"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 48, No 16, p 244, Apr. 21, 1892.
Anthony Hakes was born in Berlin, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., June 22, 1817, and died at West Hallock, Ill., Jan. 28, 1892.
During a season of general revival, in which many young people were brought to Christ, he became the subject of saving grace, put on Christ by a public profession, and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was early encouraged by his Methodist brethren to engage in active Christian work and in the exercise of his gifts as a public speaker. Some six or seven years later he became a convert to the Sabbath, and in July, 1842 united with the Seventh-day Baptist Church of Berlin, and received, the following month, Aug. 5th, a license from that church to preach the gospel.
September 17, 1842, he was united in marriage with Susan Saunders, of Berlin, who still survives him, and with whom he had lived, in mutual affection, care, and helpfulness, nearly fifty years. There were born to them, after their removal to Hallock, Ill., a daughter and a son, Mary, wife of J. A. Potter, and E. Eugene Hakes, both of West Hallock.
In the fall of 1844, Bro. Hakes and wife left Berlin, spending the winter in Allegany Co., N. Y., and in the following spring, 1845. together with Deacon Dennis Saunders and family, started, by way of the Allegany, Ohio, Mississippi, and Illinois rivers, for Farmington, Fulton Co., Ill., where several Seventh-day Baptist families had already located. The first part of the journey was by a lumber raft on its way to market at Cincinnati. From Pittsburgh, Pa., Bro. Hakes and wife pursued their journey by river steamboats to Peoria, Ill., and arrived at Farmington early in June. In the following August he left Farmington, and, with his brother Alanson, purchased lands and settled in the township of Hallock, Peoria county, some thirteen miles or more north-east of Farmington. Here, on the sparsely settled, and to a large extent unbroken prairie, Bro. Hakes and family began, with a resolute purpose, their experience in Western pioneer life.
From year to year other Seventh-day Baptist families settled near him, and in 1849 Sabbath meetings were permanently established. By the general desire and choice of his brethren Bro. Hakes was called to occupy the responsible position of leader and preacher in the effort to maintain these meetings and build up the cause of Christ on this new and promising field. In 1852 the Seventh-day Baptist Church of Southampton was organized, Bro. Hakes being one of most active and earnest promoters of the organization, himself and wife, and some twelve or more other brethren and sisters signing the articles of faith and entering into covenant as its constituent members. Bro. Hakes' life-work has been largely on this field, and from its organization he has been its steadfast friend and generous supporter. In July, 1856, by vote of the church he was called to ordination, and by its request, on the 28th day of September, 1856, during the Tenth anniversary of the Seventh-day Baptist!
North-Western Association, held with the church at Walworth, Wis., he was set apart by appropriate forms of ordination to the work of the gospel ministry. All of those taking part in the public services of the ordination, Eld. N. V. Hull, preacher of the sermon; Eld. Stillman Coon offering the consecrating prayer; Elder Leman Andrus giving the charge, and Elder James C. Rogers giving the hand of fellowship, have, like Eld. Hakes, been called from their labors into rest.
During the two years which followed the ordination of Eld. Hakes he proved himself a faithful and efficient yoke-fellow with Eld. J. C. Rogers, who was at the time, pastor of the church, doing, in the meantime, considerable evangelical work in surrounding communities. After the close of Eld Rogers' pastorate and his removal to Wisconsin, Elder Hakes was called to the pastorate, in which relation he continues some eight or ten years. During the period the church increased in the number of its membership nearly three-fold. After the close of his pastorate, and during those interims when the church was for the time being without a pastor, he was ever found ready and willing to serve the church as a supply, and do what he could for the upbuilding of the cause and the maintenance of the institutions of the Lord's house. He was successful in revival work, and through the opportunities open before him, was, under the blessing of God, the means of winning many souls to Christ, not only among his own but also among the people of other denominations.
Eld. Hakes cherished the Word of God with devote love and reverence, and by methods generous and practical sought to promote its study and the knowledge of its truth. In harmony with this desire and effort it was to him an apparent pleasure to distribute, a few weeks before his death, to the young people of the West Hallock Sabbath-school, beginning with those old enough to read, sixteen nicely bound Oxford Teachers' Bibles. These had come in the fulfillment of his promise made the year before, through the Superintendent, that those who answered correctly each week during the year two Bible questions, the answer of one to be found in the Old and of the other in the New Testament, should each receive a copy of the Bible. The method led to much reading and study of the Bible on the part of the young people, while the Bibles, coming so near the close if his life will be cherished as precious souvenirs of the friend who bestowed them.
He was a man of good ability, mature in judgment, a wise counselor, pure and upright in character, an earnest and effective preacher of the gospel, and had won for himself the confidence and esteem of a wide circle of friends and neighbors. In his death his family have lost a devoted husband, father and friend; the church a sincere friend and generous supporter, and the cause of Christ one ever ready and willing to do his part for its upbuilding. Stephen Burdick, West Hallock, Ill., April, 1892.

Census: 1880 Hallock, Peoria Co., Illinois: age 62, farmer

A pioneer minister of the Seventh-day Baptist faith in Fulton County, Ill.

"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 57, No 21, p 334, May 27, 1901.
Susan Saunders Hakes was born in Berlin, N. Y., Sept. 29, 1821, and died at her home in West Hallock, Ill., May 9, 1901.
She was a daughter of Chas. Saunders, and was one of a family of eight children, of whom only two now remain. On September 17, 1842, she was married to Rev. Anthony Hakes, and in the position of wife and mother, with patience, integrity of purpose and firm faith in God, she filled well her place. On May 9, in the eightieth year of her age, surrounded by friends and loved ones, she answered the summons "Come home." The funeral was held in the church Sabbath morning. Text, Psa. 132: 14. R. B. T.

Census: 1880 Hallock, Peoria Co., Illinois: age 58