Rhesa Read Hawkins (1845–1918) was born in Granville County, North Carolina, but soon moved with his parents to Carroll County. He was in the 11th Mississippi Regiment in the Civil War, and was taken prisoner at Gettysburg. In 1870, Mr. Hawkins entered the firm of Vaiden, Kepperel and Hawkins (Vaiden) and became a leading businessman and banker.

In these 23 volumes the writer gives information about weather, farming and business interests. He was very interested in meat processing and regularly cured his own meat. Inside the covers of most of the volumes are listed important events during the year and sometimes sales and employee records. The diaries run continuously for the 32 year period with the exception of a few years. Also included are some loose notes and two photostatic copies of Mr. Hawkins' obituary which appeared in The Church News, Yazoo City, April 1918.