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Below is a family biography included in The History of Madison County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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James M. Hawkins, Sr., was born in White County, Tenn., January 1, 1813, and is a son of William and Rebecca (Dillon) Hawkins. The father was born in North Carolina and when a young man went to Tennessee, married and engaged in farming. He afterward lived in McMinn County. He passed one year in Kentucky, and came to Madison County about 1830, settling upon the farm now owned by L. W. Routh. He then lived in Carroll and Franklin Counties, and in 1838 built a mill in Carroll County, and died there in 1850. The mother died about seven years before her husband. Of their large family of children but Benjamin and our subject are living. James M. spent his early life upon the farm, and after his marriage continued farm life, also running the Hawkins Mill over thirty years. From about 1840 until the opening of the war he was engaged in the distillery business. He still owns the Hawkins Mill, and has about 300 acres of fine valley land three miles east of Huntsville. April 8, 1838, he married Mary McMurray, who was born in Warren County, Tenn., December 25, 1820, and accompanied her parents here prior to 1830. Her children were names as follows: Felix G. (deceased), Joseph (deceased), Mary (deceased), George W., John C., Albert, James M., William, Thomas, Rebecca and Matilda. Mrs. Hawkins died, a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, June 13, 1883. Mr. Hawkins is a Democrat, and during the war lost considerable property, but is now well-to-do, and besides his other property owns a two-thirds interest in a water-mill with his son. He is a Master Mason.

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This family biography is one of 99 biographies included in The History of Madison County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Madison County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Madison County, Arkansas family biographies here: Madison County, Arkansas

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