Charles Conrad Hawk was born in Sandusky County, Ohio February 9th, 1839, and died at his home in Exira, June 18th, 1919, age 80 years.
As a young man, Mr. Hawk came west and traveled by caravan as far as Colorado. In 1865 he and another young man came to Iowa traveling on horse back a distance of 1600 miles. He stopped at the Hamlin home, then the one home of the county along the old stage road, that opened it's hospitable arms to all travelers. There it was that he met Miss Hannah M. Hamlin and on May 20, 1866 they were married and started a home just west of the Hamlin home and across the creek. There they lived until 1901 when they moved to Exira, after having lived on the farm for thirty-five years.
To this union eleven children were born. Two boys died in infancy. The others are: Mrs. Elmer Heath of Exira; Mrs. Margaret Hall of Wiota, Iowa, who passed away five years ago in March; Mr. Ralph Hawk of Brayton, Iowa; Mrs. Winnie Lewis of Randolph, Nebraska; Mr. Elmer Hawk of Ft. Laramie, Wyoming; Mr. Arthur Hawk of Lewis, Colorado; Mrs. Rose Pearson of Osmond, Nebraska; Mrs. Eliza Hubbell of Omaha, Nebraska; Mrs. Lauria Maus of Omaha, Nebraska. Besides these there are 43 grand children and 12 great grand children. He also leaves his faithful Christian wife, who has stood at his side these many years and helped lift the burden of the years. May her faith and constancy in the Master's love lighten this hour of bereavement.
Mr. Hawk was a member of the Christian Church for forty years, having been a member before there was an organization here in Exira. He was very faithful to all church services and was present the last Sunday morning before his death. He was up town the day before his death and also cut some wood.
Although he was ailing, no one expected his departure. He was found early in the morning by Mrs. Hawk sitting on the bed bowed over with elbows upon his knees and his face in his hands. He had heard the voice in trumpet tones calling him from this world, saying "Come up higher." His spirit answered-leaving the tabernacle of the flesh untenanted.

"There's a home in the skies,
Where the weary will rest,
A glorious home in the 'Land of the Blessed,
Where tears will be wiped from the sorrowful eye,
And the broken in heart will forget how to sigh."

The funeral was held in the Christian church at 2 o'clock, Friday June 20th. Services were conducted by Rev. Matson, and burial at Bowen cemetery.