ROBERT HAWKINS JUN.
Yaphank
from Yaphank As It Is and Was
by
Beecher Homan
1875
HIS FIRST STRUGGLE A TRIBUTE TO HIS MEMORY
MR. HAWKINS was a gentleman of sterling qualities, and, although his promising future was obscured by the grim mantle of death, his works on earth evinced his many excellent talents, and a beaming future of well earned honors and happiness.
His FIRST STRUGGLE
When but a lad his ambitious spirit led him into busy life. At an early age Mr. James H. Weeks gave him a letter of introduction to a prominent mercantile firm in the City of New York, and his movements upward began. It led him on to the bright goal of business aspiration. It helped him amass a fine fortune, and to form endearing ties with many noble characters.
A Tribute To His Memory
MR. Hawkins died at Yaphank, L.I., December 16th, 1855, aged 38 years.
After a short illness Mr. Hawkins was stricken down in the prime of his manhood, and at an age when his prospects were bright for many of happiness with his beloved and interesting family.
It is but a little while since he retired from an active commercial life in the city of N.Y. to enjoy the rural and domestic pleasures of his native place, and to soothe the declining days of his aged father, who ,being entirely blind, was the more dependent upon his son.
Although the time allotted him to discharge these filial duties was short, yet his friends can testify how faithfully he performed them. Kindly he guided the faltering steps of the old man, and cheered his lonely home by reading and praying with him. Not only is his death a loss to his family, but to society, and to all to whom he had endeared himself by his frank and courteous manners and generous disposition. Kind and obliging, he was always read to confer a favor. And ever grateful when he received one. The disease, which terminated in an affection of the brain, rendered him unconscious of all around. And insensible to the attention and solicitude with which he was watched by his family, friends and neighbors. They hoped and prayed for some favorable change, that he might be spared to his beloved ones. But no interval of returning consciousness permitted him to bid farewell to those to those so dear to his heart. Yet they are not with out the ever-blessed assurance that his peace was made with God. That he had not neglected, while in health, to "set his affections on things above him;" to lay up his treasure in heaven; where neither moth nor rust can corrupt." Nor was he ashamed to confess Christ before men, in partaking of the holy sacrament in obeyance to the command: " Do this in remembrance of me." His Christian deportment and conversation were apparent to all, and he has truly left an example worthy of imitation. Although in the enjoyment of worldly prosperity, and occupying his new and beautiful residence, in circumstances where pride so easily besets the human heart, he was just as humble as in the isolated cottage. Before its completion his beautiful home was consecrated to prayer, and made a habitation for god.
One of the last acts previous to his death was to construct a fence enclosing the family burial ground, through the gate of which his own mortal remains were the first to be borne. There may they lie in peace until the morning of the Resurrection, and, if we believe that "Jesus died and rose again." even so them also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."
A sad day a sad hour it was when Hewlett Hawkins was laid in the dark and stilly tomb. Every spring the warm zephyrs fan the sweet flowers that bloom over his grave, and the cruel frost of autumn cuts down the bright and promising man.