Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Hawksworth, George W. March 31, 1840 - ????
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Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Philadelphia, 1892.
Author: Samuel T. Wiley

GEORGE W. HAWKSWORTH, 
the well known and popular florist of Altoona, is a veteran of the civil war,
and a man whose life has been active and useful.  He is a son of George W.,
sr., and Susan (Groff) Hawksworth, and was born March 31, 1840, in the city
of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  The Hawksworths were among the English families
who early embraced the doctrines of George Fox, and became Quakers. 
   Representatives of the family came over with William Penn, and were among the
earliest settlers of this State.  From them the subject of this sketch is
descended.  George W. Hawksworth, sr., (father) was a native of Kent county,
Maryland, where he grew to manhood and received such education as was
afforded by the country schools of that day.  In that county he learned the
trade of blacksmith, serving an extended apprenticeship under a competent
workman.  After attaining manhood and finishing his trade, he removed to
Lebanon, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, where he carried on coach and carriage
smithing for several years.  At Lebanon he became acquainted with and married
Susan Groff, who bore him a family of nine children, eight of whom are yet
living.  From Lebanon he removed to Lancaster, this State, where he was
employed for some time by a firm engaged in the building of stage coaches,
and then went to Parksburg, Chester county, on the old Portage railroad; and
worked in the railroad blacksmith shop in the employ of the State
authorities.  Later he removed to the city of Harrisburg and accepted a
position in the blacksmith shops of the old Lancaster Railroad Company,
remaining in their employ until the road was sold to the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company.  He then worked for the latter company at Harrisburg until
1852, when he was sent by them to Mifflin, Mifflin county, to take charge of
their shops at that place.  He remained at Mifflin only one year, when he was
transferred to Altoona, this county, and made foreman of the motive power
blacksmith shops in this city.  He was the first foreman in these shops, and
held the position up to the time of his death, December 20, 1891, when in his
eighty-third year.  His was a life of earnest industry and usefulness.  He was
a member of the Methodist Episcopal church from the age of nine years, and of
the Harrisburg Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for more than
half a century.  In politics he was a republican, but broad minded and
liberal in his views.  He won the respect and esteem of all who knew him,
from the highest to the lowest position, and stood forth as an exemplar of
Nature's noblest work -- an honest man.  His wife, who is of German descent,
still survives him, being now in the eight-first year of her age.  She also
has been a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is greatly
esteemed and loved by a wide circle of friends.  She now resides at her
comfortable home in this city.
   George W. Hawksworth passed his early boyhood in the city of Harrisburg,
and came to Altoona with his father's family.  He received his education
principally in the common schools of this city, and after leaving school
learned the blacksmith's trade with his father.  He worked at his trade in
the Pennsylvania railroad shops in Altoona for a period of fifteen years,
being assistant foreman under his father, and in 1883 was compelled to resign
his place in the shops on account of declining health.  He then engaged in the
business which he has ever since successfully conducted, that of a florist,
and now has large, handsome, well arranged and well kept greenhouses, with
every species of plant and flower usually kept by a first-class florist.
   In April, 1861, Mr. Hawksworth enlisted with Capt. A. M. Lloyd, of
Hollidaysburg, in Co. II, 3d Pennsylvania infantry, for three months, and
after the expiration of his first term, reenlisted under Capt. Henry Wayne,
of Altoona, in Co. F, 76th Pennsylvania infantry, for three years.  On April
1, 1862, Mr. Hawksworth was attached to the United States signal corps at
Hilton Head, South Carolina, and served in that position until October 16,
1865, when he was discharged from the service at Hilton Head.  During his
service in the army he contracted disease from which he has ever since
suffered, and which compelled him to resign his position in the railroad
shops and seek employment less exacting and laborious.  In politics he is a
republican, and takes an active interest in the success of his party.
   On December 22, 1865, Mr. Hawksworth was wedded to Amelia J. Major,
daughter of Joseph A. Major, formerly of Hollidaysburg, this county, but at
that time a resident of Lewistown, Mifflin county.  To Mr. And Mrs.
Hawksworth has been born a family of four children, two sons and two
daughters:  William J., Susie, Calvin P., and Laura A., all living at home
with their parents at their handsome residence in the city of Altoona.

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2001. Transcribed by Eileen.

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