Person:Edna Spaulding (2)

    Edna Mary (Spaulding) Hawkins, the second of five children of Eliza Ulisus (Townsend) & Eli Foster Spaulding was born 06 January 1891 in Liberty Township, Tipton County, Indiana. When she married Harry Hawkins on 24 February 1909, their home was built on the Jonas Hawkins land, just across the road from her birth home  to the west, where she lived her entire life.

...................

     Mom spent any free time she could create on flowers. She spent years and countless hours with her dahlias, and had some beautiful hybrids which she probably bought with egg money. She also kept water lilies in wash tubs around the back yard. To keep the mosquitoes from multiplying, Larry caught small blue gill in the Henderson pit and put them in the tubs. 
     Edna, like Harry worked all the time. With seven children to care for, and then the grandchildren as they came along, the work associated with the farm, and the relations to be maintained with the extended family and the community, left no time to spare. Cooking alone was a feat to comment on. Harry insisted that no meal was a proper meal without meat and potatoes. Breakfast was eggs, potatoes, side, biscuits, gravy, and coffee strong enough to walk. Dinner was potatoes, ham, green beans, and bread. Supper was more fried potatoes, navy or lima beans, pork chops, pie, and more black coffee. 
     As the grandchildren came along, they were to be cared for, as their parents wrestled with life’s difficulties. Phil and Don spent a great deal of time there as Harold started his professional life, and then was called to the Army during WW II. Charles’ children spent time following the loss of Pauline, and then his divorce from Retha. And at different times they were all there. Unlike Harry, who did not spare the rod. Edna was firm and did not let very much bother her. Source: Hawkins from Tipton County, Indiana. A migrating American family 1861-2001 by Phillip A. Hawkins © 2002. 

Obituary of Edna (Spaulding) Hawkins
THE TIPTON TRIBUNE-Friday, February 4, 1972- Page 8
Last Rites For Mrs. Hawkins Will Be Held At Sharpsville
     Mrs. Edna Hawkins, 81, of Rt 2, Sharpsville, died at 2 p.m. Thursday at Tipton Memorial Hospital after a three-year illness.
     She was born Jan. 6, 1891 to Eli and Eliza Townsend Spaulding at Rt. 2 Sharpsville and had lived all of her life in the area.	
     She was married to Harry T. Hawkins on Feb. 24, 1909 after receiving her early schooling in Sharpsville and Ross Schools. Her husband preceded her in death in July of 1950. 
     Mrs. Hawkins was a member of the Sharpsville United Methodist Church, Sharpsville Eastern Star Chapter 148, Extension Homemakers and the H and H Club. 
     Surviving are five sons, Charles N. of Sharpsville, Harold T. of Indianapolis, Lloyd S [should be F.]. of Monticello, Robert E. of Arcadia and Cmdr. Larry of the U. S. Navy; two daughters, Mrs. Helen Wilson and Mrs. Kathleen Reese, a sister, Mrs. Lela Christner, Rt. 2, Sharpsville, 19 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren. A brother preceded her in death. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Sharpsville United Methodist Church with Rev. Frederick Mossburg officiating. Burial will follow in Sharpsville Cemetery. Friends may call at the Warner Funeral Home after 10 a.m. Saturday or at the church one hour prior to services.

   Horace C. Holmes (Tipton County Atty.) was nominated and appointed Executor by Edna in her Will. In summation the will specified some items that were the property of Larry (not to be included in the estate), her music was bequeathed to Betty Hawkins (wife of grandson William), and any gifts and articles purchased for her by the children should be returned to the legatee. She directed that no such items were to be sold at public or private auction (most were sold at auction). Residue of the estate were to be distributed in 1/7th's to each child. There was much controversy within the family and with the court over the handling and distribution. The division was Harold, Helen (co-administrator), Lloyd, Robert, and Larry vs. Charles and Katheleen (co-administrator).

.....................

  Edna's will names Katheleen as Susie Katheleen (birth record shows only Katheleen).

    The house Edna was born in is located at 40º  22' 29.62" N & 86º 02' 01.56" W, on the east side Indiana 19 just south of the Sharpsville road. The home that Jonas Hawkins built for them was located on the Sharpsville road at 40º 22’ 33.42” N & 86º 02’ 06.86” W.