Founder of Hawks Park, FL now known as Edgewater, Florida.
Served in the Union Army as a surgeon in the 21st U.S. Colored Infantry.∼John Milton Hawks was born on 26 November 1826 in Bradford, New Hampshire to Colburn and Clarissa Brown Hawks. He passed the teacher's exam at age 15. John studied medicine two years later while teaching in Georgia. He received his medical degree in 1847. John was a strong abolitionist and in December 1861 he volunteered his services as a physician in South Carolina to treat escaped slaves. John recruited most of the 33rd Colored Troops for the Union Army then served as their physician. John was one of the first to urge emancipation of the slaves and to use them as soldiers. He was appointed Assistant Surgeon with the rank of Major in the 33rd Colored Troops, Union Army. Later John was appointed Surgeon of the 21st Colored Troops. John recommended that the first Freeman's Saving Banks be established. He organized and became president of the Florida Land and Lumber Company to provide 500 homes and jobs for freed slaves. John named this settlement Port Orange. When this venture failed a few black families stayed in Port Orange in the area now known as Freemanville. John purchased a tract of land south of Port Orange on the Indian River and planted an orange grove and established Hawks Park in 1871. John Milton Hawks died on 2 April 1910 and was buried in Hawks Park Cemetery at sunset on the 3rd of April.
In 1924 Hawks Park was renamed Edgewater.
A large momument was erected in Pine Grove Cemetery in Manchester, New Hampshire for Drs John and Esther Hawks. Click on Esther's name to see this momument.
Served in the Union Army as a surgeon in the 21st U.S. Colored Infantry.∼John Milton Hawks was born on 26 November 1826 in Bradford, New Hampshire to Colburn and Clarissa Brown Hawks. He passed the teacher's exam at age 15. John studied medicine two years later while teaching in Georgia. He received his medical degree in 1847. John was a strong abolitionist and in December 1861 he volunteered his services as a physician in South Carolina to treat escaped slaves. John recruited most of the 33rd Colored Troops for the Union Army then served as their physician. John was one of the first to urge emancipation of the slaves and to use them as soldiers. He was appointed Assistant Surgeon with the rank of Major in the 33rd Colored Troops, Union Army. Later John was appointed Surgeon of the 21st Colored Troops. John recommended that the first Freeman's Saving Banks be established. He organized and became president of the Florida Land and Lumber Company to provide 500 homes and jobs for freed slaves. John named this settlement Port Orange. When this venture failed a few black families stayed in Port Orange in the area now known as Freemanville. John purchased a tract of land south of Port Orange on the Indian River and planted an orange grove and established Hawks Park in 1871. John Milton Hawks died on 2 April 1910 and was buried in Hawks Park Cemetery at sunset on the 3rd of April.
In 1924 Hawks Park was renamed Edgewater.
A large momument was erected in Pine Grove Cemetery in Manchester, New Hampshire for Drs John and Esther Hawks. Click on Esther's name to see this momument.
Founder of Hawks Park, FL now known as Edgewater, Florida.
Served in the Union Army as a surgeon in the 21st U.S. Colored Infantry.∼John Milton Hawks was born on 26 November 1826 in Bradford, New Hampshire to Colburn and Clarissa Brown Hawks. He passed the teacher's exam at age 15. John studied medicine two years later while teaching in Georgia. He received his medical degree in 1847. John was a strong abolitionist and in December 1861 he volunteered his services as a physician in South Carolina to treat escaped slaves. John recruited most of the 33rd Colored Troops for the Union Army then served as their physician. John was one of the first to urge emancipation of the slaves and to use them as soldiers. He was appointed Assistant Surgeon with the rank of Major in the 33rd Colored Troops, Union Army. Later John was appointed Surgeon of the 21st Colored Troops. John recommended that the first Freeman's Saving Banks be established. He organized and became president of the Florida Land and Lumber Company to provide 500 homes and jobs for freed slaves. John named this settlement Port Orange. When this venture failed a few black families stayed in Port Orange in the area now known as Freemanville. John purchased a tract of land south of Port Orange on the Indian River and planted an orange grove and established Hawks Park in 1871. John Milton Hawks died on 2 April 1910 and was buried in Hawks Park Cemetery at sunset on the 3rd of April.
In 1924 Hawks Park was renamed Edgewater.
A large momument was erected in Pine Grove Cemetery in Manchester, New Hampshire for Drs John and Esther Hawks. Click on Esther's name to see this momument.
Served in the Union Army as a surgeon in the 21st U.S. Colored Infantry.∼John Milton Hawks was born on 26 November 1826 in Bradford, New Hampshire to Colburn and Clarissa Brown Hawks. He passed the teacher's exam at age 15. John studied medicine two years later while teaching in Georgia. He received his medical degree in 1847. John was a strong abolitionist and in December 1861 he volunteered his services as a physician in South Carolina to treat escaped slaves. John recruited most of the 33rd Colored Troops for the Union Army then served as their physician. John was one of the first to urge emancipation of the slaves and to use them as soldiers. He was appointed Assistant Surgeon with the rank of Major in the 33rd Colored Troops, Union Army. Later John was appointed Surgeon of the 21st Colored Troops. John recommended that the first Freeman's Saving Banks be established. He organized and became president of the Florida Land and Lumber Company to provide 500 homes and jobs for freed slaves. John named this settlement Port Orange. When this venture failed a few black families stayed in Port Orange in the area now known as Freemanville. John purchased a tract of land south of Port Orange on the Indian River and planted an orange grove and established Hawks Park in 1871. John Milton Hawks died on 2 April 1910 and was buried in Hawks Park Cemetery at sunset on the 3rd of April.
In 1924 Hawks Park was renamed Edgewater.
A large momument was erected in Pine Grove Cemetery in Manchester, New Hampshire for Drs John and Esther Hawks. Click on Esther's name to see this momument.
Inscription
Hawks Park-Town Founder Now City of Edgewater
Surg'n 21 U.S.C.I.
Family Members
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