Mary Gertrude (Clark) Hawk

(February 12, 1841 – November 13, 1917)

Eureka College (Class of 1861)

Those who have studied a bit of the history of this institution may know that Elijah W. Dickinson was the first graduate of Eureka College. Not only was he a member of the Class of 1860, but he was the Class of 1860. However, if you were asked to name the first woman to graduate from Eureka College, chances are that you would find it difficult to come up with a response. If we truly celebrate the role of women in the history of this school, we must strive to make sure that Mary Gertrude (Clark) Hawk is a figure whose story is known and celebrated.

Mary Gertrude Clark was a cousin of Elijah W. Dickinson and they were both grandchildren of “old man” Elijah Dickinson who came to this community as one of its founding pioneers and carried the tradition of Kentucky burgoo to old Walnut Grove. Old Elijah, who lived until 1862, must have been quite proud to see two of his grandchildren—one male and one female—graduate from the school that he had helped to found.

Mary Gertrude Clark met her future husband, Robert Mofatt Allison Hawk (1839-1882), while he was a fellow student at Eureka College. Robert’s studies ended when the Civil War began in 1861 and he was called to service in the Union Army with the 92^nd Illinois U.S. Infantry. They would eventually marry in July 1865 when he returned from the war, but there is more to the story.

Hawk rose to the position of Captain in the 92^nd Illinois and saw action in some of the fiercest fighting of the war at Chickamauga. On April 10, 1865, Captain Hawk was leading his company in action at Swift Creek near Raleigh, North Carolina, where he was struck by Confederate fire. Captain Hawk had to have his right leg amputated on the battlefield only two days after General Lee had surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox.

The Dickinson and the Clark families learned of the joy of the war’s end at the same time that they heard the tragic news about Captain Hawk’s injury. It had to be a somber and bittersweet moment in the community of Eureka when the news arrived.

Shortly after their marriage, Captain Hawk ran for office and was elected a representative from Illinois’ Fifth Congressional District to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. He served during the Forty-sixth and Forty-seventh congresses from 1879 to 1882.

During the time that Congressman Hawk served in office his very presence in that body was a symbolic reminder of the cost of the Civil War. Mrs. Hawk presided over the family home in Washington, D.C., which served as a salon for political discussion of the day as fellow congressmen and senators visited to discuss matters of national policy. Mrs. Hawk was considered to be one of the most gracious congressional wives of the era as she and her husband were both held in esteem in Washington’s social and political circles.

When Congressman Hawk died in 1882, members of Congress recognized Mrs. Hawk’s years of service and devotion in a congressional memorial. It was said of her that “she who w\for anxious years had faithfully kept the vigil of love for her returning hero now welcomed him back” and “that accomplished and cultivated lady presided with grace and dignity over the hospitalities of their beautiful home . . . encouraging and abiding him in his incessant labors.”

In addition to her role as a congressional wife, Mary Gertrude (Clark) Hawk also raised four children: Henry Clark Hawk, Hannah Gertrude Hawk, Robert Mofatt Hawk, Jr., and Egbert Burgess Hawk. Her eldest son became an executive with Post Industries in Battle Creek, Michigan, and several of her descendants still live in that region as well as in central Illinois.