, and many others. After surrender of Johnston the regiment marched north by Richmond, Va., to Washington, D. C., where it participated in the Grand Review of May 24, 1865. it returned to Louisville, Kentucky, where it was mustered out.

Mr. Hawkins was wounded at Chickamagua, Georgia, September 20, 1863 by gun shot in right thigh, the ball passing through near the hip joint, breaking the bone and rendering the leg absolutely rigid. He was taken prisoner on the field and thirteen days later was exchanged and sent to a hospital at Chattanooga, Tenn., where he remained until discharged from the Volunteer service. His brother, William Hawkins, served in Co. H. 10th Indiana Cavalry and his brother, Henry, in the Home Guards during Morgan's raid. His great grandfather Shultz was in the Revolutionary War.

While living in Indiana, he served as treasurer of Boone county and later, after having moved to Burlington, Kansas was a deputy sheriff in Coffey county.

The family came to Kansas in 1886 and to Olathe in 1900. he was a member of Franklin Post, G. A. R. in Olathe, bringing his membership from Burlington, Kansas and at Lebanon, Indiana was Chaplain of the post.

Mr. Hawkins, who had been a member of the Methodist church for over 50 years and who had never voted for anyone but a Republican in his whole life, had two hobbies - one reminiscing outstanding events in the Civil War and fishing.

Though handicapped by reason of his wounded limb, he persisted in the sport of fishing and it is probably that there was not a man in Johnson county who knew better where the fish bite best or the pools are deepest. Many times he would go to the fishing resort of his choice and stay a few days at a time.

he had not been in good health for the past few years, but just let a nice day come along when he thought the fish would be biting and the family could hardly keep him at home. and should he be in extremely poor health when election day came around nothing would do but one of his boys should take him to the polls.

Mr. Hawkins rendered faithful and meritorious service for more than three years in the Civil War or until he was wounded and his record in private life was just as outstanding as that in the army.

Surviving are his widow and seven children: Joe, Earl, and Phil, Olathe; Mrs. J. F. Seeley, north of Olathe; Mrs. Gertrude Tucker and Hazel Porsonow, Kansas City; and Mrs. Edna Hay, Ashburn, Virginia.

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Military Service

War:
Civil War: Union
Branch:
Union Army
Rank:
Infantry
State:
IN
Regiment:
10th
Company:
I
Comments:
Pvt Wounded bad in battle of Chickamauga

2018.03.07
obituary

obituary

Posted by Norman P on 03/07/2018