Hawkins, Richard F., son of Alpheus and Celia A. (Rhodes) Hawkins, was born in Lowell, Middlesex county, on the 9th day of March, 1837.
His early education was obtained at the common schools and the high school of Springfield. At the age of sixteen he began work as office boy for Stone & Harris, railroad and bridge builders. In 1862 he became a partner of D. L. Harris in the same business, succeeding to the entire control in 1867, which extensive business he still conducts, under the name of the R. F. Hawkins Iron Works, whose products are bridges, steam-boilers, iron castings, machinery, etc.
September 3, 1862, Mr. Hawkins was married in New York to Cornelia Morgan, daughter of A. B. and Sarah (Cadwell) Howe. Their children are: Paul, Florence, Edith, Ethel and David Hawkins.
Mr. Hawkins has for years been identified with all the current matters of interest
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Richard F. Hawkins.
in the community, but has never aspired to become a politician, preferring to spend his time and energies in the more congenial details of his prosperous business interests. He held the office of alderman for three years, but though often offered other positions, has invariably declined.