Jesse M. Watkins b1869

WATKINS, NELSON, ARMSTRONG, SHEETS

Posted By: Volunteer: Roxanne Riggan
Date: 2/1/2012 at 18:34:13

Jesse M. Watkins Succumbs at 71

Surviving Are Wife, Son, 2 Grand-daughters, 2 Sisters, and 2 Brothers;
Rites Held at Center Chapel

Jesse M. Watkins died at his home 6 ½ Miles southeast of Keosauqua, about 9 o’clock Monday morning. He had been seriously ill several weeks following a cerebral hemorrhage. Mr. Watkins, who was 71 years old, had lived in Keosauqua vicinity many years and owned a large chicken farm.

Mr. Watkins, the fourth in a family of nine children, was born in Beaconshire, Wales, on June 29, 1869. He came to Keosauqua with his parents and brothers and sisters when he was 12 years old. He worked on farms near Keosauqua and in Kansas until he had saved the money for college education, and was graduated from the Northern Indiana Normal school in 1896. He then taught school in the public schools of Van Buren County 10 years.

He was united in marriage with Hilma Sofia Nelson of Vernon Township in 1899. They bought their present home place near Center Chapel in 1900.

He is survived by his wife; one son, Roy of Keosauqua; two sisters, Mrs. Gwen Armstrong and Mrs. Henry Sheets, both of Mt. Sterling; two brothers, David of Keosauqua and John of Loring, Kan., and two granddaughters, Maxine and Jeanette Watkins of Keosauqua.

Funeral services were conducted at Center Chapel at 2 o’clock Wednesday afternoon by the Rev. C. Hugo Orf. Burial was at Center Chapel cemetery.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Scrapbook A, page 315, Keosauqua Public Library; Keosauqua, IA