Life of John H.W. Hawkins

THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES I LIFE JOHN H. W. HAWKINS COMPILED BY HIS SON, REV. WILLIAM GEOEGE HAWKINS, A.M. "The noble self the conqueror, earnest, generous friend of the inebriate, the con- devsted advocate of the sistent, temperance reform in all its stages of development, and the kind, to aid sympathising brother, ready by voice and act every form of suffering humanity." SIXTH THOUSAND. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY. BRIGGS AND RICHAEDS, 456 WAsnujdTn.N (-'TKI:I:T, Con. ESSEX. NEW YORK I SHELDON, HLAKKMAN & C 0. 1862. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by WILLIAM GEORGE HAWKINS, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Massachusetts. LITHOTYPED BT COWLES AND COMPANY, 17 WASHINGTON ST., BOSTON. Printed by Geo. C. Rand and Ayery. MY GRANDMOTHER, WHOSE PRAYERS, UNINTERMITTED FOR MORE THAN FORTY" YEARS, HAVE, UNDER GOD, SAVED A SON, AND GIVEN TO HER NATIVE COUNTRY A PHILANTHROPIST, WHOSE MULTIPLIED DEEDS OF LOVE ARE EVERYWHERE TO BE SEEN, AND WHICH ARE HERE BUT IMPERFECTLY RECORDED, is $0lunu IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED 550333 PREFACE. THE compiler of this volume has endeavored to " obey the command taught him in his youth, Honor thy father," etc., etc. He has, therefore, turned aside for a brief period from his professional duties, to gather up some memorials of him whose life is here but imperfectly delineated. It has indeed been a la- bor of love how and ; faithfully judiciously performed must be left for others to say. The writer has sought to avoid multiplying his own words, preferring that the subject of this memoir and his friends should tell their own story. His chief solicitude has been to do justice to a loved and honored parent, and to the Great Reform, with which he was so closely identi- fied. It was found possible to incorporate but a small part of his correspondence and other documents within the compass of four hundred pages, but enough, it is hoped, fully to illustrate his character and services. It is believed that there is not a denomination of Christians in the land unblessed by this reform. If it has thus been the instrument in the smallest de- gree of advancing the Redeemer's kingdom, it should 1* (V) vi PEEFACE. receive the cordial support of every earnest and sin- cere laborer in the cause of truth and righteousness. A perusal of this volume will show that a large part of Mr. Hawkins' life was devoted to the interests of Massachusetts how much he ; good effected, eternity only can unfold. He canvassed this State more thoroughly than any other. She was the first to rec- ognize in him a reformer whose influence was likely be in the land he therefore loved and to great ; her, adopted her as his home. He has frequently, upon public occasions, expressed the wish to end his labors here, and here to be buried. Will not Massachusetts, therefore, on some fitting occasion, indicate an ap- propriate spot to which his remains may be removed, and erect over them some humble memorial of his deeds ? The great dignity and importance of this reform is seen by a glance at that bright galaxy of divines, statesmen, physicians, and philanthropists, who have at different periods given to the subject their thoughts and prayers and labors. They are fixed in their ele- vated positions, and the radiance of their beams shall yet lighten all the land. Our heart has been glad- dened as we have from time to time noted them somewhat in their order : Rush down, chronological ; Porter, Armstrong, Humphrey, Edwards, Swan, Bon- ney, Dexter, Chapin, Beecher, Nott, Kittredge, Hew- ett, Stuart, Tucker, Fisk, Sewell, Warren, Woods, PREFACE. Vii Hunt, Walworth, Sargent, Delavan, Keener, Pierpont, Grant, Jewett, Barclay, Sigourney, Mclllvaine, Hitch- cock, Potter, Tyng, Marsh, O'Neale, Cocke, Beaman, Chipman, Gough, Riley, Kellogg, Gary, Dow, and Arthur. the The compiler expresses his thanks to many friends of his father who so promptly responded, from and to the various parts of the country, to his circular, Rev. Dr. Marsh, and other friends, for valuable files as was Mr. of public journals. In a life so active Hawkins', many incidents will be found scattered and in through the country in files of newspapers, of the information of that the memories living ; any at No. 11 character, communicated to the compiler, Cornhill, Boston, will be gratefully received. W. G H. BOSTON, January 26th, 1859. