Watkins, J. H.

WATKINS

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 10/6/2008 at 16:17:26

J. H. Watkins

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.196, Neola Twp.)
J. H. Watkins, farmer, P. O. Neola, was born in London, England, February 18, 1838, son of William and mary (Gypp) Watkins, natives of London, England; he was born about 1801, and died in Brigham City, Utah, in 1865; he came to America in 1842; while in England, he worked as a brick-layer and plasterer; also a cabinet-maker; in this country, he was mostly occupied as a farmer. The mother of out subject was born about 1802, and died in Brigham City, utah, in 1867; she came to America with her husband, whom she blessed with thirteen children, four of whom are living. Mr. Watkins' father first settled in Illinois, and in 1847, removed to Iowa near Crescent City, where he remained until 1852, when he went to Utah; there our subject was employed as a trader till 1858, when he returned to Iowa and rented f arm in Fremont County, till 1863. During the summer of the latter year, he drove team to Denver City, making two trips; during 1864, he farmed, and the following year lumbered and mined in Montana Territory. After a short time spent in Utah, he returned to the Montana mines, thence back to Iowa, where he rented a farm till moving to Pottawattamie County, where, after renting a farm of Mr. H. Rishton, Sr., for four years, he bought 120 acres, where he now lives. Mr. Watkins was married, in Utah, in December, 1858, to Mary E. Ettleman, born in February, 1840, in Illinois, daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Smith) Ettleman, he, born in Pennsylvania, was a hotel-keeper and died at the age of eighty-siz; she is still living at the age of eighty-two. Mr. and Mrs. Watkins' children aer Joseph H., Margaret M., Roxy E., Eudora, Hiram A., Lucy E., Nettie A., Perry J. and Jessie. Mr. Watkins is a Democrat.