Eminent Homemaker
County: Douglas
Emma Hawkes, of Armour, was born in Iowa. She taught schools eight years and filled vacancies at various times after her marriage.
The Hawkes own a half-section of farmland and native pasture. They have lived in the same community since 1908, on the same farm since 1926 and have three children.
Many years ago the farm had electric lights, a furnace, running water, sewage disposal, fully equipped bathroom, refrigerator, an electric washing machine and built-in ironing board and electric cream separator.
Hawkes has had little leisure time, but when she can, she reads, sews, does fancy work and handcraft work, and entertains.
While on the farm, she sold poultry, eggs, fruits, vegetables and cream, earning about $1700 per year for many years. She kept home accounts for more than 20 years. She and her husband retired from the farm and moved to Armour in 1940.
Hawkes states, “We trained the children in business methods by beginning early to show them how to keep accounts of receipts and expenditures, and giving them a bank account in their own names.”
In 1936 she attended a farm women’s meeting in Washington, D.C. In 1942-43 she and Mr. Hawkes spent seven months visiting their sons in California, and in 1949 they made a second trip west.
Hawkes is a member of the Congregational Church, served as clerk of the school board for nine years, as treasurer of Community Club for twelve years and was chairman of the Home Extension Club for four years. She is a member of the Rebekah Lodge.