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William Needham Hawkins
Confectioner
107 W Main
1890
01 08 ACCIDENT WHILE BOARDING TRAIN
Last
Saturday forenoon, as Wm. Hawkins was attempting to board the Northwestern
passenger train going south at Milton Junction, having stepped off supposing
the train would stop 20 minutes for dinner, he fell between the cars and
platform and while being dragged he was struck with a baggage truck. He fortunately escaped any very serious injury
but altogether it was a close call. Mr.
Hawkins says that he did not hear the conductor call "ALL ABOARD"
until the train was underway. WR
1900
1899-1900 Watertown City Directory
1902
03 15 HAWKINS SOLD BUSINESS TO MAGWOOD
The confectionery and fruit business on West Main Street owned until a week ago by William Hawkins was purchased by Wm. Magwood, of Deerfield. The new owner took possession at once. Mr. Hawkins will retire from active business and take up his residence at 121 Washington Street. WR
1904
11 10 MAGWOOD
SOLD BUSINESS TO RADTKE
Wm. Magwood has sold his confectionery and ice cream business on West Main Street to R. A. Radtke, of this city, and Lewis Wagner, of Milwaukee, the new proprietors taking possession last Sunday. Mr. Magwood will remain in the city, and may possibly go into some other line of business. Since locating here he had an excellent trade, and his successors mean to keep up the good reputation of the business. WG
1905
01 05 MAGWOOD
SELLS OUT
Alderman Radtke & Son are now the sole proprietors of the confectionery, ice cream and restaurant business in West Main Street, formerly conducted by Wm. Magwood. They will keep up the excellent reputation of the place and give the public first-class service. If in need of anything in their line you will do well to patronize them. WG
1908
1909
01 29 RADTKE & SON SELL OUT
FORMER HAWKINS PLACE
CHANGES HANDS
Radtke & Son have sold their ice cream and
confectionery business at 107 West Main Street to W. C. Vick of Waterloo, who
will take possession the latter part of next month. Of the new
proprietors The Waterloo Democrat of last week
says: "Watertown gains one of our best citizens, in W. C. Vick, who last
week purchased the restaurant and confectionery of Radtke & Son, possession
to be given Feb. 1. This is the famous old Hawkins [William N.,
confectioner] place at 107 West Main Street. "Billy" has a
knack of being handy at anything he turns his hand to and will surely make a
success of his new line of business. While we regret to see him and
his estimable family leave here, we wish them an abundance of happiness and
prosperity in their new home. We recommend Mr. Vick to the people of
our neighboring city as honest and upright in all his dealings and hope they
will give him a goodly share of their patronage." [107 W Main,
earlier Marie Vick’s ice cream parlor; later the Bridge Inn, then Bright Spot
Cafe; today the Chalet Restaurant]
04 09 107
W. MAIN FITTED OUT FOR EASTER ATTIRE
W. C. Vick, successor to R. H. Radke, in the confectionery
business at 107 West Main Street, has his place of business fitted out in most
beautiful Easter attire. Festoons of white and purple ribbon
decorate his place of business from front to rear, and Easter novelties of all
kinds are to be seen in every nook and corner of the place. If
inclined to make Easter purchases in the line of confectionery, Easter
decorations and novelties, you will find Mr. Vick's, 107 West Main Street, just
the place to get them.
08 27 DEATH OF WILLIAM
VICK
William C. Vick died at his home at 107 West Main Street
last Wednesday afternoon of nervous troubles. Deceased was born
September 20, 1867, in Milwaukee, and when quite young removed with his parents
to Waterloo, where he was a prominent business man and leader of the Waterloo
band for years. In February last he purchased the ice cream and
candy business of R. H. Radtke in West Main Street and conducted it up to the
time of his death. He was a most excellent, kindly citizen and his
death is learned of with sincere sorrow. His wife, five sons and one
daughter survive him. His remains will be taken to Waterloo on
Friday for interment, services being held here from his home at 1
o’clock. The burial will take place Saturday afternoon at
Waterloo. WG
1910
Mrs. William N.
Hawkins
01
06 WG of 01 06 1911 – Thursday evening, December 29, 1910,
Mrs. William N. Hawkins died at her home, 307 West Milwaukee Street, at the
close of an illness of long standing. She had been in poor health
for some time and her death did not take her relatives and friends unawares. During
her long illness she bore her sufferings with patience and resignation and when
the final summons came she was well prepared.
