Individual Details
William Chenoweth "Bud" Hawkins
(2 Oct 1817 - 28 May 1883)
William C. Hawkins, familiarly known as Bud, was the proprietor of a popular hotel on Main Cross St. in Elizabethtown. The building had been previously converted into brick from a wooden structure originally opened by James Perciful known as The Perciful House. The establishment had several landlords before Bud purchased it from Roderick Warfield sometime during the 1850's. In the 1850 census William was working as a painter, but by 1860 he is a keeping a hotel worth $2,000.
Bud and his wife and daughters ran the hotel for many years making good money until the fire of Aug 7, 1869 completely burned it down. Everything on his lot had gone, even his chicken coop with all his chickens. Bud's loss was estimated at $12,000 and he had no insurance. In spite of their losses, the business owners in the burned out area of Elizabethtown quickly began to rebuild. Haycraft's history of Elizabethtown written the same year (1869) lists how much had been accomplished. Wm C. Hawkins is listed as having put up a portion of his back building for his family to live in for the winter. The next year in the 1870 census William C. lists himself as a Ret. Hotel Keeper worth $2,500. He later moved to the lower end of town. His son, William Jr., went into business with him. They enjoyed a good business when the railroad shops were nearby at the base of cemetery hill. Bud lists himself as a grocery dealer in the 1880 census.
Haycraft says that Bud was a thrifty man who always made money by honest means in ways no one else would have thought of. He could snare more rabbits, kill more turkeys and deer than all his neighbors put together. Once, says Haycraft ' Mr. B. Frank Slaughter requested Bud to bring him all the rabbits he could capture at 10 cents each. The next day or so Bud came in loaded down to the guards and meeting Mr. Slaughter told him he had brought him some rabbits. "Very well," says Frank, "take them down to my wife and tell her to pay you 10 cents each." When Bud turned off Slaughter asked, "how many have you?" Bud replied, "only forty!" "Oh thunder!" says Frank. "Go around town and sell the most of them." After an hour Bud told him that he parted with all but twenty. "Here," says Frank, "is two dollars, but don't bring me another devilish rabbit." '
Haycraft also relates how Bud would help those who had no money even though he was considered a close dealer. Bud had good custom and would amuse his guests with his wit and comical stories. He was known to go out and invite half a dozen citizens to dinner, saying, "Come in and take a rough check." On another occasion a poor, ill, man stood despondently before his door and Bud called out, "Come in sir." The man replied that he had no money. "Ah, well," says Bud, "you are the very man I have been looking for. Come in." He got him his supper, lodging and breakfast, and after breakfast he took him to the railroad depot and paid his fare to the next station where the stranger said he had friends. On taking leave Bud said, "I will show how I am able to do this," ran his hand into the pocket of his trousers and hauled out a handful of gold and remarked, "If you come across another man in your fix, send him to me."
Bud and his wife and daughters ran the hotel for many years making good money until the fire of Aug 7, 1869 completely burned it down. Everything on his lot had gone, even his chicken coop with all his chickens. Bud's loss was estimated at $12,000 and he had no insurance. In spite of their losses, the business owners in the burned out area of Elizabethtown quickly began to rebuild. Haycraft's history of Elizabethtown written the same year (1869) lists how much had been accomplished. Wm C. Hawkins is listed as having put up a portion of his back building for his family to live in for the winter. The next year in the 1870 census William C. lists himself as a Ret. Hotel Keeper worth $2,500. He later moved to the lower end of town. His son, William Jr., went into business with him. They enjoyed a good business when the railroad shops were nearby at the base of cemetery hill. Bud lists himself as a grocery dealer in the 1880 census.
Haycraft says that Bud was a thrifty man who always made money by honest means in ways no one else would have thought of. He could snare more rabbits, kill more turkeys and deer than all his neighbors put together. Once, says Haycraft ' Mr. B. Frank Slaughter requested Bud to bring him all the rabbits he could capture at 10 cents each. The next day or so Bud came in loaded down to the guards and meeting Mr. Slaughter told him he had brought him some rabbits. "Very well," says Frank, "take them down to my wife and tell her to pay you 10 cents each." When Bud turned off Slaughter asked, "how many have you?" Bud replied, "only forty!" "Oh thunder!" says Frank. "Go around town and sell the most of them." After an hour Bud told him that he parted with all but twenty. "Here," says Frank, "is two dollars, but don't bring me another devilish rabbit." '
Haycraft also relates how Bud would help those who had no money even though he was considered a close dealer. Bud had good custom and would amuse his guests with his wit and comical stories. He was known to go out and invite half a dozen citizens to dinner, saying, "Come in and take a rough check." On another occasion a poor, ill, man stood despondently before his door and Bud called out, "Come in sir." The man replied that he had no money. "Ah, well," says Bud, "you are the very man I have been looking for. Come in." He got him his supper, lodging and breakfast, and after breakfast he took him to the railroad depot and paid his fare to the next station where the stranger said he had friends. On taking leave Bud said, "I will show how I am able to do this," ran his hand into the pocket of his trousers and hauled out a handful of gold and remarked, "If you come across another man in your fix, send him to me."
