Otis G. Hawk, a native son of Champaign County, long identified with the agricultural enterprise of this section, has directed his efforts with such good purpose that now, at the age of fifty, he is able to retire and enjoy the comforts of a good town home in the village of St. Joseph.
Mr. Hawk was born southeast of Urbana, May 5, 1867, a son of Isaac and Mary F. (Hiett) Hawk. His parents were born and married in Ohio, and they came to Champaign County in the early days, where they endured many of the hardships incident to pioneer life. They were practical and successful farmers. In their family were four sons, Otis being the third.
Mr. Hawk was educated in the Radebaugh school north of Philo, and growing to manhood on his father’s farm he found in agriculture a vocation that satisfied his inclinations and furnished scope for his best endeavors.
Mr. Hawk married Adda Turner. Mrs. Hawk was born at Millersburg in Mercer County, Illinois, daughter of Ross and Sarah (Boyd) Turner. It was while she was visiting friends in Champaign County that she met Mr. Hawk, and this acquaintance ripened into affection and love and terminated in their marriage. With the responsibilities of family upon him, Mr. Hawk settled on a farm in Stanton Township, buying eighty acres at $43.75 an acre. This land was quite barren of improvements, but with the best years of their lives before them Mr. and Mrs. Hawk deemed it no hardship to undertake its improvement, and the passing years have witnessed much work that is a permanent contribution to the prosperity of the county. Mr. Hawk cultivated the fields, set out fruit and shade trees, and gradually had his land in a condition up to the standard of Champaign County agriculture. He also bought 160 acres in Indiana, and still owns that, operating it under a tenant. For many years Mr. Hawk carried on intensive farming, grain and stock raising, handling the famous O. I. C. hogs and Barred Rock poultry. He also showed a commendable interest in local schools and served as school director.
One child was born to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hawk, Charles C. He grew to manhood, attended the home district school and the St. Joseph High School, and was just to the point where he could look forward to a life of promise and justify the hopes and expectations of his parents when death struck him down in September, 1910. He was then nearly nineteen years of age.
In 1916 Mr. and Mrs. Hawk sold their farm and bought an attractive home on Main Street in the village of St. Joseph. Both of them are attentive members of the Prairie Hope Christian Church, with Rev. Simon Bennett as the present pastor. Mr. Hawk has filled the position of deacon in that church, and has liberally supported its every cause. Politically he is a Republican of liberal views and gives his support to principles rather than party.