William H. Watkins (1839 - 1904)

Born Nov 1839 in Knox Co, OH

Ancestors

Husband of Matilda J. Wilson — married 15 Oct 1862 in Warren Co, IL

Descendants

Died 16 Jul 1904 at age 64 in Polk Co, IA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sara Patton [send private message]

Biography

This biography was auto-generated by a GEDCOM import. It's a rough draft and needs to be edited.

User ID

ID: 5AA177C88D0BD811B70D0002E324AC053949

Data Changed

Changed:

27 Feb 2013

Prior to import, this record was last changed 27 Feb 2013.

Note

Listed as third child- age 10- of Bernard and Charlotte Watkins in the 1850 (dated 29 July 1850) census for Knox Co, Berlin Twp, OH born Ohio. Census shows he attended school. According to Loie Stevens, "Will" lived in Nebraska. Mother's obit in 1893 gives his name as William W. of Des Moines. The on-line list of Illinois Marriages lists William H. Watkins of Warren Co, IL married to Matilda J. Wilson in 1862, a month prior to marriage of sister Ann.

1870 Polk Co, Walnut Twp, IA p. 7 July #182/191

Watkins, Wm W. -30 OH $/743 farmer

", Matilda -29 OH

", Amanda -5 IL

", Willie -3 IL

not named female -1 IL

Deal, N. W. - 30

Wm H. Watkins-22 w/ Dolph Watkins in Red Oak . Is this same man? The reason I think Wm in Polk Co is brother is based on age, b. OH, and son named Bernard.

Cannot find him in Polk Co, Jefferson Twp in 1880 census. Went through page by page.

*********

1900 Polk Co, Jefferson Twp, IA p. 203A #86/88 June 1841

Watkins, William -60 b. Nov 1839 OH Md 38 yrs. Farmer Parents b. VA

", Matilda J. -58 b. June 1841 OH

", Bernard -22 IA son

", Estella -20 IA dau

3 male helpers 1 female servant

1900 Polk Co, IA p. 199 #17/19-possible son??

Watkins, Wm. W. -32 b. Dec 1867 IA single farmer parents b. OH

", Lucinda -28 b. March 1872 IA single sister parents b. OH

Event

Misc

No idea if this is right guy probably not if he didn't survive.

William H Watkins

Residence: Chicago, Illinois

Enlistment Date: 8 Feb 1861

Rank at enlistment: Private

State Served: Illinois

Survived the War?: No

Service Record: Enlisted in Company A, Illinois McClellan's Cavalry Battalion on 02 Aug 1861.

Promoted to Full 1st Sergeant.

Promoted to Full 2nd Lieutenant.

Mustered out on 25 Dec 1862.

Transferred to Company I, Illinois 12th Cavalry Regiment on 25 Dec 1862.

Mustered out on 24 Nov 1864 at Baton Rouge, LA.

Sources: Illinois: Roster of Officers and Enlisted Men

Marriage

FAM

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@I9@

@I19@

@I21@

@I22@

@I12@

@I6@

@I11@

@I36@

@I20@

4 SEP 1834

Loudoun Co, Shelbourne Parish, VA

Wertz p. 162- Marriage of Bernard Watkins and Charlotte Littleton: John W. Littleton attests ages and is bondsman. Bond dated 1 Sept 1834 at Leesburg. Married Sept 4 1834, Shelbourne Parish, Edwin Dorsey (Methodist min.) (I have not yet found original records.)

Bernard, his widowed mother and his 3 sisters were living in Loudoun Co in 1835 when they married their spouses.

Bernard and Charlotte were probably both born in Loudoun Co, VA (near Leesburg) where they grew up and were married by a Methodist minister on Sept. 4, 1834. The following spring, they moved to Knox County, OH where their daughter Ann Elizabeth (named Ann after Bernard's mother) was born Aug. 1. (Charlotte was pregnant during the journey to Knox County. It is highly likely they traveled via the National Road from Wheeling to Mt. Vernon, Ohio or possibly by boat on one of the many rivers and canals.)

