Friday, October 1, 2021

Henry and Andrew Hawkins, Owatonna, Minnesota 1890s


Andrew Haakensen was born in Laerdal, Sogn, Norway in 1862. His brother, Henry, was born in 1865. They were the sons of Haakon Olson and Anna Haagensdatter Vold. The family immigrated to the United States around 1873. Upon arrival, the family shortened their name from Haakensen to Haken, and eventually to the more American Hawkins. They settled in Wayne, Iowa, where their father, now going by Olson Haken, worked as a laborer. 

Andrew married in 1894 to Synneva Monson Groethe, who would eventually go by Sarah. The couple had three sons, Hagbarth (b. 1894), Adolph (b. 1896), and Carman (b. 1906). Andrew supported his family by working as a farmer in LeRoy, Minnesota, which is about an hour away from Owatonna, where this photo was taken. 

Henry married a few years after his brother in 1897 and, coincidentally, also married a Sarah. Henry and Sarah made their home in LeRoy, where Henry ran a dry goods store and became well-known in the community as a successful businessman. They had one son, Tillman, born in 1902.

Andrew lived in LeRoy for the rest of his life, passing away there in 1931 at age 69. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find the year of Henry's death. 

If you know who these gentlemen may be, let us know in the comments!

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