Private Daniel L. Hawkins was born on August 26th, 1827 at Greenville, South Carolina. He married Amelia Russell on March 25th, 1855.

In 1856, he served as a Private in the state militia during the 3rd Seminole War, first in Addison’s Company from April 7th, 1856 to October 8th, 1856 and then in Parker’s Company October 8th, 1856 until December 15th, 1856.

He was mustered into Confederate service on April 25th, 1862 when he was enlisted as a Private in Captain Smith’s Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida for a period of 3 years or the war. He was present on all rolls until November 3rd, 1862 when he was reported as absent sick in hospital at Knoxville, Tennessee.

He was promoted to 3rd Corporal on March 1st, 1863, and promoted again to 1st Sergeant sometime in 1864. He was present on all rolls until his capture on January 4th, 1865 at Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

He was sent to the military prison at Louisville, Kentucky and transferred from there to Camp Chase, Ohio on January 14th, 1865.

He took the “Oath of Allegiance” and was released on May 15th, 1865. He was described as being 36 years old, residing at “Manitee County, Ala.” {Manatee County, Fla.], 5’ 4-1/2” tall, hazel eyes, florid skin, dark hair.

After the war, he lived in Manatee Co. as a cattleman and served as one of the county's first commissioners. He married his second wife, Elizabeth A. Williams, on March 3rd, 1867. He married his third wife, Henrietta Harris, on June 24th, 1881.

He died of yellow fever on April 1st, 1900 and was buried in unmarked grave on the Johnston Ranch, east of Bradenton, Manatee County, Florida. Henrietta applied for and was granted a Confederate Widow's Pension for her husband's service.

[Since it was feared the disease would spread if his body was moved, Hawkins was buried in an unmarked grave on the open range. Carroll, Betty; Staff Writer (2002), "The Ghosts Among Us: A Look into Haunted Manatee County", Bradenton Herald. https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/alt.folklore.ghost-stories/fh2gA7NaIFs

Daniel D Hawkins