By 1835-36, Bernard's sisters, their husbands and extended families (George Neptune, John Adams, William Davis, and John, Stephen, and Samuel Gaunt/Gant), and their mother and stepfather, Ann and Daniel Brown, removed to Knox Co, Ohio along with a number of other friends and neighbors from Loudoun Co, VA, probably coming together as a group. Brown's children also moved to Knox Co. Bernard's oldest sister Louisa who married George Neptune may have come to Ohio first. (According to census, their daughter was b. in OH ca 1831-32) In 1838 when the Neptunes sold the land they'd inherited from Wm Watkins, they were living in Belmont Co, OH but were listed in Knox Co in 1850 census.

According to the biography of Bernard's nephew, Samuel Orlin Gantt in the Knox Co, OH Centennial Biographical History p. 198 , the Gantt family (and probably the Watkins and other siblings) came to OH in 1836, the journey "made across the mountains through the forests and over the plains with teams in the primitive style of the times, for no railroads had been built."

The Watkins lived in at least two places in Knox Co, first in Morris Twp and were listed in 1840 census and in then Berlin Twp as a laborer in 1850 census. All but their youngest child were born in Knox Co. Most of the Loudoun Co migrants settled near Fredericktown in Berlin Twp and all of Bernard's siblings appeared to have remained there (I found most of their headstones in the cemetery.) But the Watkins family moved on to IL in the fall of 1850 settling in Monmouth (county seat) or Lenox Twp., according to various obits and wedding anniversary articles.

I don't know why or with whom Bernard and Charlotte went to Warren Co, IL though I believe you did find some VA-born Littletons living in Warren Co.

I've done very little research in Warren Co and need to check census and land records to determine whether or not any other siblings or extended family members moved with them from OH to IL. It is doubtful that they went alone. Their youngest child, Charlotte or "Lottie", was born there.

They stayed in IL until 1867 when they moved to Montgomery County, Iowa (Red Oak). Their oldest daughter Ann and Leander Sickmon moved to Montgomery Co ca 1863 and son Randolph in 1865. Bernard and Charlotte and most of the other married children moved to Montgomery Co and Clarke Co, IA though many of them moved to Nebraska in the 1870s.The couple had 8 children, the older ones married in Warren Co, IL.

According to obituaries, all of their children survived into adulthood, though two daughters died before the parents Both Charlotte and Bernard lived to a ripe old age. Charlotte was member of Methodist Episcopal Church in Knox Co (1849) and was active in Red Oak church as well. (They had married by a Methodist minister in VA and bondsman was John W. Littleton, perhaps for John Wesley, founder of Methodist Church.) After Bernard's death, Charlotte lived with her son James in Red Oak. (Source: Charlotte's and Ann's obits) but I've been unable to find a death record or headstone for her. Bernard (d 1882) is buried near two of his daughters (Lottie and Ann, both of whom died young) but there was no death record for Bernard recorded in Montgomery Co.

According to Loie Stevens Firkins (granddaughter of Randolph Watkins), Bernard and Charlotte Watkins had following children: [Note: Loie was not always accurate with names!]

Randolph-Red Oak

Jim- Red Oak

Will Nebraska

Susan (m. Joe Benz) son Claude Benz-Bonnie's cousin, same age- Homestead, Neb

[Sarah not Susan in census]

Mabel (m. ---Day) [Census records name her Mary J. Their daughter may have been Mabel] (this is actually daughter of Mary or Molly Watkins who married Sylvester Day. Mabel married ____Albright.)

Marjorie Herrick -granddaughter of Randolph Watkins, Anna Watkins Lloyd's daughter,

317 N. Greenwood

La Habra, CA 90631

Pete Wilkins (knows Watkins histy)- Alma Watkins Wilkin's son, grandson of Randolph Watkins. (Lived in Sacramento where Susan Renz became acquainted with him.)

Coincidentally, members of the Hawkins, Stevens and Watkins families--all of whom lived in Knox County (though in different townships) at the same time--would end up in Red Oak, Iowa where Bernard and Charlotte's granddaughter, Bonnie Watkins, married Harry Stevens, grandson of Ephraim Hawkins and Arnold Stevens, in 1908. It is highly unlikely the Watkins and Stevens knew each other in Ohio.

