Joseph H. & Hannah J. (Hawkins) Drips

DRIPS, HAWKINS, SHAFF, PELHAM, DUFRAY, TRAINER, BAILEY, MILLER, ADAMS, BALLOW

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 3/24/2024 at 16:26:06

50th Anniversary biography of Mr. & Mrs. Drips printed in the 'Clinton Morning Age', Wed., May 14, 1902, page 3:

One of the most delightful and most notable of local social events, was the fifith wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Drips, at their home near Follets and Shafton, yesterday, when many friends, and nearly all their relatives living here-abouts visited with and greeted the venerable couple, who are having a serene old age, after having endured many of the troubles and ills, as well as had some of the pleasures, going with a frontier life in Iowa.

Pretty invitations, including a half-tone portrait of the aged couple, which the AGE reproduces this morning*, were issued to many friends, and the responses were nearly equal to the invitations extended, so popular are the aging couple. The daughters who reside in that vicinity and the neighbors as well, vied with each other to make the event an important one, and well they succeeded. It was a happy occasion.

The Groom
Joseph H. Drips was born of Scotch-Irish parentage, March 5, 1828, in Laughlinstown, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and lived there until 1850, with the exception of three years - from 1844 to 1747 [sic] - when he was in Johnstown, Pa., learning the blacksmith trade. At that time he removed with his father's family to Clayton county, Iowa, arriving in Garnavillo (the then county seat May 5, 1850. Here he embarked in the blacksmithing business, which he followed until 1852.

The Bride
Hannah J. Hawkins was born Sept. 28, 1832, of English parentage near Philipsburgh, Center county, Pa., and removed with her parents to Huntington county, Pa., in 1838. In 1846 the family came to Dubuque county, Iowa, while Iowa was yet a territory. Her father died in August of that year, leaving her mother with seven little children. Three years later her mother married a farmer named W. H. Ballow, of Clayton county, Iowa, where they removed. In 1849 she went to Garnavillo to reside.

In 1851 J.H. Drips and Hannah Hawkins became acquainted and the acquaintance soon ripened into something deeper which culminated in the issue of this
PROCLAMATION:
"This is to certify that Joseph H. Drips of Garnavillo, in the State of Iowa, and Hannah Hawkins of Garnavillo, in the State of Iowa, were joined together in holy matrimony, on the 13th day of May in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two. By me, John L. Kelly, Minister of the Gospel. In presence of John Linton, Levi Angier."

In 1853 the young couple went to Clayton, but came back to Garnavillo the next year and remained there 'til 1857, when they went onto a farm and followed farming until the 9th day of October 1862, when at the call of duty, Mr. Drips enlisted in Co. L, 6th Iowa Cav., and was sent out on the western frontier where he remained for three years, being mustered out at Sioux City, Ia., Oct. 17, 1865.

Mrs. Drips cared for and kept the family of five little children during her husband's absence. After the separation of three years the family were reunited, but finding their little accumulations nearly exhausted, they removed to Clinton county in the spring of 1866, locating first at Low Moor, but in 1869 going to the new station of Malone where he opened up his blacksmith shop and worked at the trade, until in 1880, when he was obliged to give up work on account of increasing blindness.

Here the family remained until the spring of 1891. In this home all the daughters married and from it one of the sons was bourn to his last resting place.

In the spring of 1901 Mr. and Mrs. Drips removed to Folletts, to be near their daughters. Here they have a happy home, surrounded by kind friends and neighbors, where they enjoy the comforts of life with no infirmities of old age, except Mr. Drips blindness.

They are the parents of ten children, eight of whom are still living. Reuben Noble, born April 30, 1853, was drowned in the Wapsie river, July 4, 1868, while trying to rescue a mate, Frank Hardy; Jennie was married to J.H. Shaff June 11, 1873 and lives at Shafftown [sic], Iowa; Anna May was married Nov. 15, 1875, to Walter Pelham, and lives in Cambridge, Ill.; Lizzie was married Oct. 15, 1885 to A.L. Dufray and they live at Shaffton, Iowa; Jessie was married to John Trainer Feb. 2, 1881, and lives near Folletts; W.F. Drips was married Jan. 1, 1890, to Delah Bailey of Rock Island, Illinois, where they still reside; James B. died Oct. 4, 1875, at Malone of scarlet fever; John V. was married July 4, 1897 to Rose Miller of Gann Valley, South Dakota, and still lives there; Jos. H. Jr., is in the U.S. surveyor's office, Reno, Nev.; Victor P. is in the employ of the C.M. & St. P. railway company at Kimball, South Dakota.

Mr. and Mrs. Drips have nineteen grandsons and five granddaughters living and one great grandson and great granddaughter, Chester and Alice Adams of Clinton, Iowa.

During Mr. Drips' residence in Malone and Folletts, he has acted as correspondent for several county papers to the satisfaction of all, and is today one of the most valued correspondents of the AGE, dictating his news, which is always complete and readable.

The AGE joins many friends in wishing he and his aged wife many years on the sunny side of the hill of life's journey.
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*If the portrait was published as reported, the transcriber did not find it in the May 14th issue.