Events
| Birth | 2 Oct 1817 | Kentucky, United States |  | ||
| Marriage | 29 Aug 1837 | Hardin, Kentucky, United States - Lucy C. Arnold | |  | |
| Census (family) | 30 Aug 1850 | District 2, Hardin, Kentucky, United States - Lucy C. Arnold | | | |
| Census (family) | 15 Jun 1860 | Elizabethtown, Hardin, Kentucky, United States - Lucy C. Arnold | | | |
| Census (family) | 3 Jun 1870 | Elizabethtown, Hardin, Kentucky, United States - Lucy C. Arnold | | | |
| Census (family) | 1880 | Elizabethtown, Hardin, Kentucky, United States - Lucy C. Arnold | | | |
| Death | 28 May 1883 | Elizabethtown, Hardin, Kentucky, United States | |||
| Burial | Elizabethtown City Cemetery, Elizabethtown, Hardin, Kentucky, United States |
Families
| Spouse | Lucy C. Arnold (1821 - 1882) |
| Child | Mary Elizabeth Hawkins (1840 - ) |
| Child | Ellen Jackson Hawkins (1842 - 1916) |
| Child | Nancy A. Hawkins (1845 - 1872) |
| Child | John Henry Hawkins (1847 - 1867) |
| Child | Letitia Van Meter Hawkins (1849 - 1919) |
| Child | William Clifton Hawkins Jr. (1853 - 1900) |
| Child | Robert H. (Gorghagen) Hawkins (1853 - 1887) |
| Child | Sarah E. "Sallie" Hawkins (1856 - 1858) |
| Child | George F Hawkins (1858 - 1859) |
| Child | George Hawkins (1860 - 1860) |
| Child | Virginia Larue "Jennie" Hawkins (1861 - 1941) |
| Father | William Hardin Hawkins (1791 - 1851) |
| Mother | Letitia Van Meter "Letty" Chenoweth (1796 - 1875) |
| Sibling | Andrew Jackson Hawkins (1815 - 1836) |
| Sibling | James Monroe Hawkins (1819 - 1896) |
| Sibling | Miles Hardin "Jack" Hawkins (1823 - 1900) |
| Sibling | Jerome Bonaparte Hawkins (1825 - 1843) |
| Sibling | Mary Jane Hawkins (1828 - 1905) |
| Sibling | Ruth Foreman Hawkins (1831 - 1872) |
| Sibling | Christiana Chenoweth Hawkins (1834 - 1921) |
| Sibling | Ellenora (Eleanor) Hawkins (1836 - 1855) |
| Sibling | Clay Henry Hawkins (1842 - 1915) |
Notes
Birth
Family papers dated June 8th, 1915 - William Hawkins, of Elizabethtown, Ky., now dead. Had children.Marriage
28th day of August, 1837 #354, ,Mr. William C Hawkins & Miss Lucy Arnold. Hardin Hawkins gave consent by written certificate attested by Wm Fairleigh. Sarah Arnold, mother of Lucy gave consent by certificate proven by Miles H Chenoweth
Brandenburg
14th August 1837 the clerk of the Hardin Court will please issue a license for the marriage of my son William Hawkins to Miss Lucy Arnold daughter of Sally Arnold (the widow) the parties having obtained my consent. Given under my hand the date above
Harden Hawkins
Test Wm Fairleigh
Census (family)
Dwelling 212HAWKINS, William 33 M painter $600 b. Ky
Lucy 28 F
Ellen 8 F
Nancy A 6 F
John H 4 M
Letitia 1 F.....all b in Ky
Census (family)
Dwelling 8 Dist 2Wm C Hawkins M 42 Ky hotel keeper $2000 (real est)
Lucy C Hawkins F 36 Ky
Nancy A Hawkins F 16 Ky
John H Hawkins M 18 Ky.
Lettitia Hawkins F 10 Ky.
Wm C Hawkins M 9 Ky.
Robt H Hawkins M 6 Ky.
Sam Daugerty M 42 Ky.
J Adams M 26 Ind
Jacob Astrothe M 23 Germany
Philip Doran M 26 Bavaria Germany
Census (family)
Dwelling 80 Family 80 Elizabethtown Post OfficeHAWKINS, Wm C. 53 m w Ret. Hotel Keeper $2500 b. Ky
Lucy 44 f w keeps house
William 18 m w clerks at hotel
Robert 16 m w " " "
Jenny 9 m w at home ......all b in Ky
Census (family)
William C. HAWKINS Self M Male W 62 KY Grocery Dealer KY KYLucy HAWKINS Wife M Female W 56 KY Keeping House KY KY
William C. HAWKINS Son S Male W 25 KY At Home KY KY
Robert HAWKINS Son S Male W 23 KY At Home KY KY
Source Information:
Census Place Elizabethtown, Hardin, Kentucky
Family History Library Film 1254417
NA Film Number T9-0417
Page Number 249B
Endnotes
1. "Kentucky, Marriages, 1785-1979," index, FamilySearch, (https://familysearch.org: accessed 30 July 2013), William C. Hawkins and Lucy Arnold, 29 Aug 1837.
2. "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," index and images, Family Search (https://familysearch.org: accessed 17 June 2022), William Hawkins & Lucy Arnold.
3. U.S. Census, 1850 Hardin Co., KY, Hawkins surname; read by lookup volunteer Laquita
4. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.), 1850 > KENTUCKY > HARDIN > 2-DIST Series: M432 Roll: 203 Page: 318 .
5. U.S. Census, 1860 & 1870 Hardin Co., KY, Hawkins surname; read by lookup volunteer Laquita
6. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.).
7. U.S. Census, 1860 & 1870 Hardin Co., KY, Hawkins surname; read by lookup volunteer Laquita
8. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.).
9. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints., Transcription of the United States Federal Population Census - 1880 (http://www.familysearch.org/ Oct. 2002).