Pueblo County Biographies

Pueblo County, Colorado
THOMAS C. DAWKINS

Contributed by Karen Mitchell.

Thomas C. Dawkins, now living retired in Pueblo, was born on the 3d of April, 1839, in Albany, New York, a son of Thomas and Phoebe (Capen) Dawkins. In the family were three children, one son and two daughters, of whom our subject is the eldest. The parents are both deceased. In early life Thomas C. Dawkins accompanied the family on their removal to St. Louis, Missouri, where he was practically reared and educated. During his boyhood he was apprenticed to the tinner's trade and later worked for the Missouri Pacific Telegraph Company for one year at Kansas City. In 1863 Mr. Dawkins first came to Colorado and located at Boone, where he engaged in ranching for a year. As the Civil war was then in progress he enlisted at the end of that time as a member of Company G, Third Colorado Cavalry, with which he served for six months. After being mustered out he settled near Nepesta. He next engaged in driving ox teams in freighting to Missouri and later returned to St. Louis. From there he went by team to Las Vegas, New Mexico, and subsequently returned to Boone, freighting from that place to Fort Lyon. In 1866 Mr. Dawkins purchased a team and engaged in mining for a time. He next worked on the grade in the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad and was present when the last spike was driven. He drove four mules from there to Sheridan, Kansas, on the Kansas Pacific Railroad, and spent the winter of 1870 in Pueblo. He was with the Kansas Pacific Railroad when the Indians captured all the mules that belonged to the company. In 1874 Mr. Dawkins became a prominent resident of Pueblo and was a pioneer in the express business. For twenty years he carried the mail and for fifteen years served as night gateman at the depot, but since 1913 has lived retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. On the 1st of January. 1887, Mr. Dawkins was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Miller, by whom he had one daughter, Ida May, who died at the age of four years. He is a stanch supporter of the republican party and served as alderman of Pueblo in 1903. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and is one of the enterprising and public-spirited citizens of Pueblo. He is a pioneer of southern Colorado and has watched with interest the development of this state. In business affairs he has prospered and he commands the respect of all with whom he comes in contact History Of Colorado Illustrated Volume III Chicago The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company 1918

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