Yolo County
Biographies
HON. NICHOLAS A. HAWKINS
The Hawkins family, represented in
Woodland, Yolo county, by Hon. Nicholas A. Hawkins, a
leading attorney of the city, came originally from Virginia, where the first
European emigrant is supposed to have established the name. Succeeding
generations partook of the spirit of their early ancestor in seeking a new
country, and in Thomas Hawkins, the grandfather of the Hon. Nicholas A.
Hawkins, was found a pioneer who sought an outlet for his energies among the
primitive surroundings of Kentucky. He removed from his native state, Virginia,
to the vicinity of Lexington, Ky., where he engaged in farming until his death,
participating in the movements which made of the "dark and bloody
ground" one of the most beautiful and attractive places of the Mississippi
valley. A son, Nicholas, born near Lexington, Ky., followed his father's
example and removed in early manhood to Marion Co., Mo., where he farmed for
the period of fifteen years, thence locating in Crawford County, where he
remained for about five years. In 1860 he crossed the plains to California,
bringing with him his wife and seven children on the six months trip, during
which they had many exciting adventures with the Indians, although by traveling
in a large train they were spared the more serious depredations of the savages.
Upon his arrival Mr. Hawkins located with his family in the vicinity of Gilroy,
Santa Clara county, upon the Solis grant, his title
later being disputed, but finally, by the decision of the supreme court of the
United States he was sustained in his premises. Later disposing of this property
to one of his sons-in-law he removed to Hollister, San Benito county, where he made his residence as a retired citizen
until his death in 1890, at the age of eighty years. He was a man of ability
and energy and took an active interest in all that pertained to the general
welfare of the state and county in which he made his home.
Nicholas Hawkins married Margaretta M. Frasier, who was born near Lexington, Ky., a
daughter of Joel Frasier, an early settler from Virginia. Mrs. Hawkins died in
1896, at the age of eighty-four years, after a life well and worthily spent in ministering
to the needs of her family and those about her. She was widely known and highly
respected for her lofty ideals and consistent, Christian character. She was the
mother of the following children: Thomas S., a banker of Hollister; Joel F., a
farmer of Hollister; John W., a farmer of Hollister; Margaret Jane, the wife of
J. Q. Patton, located on the homestead at Gilroy; Elizabeth, the wife of J. A. McCroskey, of Hollister; Mary E., the wife of R. W.
Chappell, of Hollister; and Nicholas Andrew, the personal subject of this
review.
The youngest child of his father's
family, Nicholas A. Hawkins was born in Crawford County, Mo., on the Merrimac river, May 31, 1856. He remained in his native state but
four years, when he was brought to California by his parents, spending his
childhood in the Santa Clara valley and later removing to Hollister, where he
received the greater part of his preliminary education in the public
schools. He was graduated from the Gilroy High School in 1873, after which he
entered the Pacific Methodist College at Santa Rosa, Sonoma county,
Cal., where he took a four years' course. Equipped with the degree of A.B., in
1877 he became a student in the Albany Law School of Albany, New York, and two
years later was graduated from that institution with the degree of L.L.B., and
also received about that time the degree of A.M. from his alma mater. Returning
to California, he engaged in the practice of his profession in Hollister in
partnership with N. C. Briggs. While a resident of that city he was appointed
district attorney for San Benito county by the board
of supervisors, serving from 1880 to 1882, at the expiration of which time he
declined to be a candidate, as a friend, B. B. McCroskey,
had become a candidate, the latter being elected to the position.
In 1884 Mr. Hawkins was nominated by
the Democratic party and elected to the office of district attorney of San
Benito County, serving for one term, after which on account of impaired health
and seeking a warmer and dryer climate, he removed to Woodland, Yolo county,
where, in January, 1887, he opened an office and began the general practice of
his profession. In 1889 he engaged in partnership with J. Craig, with whom he
remained connected until 1895, when Mr. Craig retired from practice to attend
to his personal affairs. Since that time Mr. Hawkins has carried on a
constantly increasing practice alone, and is now serving as attorney for the
Yolo County Consolidated Water Company, the Bank of Woodland, and other
corporations. In his practice he has met with gratifying success, as he is well
versed in the intricacies of the law and conscientious in the transaction of
all business illustrated to him by his clients. He has personally conducted
many of the largest and most important suits in the county and has been
sustained in nearly every position that he has ever taken. Rapidly rising to a
position of influence among the citizens of Woodland and Yolo county, in 1904 he was elected to the legislature by the
Democratic party, running four hundred and fifty ahead of the remainder of the
ticket. This was the year of the Republican landslide and Mr. Hawkins was the
only Democrat elected in either house north of San Francisco. During the
session Mr. Hawkins introduced and was instrumental in securing the passage of
the Agricultural Farm Bill, a measure for which the people of Yolo county had been working for several years. This bill
provided for an appropriation of $150,000 to be used in the establishment of a
farm connection with the agricultural department of the State University. Mr.
Hawkins was also an important member of various committees, among them being
that of swamp and overflowed lands; irrigation; county boundaries; engrossment
and enrollment; military affairs; and others. He was connected with the
introduction and passage of several minor bills, among them some amendments to
the codes and municipal and county government acts. Although
a Democrat and elected to the legislature through this influence. Mr.
Hawkins was regarded as a man of patriotism and unusual ability and he was thus
chosen to positions of trust and responsibility as a member of these committees
by the Republican party. He has demonstrated that he
possesses rare ability, both in his profession and in a public capacity, and
well merits the high regard in which he is held by all who know him.
In Amity, Ore., in 1879, Mr. Hawkins
was united in marriage with Emma E. Chase, a native of Fairbury, Illinois, and
a daughter of William T. Chase, a cousin of Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase. Mr.
Chase was a soldier during the Civil war in an Illinois regiment and died in
service. Mrs. Hawkins is a graduate of a seminary in Peoria, Illinois, and a
woman of culture and refinement. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins are the parents of two
sons, of whom the elder, J. Waldo, graduated from the University of Michigan in
1904 with the degree of L.L.B., after which he practiced law with his father
until April 1, 1905, when he located in Modesto, Stanislaus county, Cal., where
he has entered into partnership with Judge W. O. Minor; the younger son,
Bellwood Chase, is a student in the University of California. Fraternally Mr.
Hawkins was made a Mason in Woodland Lodge No. 156, F. & A. M.; an Odd Fellow
in 1879 in Hollister, but is now a member Woodland Lodge, of which he is past
grand, and also belongs to the Woodmen of the World and the Order of the
Eastern Star. He is a member of the State Bar Association as well, and takes a
keen interest in the discussion and study of his profession. He is patriotic
and loyal to his state, and after his location in Woodland he gave all his
thought and effort and energy to the upbuilding of
the best interests of the city and county where he made his home. He is in true
sympathy with his surroundings and is a popular man both in social and
professional life.
Transcribed by
Sally Kaleta.
Source: “History of the State of
California and Biographical Record of the Sacramento Valley,
California” by J. M. Guinn. Pages 265-266.
Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1906.
© 2014 Sally Kaleta.
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Library's Yolo County Biographies