Story of “Hawn’s Mill - The Night Before, 10/29/1838”
“Hawn’s Mill - The Night Before, 10/29/1838”, oil on canvas (24x36), by artist, Garth Robinson Oborn, assisted by wife, Anne Marie Oborn, Bountiful, UT.
This colorful painting depicts the Hawn’s Mill settlement on Shoal Creek, at sunset, prior to the massacre which took place on October 30, 1838.
In January 2021, my cousin, Raymond Robinson, asked me to create a painting that honored those, “never to be forgotten,” who were killed at Hawn’s Mill on October 30, 1838. Specifically, Raymond wanted me to find a way to honor 15-year-old George Spencer Richards, the son of our 6th great grandparents, Phineas Howe and Wealthy Dewey Richards, who were also the parents of Spencer’s older brother, Franklin D. Richards.
In developing the composition for this painting, efforts were made to determine the approximate locations of the mill, the unfinished well, the dam on Shoal Creek, and the blacksmith shop, to include immigrant tents appearing in the background.
Since young George Spencer Richards’ parents were not found on the list of casualties - nor found on the list of survivors - a question arose as to why young George was at Hawn’s Mill during the tragedy. Later, in answering this, my sister, Kay Ballard, located a book, the Richards Family History, which indicated that young George Spencer Richards was assigned to learn carpentry from his Uncle Levi (Hepzibah), who had resided in Kirtland, OH, yet later that fall, secured temporary employment with other immigrants at Hawn’s Mill in Missouri.
The model for this painting is 15 year old Charlie Rhedd Oborn, Garth and Anne Marie’s grandson.
In recognition: Raymond and Debbie Robinson.
This colorful painting depicts the Hawn’s Mill settlement on Shoal Creek, at sunset, prior to the massacre which took place on October 30, 1838.
In January 2021, my cousin, Raymond Robinson, asked me to create a painting that honored those, “never to be forgotten,” who were killed at Hawn’s Mill on October 30, 1838. Specifically, Raymond wanted me to find a way to honor 15-year-old George Spencer Richards, the son of our 6th great grandparents, Phineas Howe and Wealthy Dewey Richards, who were also the parents of Spencer’s older brother, Franklin D. Richards.
In developing the composition for this painting, efforts were made to determine the approximate locations of the mill, the unfinished well, the dam on Shoal Creek, and the blacksmith shop, to include immigrant tents appearing in the background.
Since young George Spencer Richards’ parents were not found on the list of casualties - nor found on the list of survivors - a question arose as to why young George was at Hawn’s Mill during the tragedy. Later, in answering this, my sister, Kay Ballard, located a book, the Richards Family History, which indicated that young George Spencer Richards was assigned to learn carpentry from his Uncle Levi (Hepzibah), who had resided in Kirtland, OH, yet later that fall, secured temporary employment with other immigrants at Hawn’s Mill in Missouri.
The model for this painting is 15 year old Charlie Rhedd Oborn, Garth and Anne Marie’s grandson.
In recognition: Raymond and Debbie Robinson.
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