Mrs. Hawkins was born July 3, 1835 [1834
on tombstone], in Dublin, Ireland, and in 1848 came to
Watertown. Her maiden name was Jane Smyth, she being a sister of
John Smyth, West Milwaukee Street. In 1863 she was married to Mr.
Hawkins, who with her two sons, George J. Hawkins of Madison and Charles E.
Hawkins of New York City survive her.
For several years after being married the
family resided in Fond du Lac, and then removed to this city, where Mr. Hawkins
for many years conducted a confectionery, ice cream and restaurant business,
from which he retired a few years ago.
Mrs. Hawkins was one of the best known
residents of Watertown, and her large acquaintance held her in very high
esteem. She possessed a kind, sympathetic disposition and during her
entire life here was continually doing deeds of charity and kindness to those
of our citizens not so fortunately situated as herself. Her genial,
pleasant greeting to everyone made the world around her happy and cheerful,
hence she is mourned sincerely by all who knew her. Monday afternoon
her funeral took place from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The interment was in Oak Hill cemetery.
1915
Watertown Gazette, 10 21 1915
William N. Hawkins in Eighty-Four Years Old
Pioneer Resident Came to America from Ireland in 1850
An Old Settler
William Needham Hawkins, one of Watertown's best known pioneer citizens, says The Watertown Leader, celebrated the 84th anniversary of his birth last Saturday, greeting many of his friends and old associates at the home of his son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. George J. Hawkins, 303 West Milwaukee Street.
The guests included several of the older members of the Masonic order, of which Mr. Hawkins has been a member since 1892. Friends called to greet the pioneer both afternoon and evening and wish him the return of many more anniversaries. In the afternoon and evening, the callers were Mr. Marshall Woodard and Mr. S. M. Eaton. It is an interesting fact to say that the combined ages of the three round out the figure of 252 years.
In the evening, Senator William P. Voss and Hugo C. Jacobi were two more of the Brother Masons who called and paid their respects to the worthy citizen, as well as several friends and neighbors outside of the lodge. Mr. Hawkins was presented with a beautiful bouquet of chrysanthemums as a slight token of the esteem in which he is held.
The life of Mr. Hawkins is an interesting one and as pure as it is interesting. He came to this country in the year 1850, when 19 years of age, coming from the city of Dublin, Ireland. He remained in New York until October, 1852, then coming to the middle west and locating at Kenosha. He removed to Watertown in 1856 and has resided here continuously with the exception of 12 years which were spent in Fond du Lac.
Upon returning from Fond du Lac, Mr. Hawkins engaged in the confectionery and ice cream business in which he gained an enviable reputation. He remained in that business until 1902, when he retired.
Mr. Hawkins relates the interesting experience of taking passage from Liverpool to New York, which required over three months' time. Leaving Liverpool on May15th; 1850, he did not reach New York until August of the same year. This was after being shipwrecked off the coast of Newfoundland, near St. John. He also relates that it took six weeks to get from the scene of the shipwreck to New York.
During his residence at Kenosha, Mr. Hawkins was a member of the pioneer fire company No. 1. He was also a member of the pioneer fire department in Watertown in the days of the old hand engines [pumper].
Mr. Hawkins has seen Wisconsin grow from a wilderness to the rich agricultural section it is today. At the time he came to the Badger state, there was not a foot of railroad within the borders of the now great commonwealth. He was obliged to make the trip from Chicago to Kenosha by boat. In those early days, farmers were to be seen driving ox teams with loads of wheat being hauled to Milwaukee, Kenosha, Racine and other lake towns, distances of 100 miles and over.
George and Alice Hawkins, brother and sister came to this country in 1864 —the same year the elder brother came to Watertown from Kenosha. Both are living in Clyman Street. The sister in February next will reach the age of 86 years, while the brother George is 72 years of age. The dear old mother, Mrs. Mary Bryan Hawkins, was laid at rest in Oak Hill Cemetery. The father passed away in Ireland in 1856. The subject of this sketch was married in 1863 to Miss Jane E. Smyth of this city. Two sons are living, Charles E. of Akron, Ohio, and George J. of this city.
c.1918
William Needham Hawkins
Cross Reference:
Strauss & Sette
Building Sold.
Mrs. Francis G. Schwantz, one of the mortgagees, bid in the Strauss & Sette Co. building at the southwest corner of Main and Second streets last Tuesday for $13,000.
History of Watertown, Wisconsin