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Parents Birthplace His father's death, 1811 School days Rev. A. M'Caine Apprenticeship Drinking usages. CHAPTER II. War of 1814 1812, 1813, Approach of the British on Baltimore Excitement of the Leaves his people employers and joins the volunteer forces The battle Death of General Ross Journal of Rev. J. Baxley Retreat of the enemy. CHAPTER III. 1815. His thorough conversion Devotes himself to good works a Organizes Sabbath school for boys His success Teaches an African to read aged the Bible Gratitude Completes his in apprenticeship Rejoices his liberty Visits Lisbon De- termines to seek his fortune in the Great West. CHAPTER IV. of the Valley West Journal Views a-foot Middletown Tire Hagerstown Pittsburg off Fort Necessity Wild scenery Ohio Steubenville Cincinnati Sixteen towns Madison Obtains work Letters to his parents Strives to servo his Maker Temptations Yellow fever Cost of Hum umei __ liviug Emigrations Whiskey toddy The X CONTENTS. evil spreads Efforts at reform in 1813-33 Waves of un<*odli- ness His parents uneasy Their letters His reply Better times Again idle His wretchedness Determines to seek home Starts, 1821. CHAPTER V Western Wilds Ohio Steamers Forty-two missionaries Osage Indians Snow-storm Wheeling Washington, Pa. Mount Savage Top of Polished Mountain Cherokee Indians Walks thirty miles daily Penniless and forlorn Approaches " " Baltimore Mother The prodigal reforms Westminster Obtains work A kind German Sunday school Fourth of July Joins class Again in Baltimore. CHAPTER VI.- Home Good deportment Marriage A happy couple De- cember 25, 1822 Faithful to his business First a moderate drinker A pleasant companion A good joke Enlarges his business Wheeling, Va. Western freight wagon A babe the kind on mountain A wagoner A great conflagration Flames spread Ladies assist Saving goods Bilious fever A thriving business Reverses A wanderer Trust in Providence John Brown A faithful dog Fails in business Recrosses the Alleghanies Moderate drinking His generous nature Days of darkness His wife declines in health A faithful Western teamster The saddle horse The inva- lid No railroads Beautiful scenery Western Pennsylvania Incidents Indians Precipice Deer Dense forests Waving grain Milk and fruits Consumption Medical aid Approach of death Jacob Rogers and son. CONTENTS. XI CHAPTER VII. " The death-bed of a Christian Early, "A strange hectic" " The bereft A dark night Seeks bright, transient partner cholera No work His the consolations of religion The Falls mother away from danger Gunpowder Boarding Second school The grave of Rachel Harrowing thoughts A tender conscience marriage Hard times Low wages Flees from 1836, relapses A dangerous appetite temptations at Seeks the No hope Struggles A beggar prayer conviction Glad Great . prayer-meeting A powerful tidings his distress No work Drowns his sorrows Increases misery A bake-house A mother's intercession Agony of spirit with Confidence in God A new life Comes power. CHAPTER VIII. The Temperance Reformation, April, 1840 Baltimore Wash- ingtonians Christian Keener The six associates The agree- ment Pledge John Hawkins joins, June 14th The monster vice Christmas News reaches New York Hawkins addresses the Legislature at Annapolis His eloquence John Zug Dr. J. Marsh Green street, New York Extraordinary meetings Great enthusiasm The Park Thrilling scene " " Can I be saved ? The victory Husband rescued Wife restored The new impulse North, South, East and West 5th April, 1841 Six thousand in procession in Baltimore. CHAPTER IX. "Onward" News reaches Boston Hawkins sent for Boston Journal Letter to J. S. Sleeper Arrives in Boston, April 13, 1841 Meetings at the Odeon Resolution by W. B. iii CONTENTS. Spooner House of Correction Deacon Grant Four hundred and twenty signatures at Sailors' Bethel Father Taylor A crowded house Work fairly begun Great meeting in Faneuil Hall General Lyman presides Reception of Mr. Hawkins Speech Tears, mingled with rejoicing Hall in " mourning Death of Harrison Second Declaration of Inde- " " pendence Chelsea Again at Faneuil Hall Freedom's " life-cry Speech Evils of temperance Resolutions of thanks A scene Dennis W. O'Brien Addresses the prison- ers Weep like children Odeon, two hundred pledges His style A great work accomplished Marlboro' Chapel Dan- vers Worcester Norwich, five hundred pledges Paterson, " " N. J., three hundred pledges Log cabin Brooklyn Steamship Fulton Young Men's National Temperance Con- vention Reaches Baltimore May 14th Arrest at Philadelphia "A good joke." CHAPTER X. classes and interests Rapid progress Thousands rescued All benefited The May Anniversary, 1841 Cause for devout Father Mathew gratitude God devised, and God executed in Ireland Dr. Baird in the North of Europe City of Balti- more New York and Boston Great change New princi- error Dr. Walter ple of love for the drunkard The great Dexter Na- Channing's letter Early movements Samuel than Dane Determines to remove to the North Middletown - and Hartford Temperance Hotels Marlboro' Chapel Hawkins Journal Rev. J. Pierpont Concord, Mass. Mr. letter Jolm Humility The spirit of Christ Affecting Tappan's letter. CONTENTS. Xlll CHAPTER XI. Proceedings at Lynn Reception Mass Meeting on the Com- mon Medford Affecting scene Hardy mechanic Able Middletown N. H. lawyer Concord, Fourth of July, 1841 Two hundred thousand ransomed inebriates Great gathering, Broadway Tabernacle Boston Common A bril- liant scene Song of triumph William B.

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