^[1][2]

Sources

• Source: S7 Abbreviation: Loudoun County Marriages-Wertz Title: Wertz, Mary Alice Comp., "Marriages of Loudoun County, VA 1757-1853": Info compiled from Loudon Co Fee Books, Marriage Register, Order Book, Minute Book, Deed books and Parish Registers. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc. Baltimore 1985) Subsequent Source Citation Format: Wertz, Mary Alice Comp., "Marriages of Loudoun County, VA 1757-1853": Info compiled from Loudon Co Fee Books, Marriage Register, Order Book, Minute Book, Deed books and Parish Registers. BIBL Wertz, Mary Alice Comp. "Marriages of Loudoun County, VA 1757-1853": Info compiled from Loudon Co Fee Books, Marriage Register, Order Book, Minute Book, Deed books and Parish Registers. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc. Baltimore 1985. Text: p.175 Brown, Daniel & Ann Watkins, widow of William Watkins. 3rd party: Mahlon Craven. Her children: Louisa; Bernard; Sarah Ann; Elender (Eleanor). Marriage contract. 25 May 1825. DB3K, p. 306 No William Watkins-Ann ? marriage listed. CONT CONT p.162 - Marriage of Bernard Watkins and Charlotte Littleton: John W. Littleton attests ages and is bondsman. Bond dated 1 Sept 1834 at Leesburg. M. Sept 4 1834, Shelbourne Parish, Edwin Dorsey (Methodist min.) (See also Vogt & Kethly) CONT CONT p.2 John Adams & Eleanor Watkins, dau of Ann Brown. Marriage performed by Edwin Dorsey (Methodist) in Shelburne Parish. Bondsman was Eleanor's brother, Bernard Watkins. Ann Brown, mother of girl authorizes license. Bond 11 Aug 1834, marriage 14 Aug 1834 (See also Vogt & Kethley ) CONT CONT p.55 John Gaunt, son of Samuel "Gant" & Sarah Ann Watkins, dau of Ann Brown. William Davis, bondsman 5 Nov. 1832. Shelburne Parish, Loudon Co., VA. CONT CONT p. 37: Wm Davis, son of Gary Davis, to Elizabeth Gaunt, dau of Samuel Gant. Witness: John Gaunt (brother) and Rachel Ann Gaunt. J. Binns, bondsman. Shelburne Parish. Other Gants listed on p. 54. 3 males: Charles, Martin and James W. (marriage dates in 1852, 1843, 1851 respectively) CONT CONT p. 80: Charles W. James & Martha Brown, dau of Daniel Brown. Joseph Richardson, bondsman 29 Oct. 1832 Shelburne Parish 29 Oct 1832. (Another source lists Eleanor Watkins as witness which leads me to believe Martha is her stepsister.) CONT ######## CONT Also listed but no known relation at this pt. CONT CONT p. 48 James and Margaret Watkins, parents of Hannah Vance who marries William Floyd. Wm Grimes, bondsman 5 Oct. 1790 CONT CONT p. 51 Reuben French & Catherine Watkins. Samuel Beavers, bondsm., attests bride's age. Bond 3 Jan 1833, M. 3 Jan 1833. Dorsey min. Shelburne Parish. CONT CONT p. 97 John McBride & Sarah Watkins. Daniel Fuhrs, bondsman, 25 Dec 1799. Cameron Parish. CONT p.162 John W. Littleton CONT CONT CONT
• Source: S8 Abbreviation: Loundon Co, VA Marriages-Vogt & Ketchley Title: Vogt, Johm and Kethley, T. William Jr., Loundon County Marriages 1760-1850 (Athens, GA: Iberian Publishing Co) Subsequent Source Citation Format: Vogt, Johm and Kethley, T. William Jr., Loundon County Marriages 1760-1850 BIBL Vogt, Johm and Kethley, T. William Jr. Loundon County Marriages 1760-1850. Athens, GA: Iberian Publishing Co.

1. ↑ Source: #S7
2. ↑ Source: #S8

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Sara Patton for creating WikiTree profile Watkins-1627 through the import of watkins-littleton-kerrihard.ged on Mar 9, 2013.

Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Sara and others.