Sunday, September 25, 2011

Gold Star Grandmother Martha Jane Hess Hawk

This is not a group anyone wishes to join, but an admirable group has seen to it that mothers of fallen soldiers are recognized.  Gold Star Mothers Day is always the last Sunday in September.  More information is available at Gold Star Moms.
Jane Hess was born to Charles Hess and Margaret Martin in Grant County, Wisconsin in 1859.  She married Joseph Washington Hawk in Phillips County, Kansas in 1881.  Their son George Washington Hawk was born there in 1887.  In 1908 they left Kansas for south  Texas and lived in Matagorda County, Texas the rest of their lives.   Their son George was first buried in France, but was later moved to Hawley Cemetery and interred with the rest of the family, at his mother's request.  There is information on George W. Hawk, her son who was killed in France in November 1918 at this Matagorda County Sons of World War I.   

I've been searching for a photo of George W. Hawk for some time but haven't been able to find one.   Neither the Kansas nor Texas books of photographs of World War I soldiers include one, although he is listed in the Texas book.   I only have one known photo of my grandmother, included here.  If there are others out there, I'd love to see them or have copies.