Simon Peter Hawkins

Duane's take

The official marker's the source here, and I'm just the one bringin' it to life for you. Now settle in, because this one's got lush grass, a fire, a dugout, oil, and a man who was present for just about every first that Wichita County ever had. Simon Peter Hawkins was born in Crockett County, Tennessee, in 1849.

In 1869 he married Sara A. Hardin, born in 1852, and together they would raise eight children. Now, a man with that kind of family needs room to grow, and in 1875 Hawkins packed up and moved his family to Johnson County, Texas, alongside his brother-in-law John G.

Hardin. Johnson County, though. That wasn't the end of the story.

It was barely the beginning. The two men were seekin' better land. And what they found, out in what would become Wichita County, was lush grass.

The kind of grass that tells a ranching man everything he needs to know. They settled their families on the north side of Gilbert Creek, and life commenced. Then fire destroyed the Hawkins dugout home.

The family moved about a quarter mile. That's it. No dramatic speech, no long deliberation recorded on any marker.

Fire took the house, they moved a quarter mile, and Simon Peter Hawkins got back to the business of building something. South of this very site, he signed a petition for establishing Wichita County. He voted in the first county election.

He served on the first county grand jury. He helped organize the First Baptist Church, the first Masonic Lodge, and the first school in the area. First, first, first, first.

The man was not one for arriving late. Meanwhile, his brother-in-law John G. Hardin bought a store that was patronized by Indians and cowboys both.

The cowboys, being cowboys, named the little colony Nesterville. When the post office was established in 1882, the name was changed to Gilbert. Hawkins took on the job of mail carrier, making two trips weekly to Wichita Falls.

You picture that, out and back, twice a week, over that open country. Then the railroad arrived, and the settlers in Gilbert picked up and moved about one mile to a new townsite. That townsite was Burkburnett.

And Burkburnett, in time, would not stay quiet. Oil discoveries turned it into a boomtown, loud and crowded and full of the particular chaos that oil money brings. Hawkins and his wife Sara, by then well into their years, moved to Mineral Wells.

Simon Peter Hawkins died there. He was buried in the Burkburnett Cemetery, the town he had helped build from lush grass and a quarter-mile move after a fire. Born in 1849, died in 1930.

Sara, born in 1852, lived until 1937. They had seen Wichita County go from petition to boomtown, and they had been present for every first worth remembering. Some people witness history.

Simon Peter Hawkins just kept showing up until history had no choice but to include him.

What the marker says

(1849 - 1930) A pioneer leader in Wichita County, Simon Peter Hawkins was born in Crockett County, Tenn. He married Sara A. Hardin (1852-1937) in 1869. They had eight children. With his brother-in-law John G. Hardin, Hawkins moved his family to Johnson County, Texas, in 1875. Seeking better land, the men found lush grass in present Wichita County and settled their families on the north side of Gilbert Creek. After fire destroyed the Hawkins' dugout home, the family moved about 1/4 mile. South of this site, Hawkins signed a petition for establishing Wichita County. He voted in the first county election and served on the first county grand jury. He helped organize the First Baptist Church, the first Masonic Lodge and the first school in this area. Hardin bought a store patronized by Indians and cowboys. The cowboys called the colony Nesterville. When the post office was established in 1882, it was renamed Gilbert. Hawkins served as mail carrier, making two trips weekly to Wichita Falls. After the railroad arrived, settlers in Gilbert moved about one mile to the new townsite of Burkburnett. When oil discoveries turned Burkburnett into a boomtown, Hawkins and his wife moved to Mineral Wells. He died there and was buried in the Burkburnett Cemetery. (1978)