Congressman Robert Moffett Allison Hawk1

b. 23 April 1839, d. 29 June 1882
Congressman R.M.A. Hawk
FatherWilliam Henry Hawk2 b. 2 Dec 1809, d. 6 Oct 1886
MotherHannah Moffett2 b. 22 Mar 1804, d. 30 Oct 1843
Birth23 Apr 1839 Robert Moffett Allison Hawk was born on 23 Apr 1839 on a farm 2 miles east of Greenfield in Hancock County, Indiana.1 
Name Other  Robert was often referred to by his initials: R.M.A. 
Moth-Death30 Oct 1843  When Robert was 4 years old his mother died following the birth of a younger brother. Robert's father left him in the care of William Moffett (Robert's uncle) who lived in neighboring Rush County.3 
  In Oct. 1845 Robert's father married Margaret Davis in Carroll County, Illinois. The following summer Robert joined them.3 
  There he became the eldest in a large family, which eventually numbered 14 children. Robert attended Carroll County public schools and also studied under a cousin who prepared him for college. He attended Eurka College for 4 months in late 1861 before enlisting in the Union Army while visiting at home in Carroll County.4,5,6 
Military  Robert joined Company C of the 92nd Illinois Mounted Infantry at Lanark, Illinois on July 26, 1862. He was 23 years old. The company elected Robert as their first lieutenant. In January 1863 William Stouffer, the companies captain, died of typhoid fever and Robert assumed his command.

The company participated in various campaigns and eventually found themselves in the vicinity of Atlanta, Georgia where they were assigned to participate in Sherman's march to the sea. After reaching Savanna the troups turned north into the Carolinas. On the morning of the April 12, 1865 Robert and his company approached Swift Creek, near Raleigh, North Carolina. The remaining Confederate troops had destroyed the bridge and held the opposite bank of the stream. Members of the 92nd managed to force them back, control the bank and rebuild the bridge. As they were doing so a messenger approached the 92nd with news of Lees surrender to Grant 3 days earlier. But the Confederate troops did not know this and they fought on.

In the ensuing fighting Robert was severely wounded, taking a bullet in the abdomen as he rode on horseback in front of his company. Although he recovered from the wound, the loss of blood supply to his right leg caused gangrene to set in and 13 days later the leg was amputated. Robert's father traveled from Illinois to be with him as he recovered. On June 21, 1865 Robert was mustered out at Concord, NC and returned to Carroll County, Illinois where he married the following month. In 1867 Robert was appointed Major by Brevet for his faithful service.7,8 
Marriage21 Jul 1865 He married Mary Gertrude Clark, daughter of Robert Mansfield Clark and Cynthia Mills Dickinson, on 21 Jul 1865 in Freedom Township, Carroll County, Illinois. The couple had met when both were students at Eureka College before the war.9 
Cens-187013 Aug 1870  Robert and Mary settled in Mt. Carroll where in the early days of their marriage Robert served as the county clerk.10 
Residence The couple raised their family in a comfortable residence on the corner of Clay and Pleasant Streets in Mt. Carroll (see photo below). Four children were born to them, including a son Robert who died in infancy. As a child their youngest son Egbert suffered a serious leg injury in a carriage accident.11,12 
Public Serv1878  In 1878 RMA was elected to the United States Congress to represent the fifth congressional district comprising Jo Daviess, Carrol, Whiteside, Ogle and Stephenson Counties. He introduced 2 bills during his first term, one to provide for re-organzing the army and a second that required imitation butter be labeled as such. In 1880 RMA was elected for a second term.12 
Death29 Jun 1882 Robert died on 29 Jun 1882 in Washington, DC, at age 43. 
Burial2 Jul 1882 He was buried with full military and Masonic honors on 2 Jul 1882 at Oakhill Cemetery in Mt. Carroll, Carroll County, Illinois.13,14 
  RMA's funeral was attended by many members of Congress who escorted his body from Washington D.C. to Mt. Carroll. Hundreds of Masons and G.A.R. members (Grand Army of the Republic) also attended.12 

Related Links and Images:

