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Melvin W. (Mel) Hawes, born May
29, 1912, was the youngest child of Jacob Charles and Lillian Grimmer Hawes.
He followed his siblings through Sacramento River Elementary and Anderson
High School. After High School, Mel worked on the family farm.
Ruth E. Dodson, daughter of
Harry P. and Emma Jeannette Henderson Dodson, was born on October 13, 1912
near Anderson. She waited to enter school with her brother so she was behind
Mel in school. When they were married in November 1931, Mel took her home
to Fort Reading Ranch where they lived the rest of their lives. The couple
had three children:
Harry Jacob Lou
AnnDarlene Dianne
The children also attended
Sacramento River School. Darlene was in the last class to graduate before
the school was merged with Pacheco. Mel served on this school board and
on Anderson High School Board. All three of their children attended college.
Mel and Ruth were both sociable and dutiful; they worked with 4-H and FFA,
providing transportation, chaperoning, advising, and judging.
Mel served a term on the Grand
Jury and Ruth served many years as an election official. Both were members
of the Shasta County Farm Bureau and S. C. Young Farmers. A life member,
Ruth held all of the offices in Camillia Parlor of the Native Daughters
of the Golden West in Anderson. She also served as advisor to the Jr. NDGW.
Both were members of the Millville IOOF and Rebekahs, holding various chairs
and regional offices. After Ruth moved to Anderson she served as
advisor for Theta Rho.
Mel operated the diversified
family farm and ranch business, leveling the land with a tractor. He also
built irrigation and storage ponds for himself as well as his neighbors.
He was a charter member of the Western Shasta County Soil Conservation
District and worked many years at the local level. In 1968-69, as President
of the California Soil Conservation Districts, Mel traveled the State and
since Ruth was president of the Women's Auxiliary, both attended the national
convention in New Orleans.
The farm was divided amongst
the four remaining brothers after his brother Fred's death in 1954. Mel
retained the family home and lived there until his death September 20,
1984. Before she died February 27, 1999 Ruth welcomed sixteen great-grand-children.
Source: Shasta Historical Society - Nov. 2001
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