Woman of the Century/Flora Harrod Hawes

FLORA HARROD HAWKS. HAWES, Mrs. Flora Harrod, postmaster, born in Salem, Ind., in 1863, where she was educated. Her maiden name was Flora New Harrod. She is a daughter of the late Dr. Sandford H. Harrod, a physician well known throughout southern Indiana. The Harrods, after whom Harrodsburg, Ky., was named, went to that State with the pioneer, Daniel Boone. Miss Harrod, at an early age, became the wife of Professor Edgar P. Hawes, of Louisville, Ky. After a brief married life, her husband died, and she was left upon her own resources. She turned to teaching, and became a successful instructor in elocution, an art in which she excelled and had earned the honors in her school-days. She applied to President Harrison for the post-office in Hot Springs, Ark., going in person to urge her own appointment. She received the commission 16th August. 1889, took charge of the office 15th September, 1889, and was confirmed by the Senate 19th December of the same year. Mrs. Hawes receives a salary of $2,600 a year and has a force of thirteen employes, four of whom are women. As postmaster, she is a rigid disciplinarian, and she keeps the business of her office in the most satisfactory shape in every department She is the youngest woman in the United States holding so important a position, and her office is the second largest one in the Union controlled by a woman. Her administration has been thoroughly satisfactory and successful.