Watkins, Minor M.

BAHR, TERRY, WELLS, AUSTIN

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 1/4/2010 at 10:02:41

In the history of the development and progress of Bremer county mention should be made of Minor M. Watkins, who became one of the early settlers of this part of the state and took an active and helpful interest in promoting its material advancement and in furthering its intellectual and moral progress. He was born in Rutland, Vermont, May 19, 1829, a son of Minor and Anna Mariah (Bahr) Watkins, who were also natives of the Green Mountain state. The father was a carpenter by trade and followed that pursuit for many years. He removed with the family to Elkhart, Wisconsin, when that section of the state was largely unimproved, and subsequently he and his wife became residents of Aurora, Illinois, where both passed away.

Minor M. Watkins attended school in Vermont and probably to a limited extent in Wisconsin. He was, however, largely grown when the family came to the middle west and his time and energies were largely devoted to the task of earning a living. He would chop wood in the winter and follow other pursuits in the summer. About 1840 or 1850 he went to Illinois and at Solon engaged in wagon and carriage making and painting, continuing in that business until 1855, when he came to Iowa and settled on a farm north of Horton. At various times he resided on different farms and for a period lived across the line in Chickasaw county, where he made his home for six years. He afterward returned to Illinois, where he and a brother were engaged in the sash and blind manufacturing business for four years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and returned to Waverly. His son, Ralph R. Watkins, wished to engage in farming and the father accordingly bought a farm for him and resided thereupon until 1877. In that year he took up his abode in Waverly, where he established an ice and coal business, later extending the scope of his trade to include lumber. Eventually he sold the ice business, but continued to deal in coal and lumber until his death, which occurred June 16, 1892, when he was sixty-three years of age. His entire time was devoted to the coal and lumber business after leaving the farm and he was accounted one of the enterprising and successful business men of the city.

On the 1st of January, 1852, Mr. Watkins was united in marriage to Miss Lovisa S. Terry, who was born in the state of New York, July 6, 1831, at Edmeston, Otsego county, her parents being David and Eleanor (Wells) Terry, both of whom were natives of New York. Her father was a Baptist minister and also followed farming. In 1845 he brought his family to Illinois, settling in McHenry county, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits and also engaged in preaching the gospel. He continued to reside in that state until 1855, when he removed to Iowa, traveling in wagons drawn by four ox teams. The party also had a horse and buggy and thus journeying across the country they reached Bremer county, settling seven miles north of Waverly. There Mr. Terry continued to reside for many years, becoming one of the leading as well as enterprising and progressive farmers of the community. A few years prior to his death he established his home in Waverly, where he passed away in 1884, having for ten years survived his wife, who died in 1874. Mr. Terry was in training for the War of 1812 but was not called to the front. Unto him and his wife were bortn the children, but Mrs. S. De Etta Watkins is the only one now living. Mrs. Lovisa Watkins died September 14, 1862, and on the 15th of February, 1871, Mr. Watkins married her sister, S. De Etta Terry, who was the youngest in the family of ten children, while Mrs. Lovisa Watkins was the fourth. Unto the first marriage were born four children. Eva May, who was born October 26, 1852 is the wife of Charles Austin, who is now living retired at Sunnyvale, California, but for many years was a merchant of Horton and Sumner. He is owner of a rice plantation in Louisiana and is connected with the banking business in California. The second of the family is Ralph R. Watkins, who is mentioned at length on another page of this volume. Frank Willie, the third member of the family, was born February 11, 1857, and died July 22, 1875. Mary De Etta, born November 10, 1859, died August 8, 1877. By the second marriage of Minor M. Watkins there were two children but the elder died in infancy. Eustice Ray, born September 24, 1874, passed away on the 24th of June, 1894.

In his political views Minor M. Watkins was alway a stalwart republican from the time of the organization of the party until his death. He belonged to the Masonic lodge at Waverly and his life was always true to its beneficent teachings concerning the brotherhood of mankind. He was ever upright and honorable and his many sterling traits of character won him the high regard, the confidence and the good will of his fellowmen. One of the local papers at the time of his demise said:

"Mr. Watkins had a wide circle of acquaintances, and few men had more or warmer friends. His genial personality attracted friends and his more substantial traits, honesty and generosity, held them secure through life. The city council, of which he was elected a number last spring, at a special meeting passed the following resolutions:

" 'Resolved, That in the death of Mr. M.M. Watkins, a councilman from the second ward, this board has lost a valued member, whose integrity, clear judgment and deep interest in the welfare of the city, added to his urbane and kindly character, have always made him an influential and reliable member of the city council. Richly endowed with all the gentle and sympathetic feelings of the most humane of men, he warmed all towards him with a kindred sympathy, and with a directness of purpose that ever pointed to the path of duty led others almost unconsciously to coincide where a more aggressive course would have met inconvertible opposition. Equally ready to lead the way or follow where others had begun if public interest or the welfare of the city was involved, he was more or less connected with almost every public undertaking and as a business man was upright and enterprising without any of the selfish jealousy that often mars the pages of a successful business career.

" 'His death deprives the board of a wise and prudent counselor of a singularly clear, practical mind, of unblemished character and unimpeachable integrity and a devoted and valued friend and associate.' "
Following the death of his father the son Ray continued to be the support and comfort of his mother until he, too, passed away. Words cannot express how deep and widespread was the grief felt when news of the demise of Ray Watkins spread throughout city and county. One of the local papers wrote:

"When it was announced that Ray Watkins was dead there was sadness in many hearts, for he was a boy whom everybody admired and felt a kindly interest in. At the time of his death he was nineteen years, nine months old, an Apollo in figure and a gladiator in agility and strength. Yet he was gentle; his heart was full of noble impulses and there was sunshine in his presence that made it ever welcome." He was born and lived all of his life in this county. He was graduated from the Waverly high school in the class of 1892. About that time his father died, leaving the son his mother's only comforter and support. He always carefully looked after her welfare and her interests and two years prior to his demise, when he became an employe of the German-American Bank, he had his life insured in her favor. He was decidedly a manly youth and very popular with the young people, entering with zest into all their amusements and particularly enjoying baseball and other athletics. It is said that the people with whom he did business were always pleased with him and that he was a universal favorite with young and old, rich and poor, having ever a pleasant smile and a happy greeting for all whom he met. In this connection the words of James Whitcomb Riley may be aptly quoted, carrying there message of comfort to all the hearts that cherished his memory:

"I cannot say, and I will not say

That he is dead - he is just away!

"With a cheery smile, and a wave of the hand,

He has wandered into an unknown land,

"And left us dreaming how very fair

It needs must be, since he lingers there.

"And you - O you, who the wildest yearn

For the old-time step and the glad return, -

"Think of him faring on, as dear

In the love There as the love of Here;

"Think of him still as the same I say:

He is not dead - he is just away!"

Since the death of her husband and son Mrs. Watkins has resided continuously in Waverly, where she expects to spend her remaining days. She is a member of the Eastern Star and of the Baptist church and she has many friends in this locality.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914