The RMA Hawk family home in Mt. Carroll
RMA Hawk monument at Oakhill Cemetery
Find Mt. Carroll and Oak Hill Cemetery on the Carroll County map (also accessible via the Misc. Locations link in the menu bar at the top of any page).
Pages from Public Men of Today by P.C. Headley (1882) about RMA Hawk (includes photo)
If you are not able to clearly read the text on the above images do a Google search on these words: Public Men Today Headley RMA Hawk. The first link that comes up should be to Google's digital images of this book. Clicking on that link should open the book to the first page on RMA Hawk. You can then use the + sign on the magnifying glass to enlarge the image and text

Family

Mary Gertrude Clark b. 12 Feb 1841, d. 13 Nov 1917
Children
  • Henry Clark Hawk+11 (17 Aug 1866 - )
  • Hannah Gertrude Hawk11 (20 Jul 1868 - 28 Apr 1938)
  • Robert M. Hawk11 (4 Mar 1872 - 15 Jun 1872)
  • Egbert Burgess Hawk11 (2 Aug 1875 - 12 Sep 1939)
ChartsDescendants of William Moffett and Mary Gardner
Last Edited20 Sep 2013

Citations

  1. [S1028] Frederick C. Pierce, Memorial of the Life and Character of Robert M.A. Hawk, p. 6.
  2. [S1028] Frederick C. Pierce, Memorial of the Life and Character of Robert M.A. Hawk, p. 7.
  3. [S1028] Frederick C. Pierce, Memorial of the Life and Character of Robert M.A. Hawk, p. 8.
  4. [S1028] Frederick C. Pierce, Memorial of the Life and Character of Robert M.A. Hawk, p. 9.
  5. [S1029] William H. Hawk household, 1850 U.S. census, Carroll Co., Illinois, pop. sched., Freedom township, p. 351 (stamped, dwelling 5, family 5, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2004, image 3 of 8. Enumeration records: Wm H. Hawk, 40, farmer, b. VA; Margret E. 27, b. VA; Rbt. 11, IN; Thomas M., 8, b. IN; John A., 6, b. IN; Mary A., 3, b. IL; Margret E., 27, b. VA.
  6. [S1030] Wm H. Hawk household, 1860 U.S. census, Carroll Co., Illinois, pop. sched., Freedom, p. 867 (added script), dwelling 301, family 291, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2004, image 9 of 22. Enumeration includes: Wm Hawk, 50, farmer, real estate: $14,200, pers. prop: $2,000, b. VA; Margaret, 36, b. VA; Robert M.A., 21, b. IN; Thomas M., 18, b. IN; John A., 16, b. IN; Mary C., 14, b. IL; Fountain B., 10, b. IL; Addison H., 6, b. IL; Virginia A., 3, b. IL; Hugh C., 2, b. IL.
  7. [S1978] Compiled Service Record, Robert M.A. Hawk, Co. C, 92nd Regiment Illinois Mounted Infantry, Civil War, Record Group 94, National Archives, Washington D.C.
  8. [S1028] Frederick C. Pierce, Memorial of the Life and Character of Robert M.A. Hawk, p. 13-23.
  9. [S1051] "Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900", Illinois State Archives (http://www.sos.state.il.us/GenealogyMWeb/marrsrch.html). Record abstracted as Robert M. A. Hawk and Mary G. Clark; Jul 21, 1865 citing Carroll Co., IL Marriage Recds OMR 147.
  10. [S1031] Robert NMA Hawk household, 1870 U.S. census, Carroll Co., Illinois, pop. sched., Mt. Carroll, p. 44, dwelling 333, family 333, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jun 2008, image 71 of 71. Household includes: Robert NMA Hawk, 31, b. IN, owns land valued at $9,000 and pers. prop of $1,500, employed as county clerk; Mary G., 29, b. IL; Henry C., 4; Hannah, 2; both b. IL.
  11. [S1028] Frederick C. Pierce, Memorial of the Life and Character of Robert M.A. Hawk, p. 10.
  12. [S1926] Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Davies and Carroll Co., Illinois. For a full transcription of this and other Carroll Co. biographies from this book see: http://genealogytrails.com/ill/carroll/carrollbios.html
  13. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 48.
  14. [S1050] Carroll County Genealogical Society, Carroll County, Illinois Tombstone Inscriptions Vol. 2, p. 73.