Jesse Watkins 1869-1940

WATKINS, EVANS, NELSON, ARMSTRONG, SHEETS, ORF

Posted By: Charles E. Hales (email)
Date: 5/10/2004 at 23:03:11

Jesse [Alfred] Watkins, son of John and Ann Evans Watkins, and fourth in a family of nine children, was born on June 29, 1869, near Crickewill in Beaconshire, Wales, and passed away at his home near Keosauqua, Iowa at 9:30 the morning of Dec. 16, 1940, aged 71 years, 5 months and 17 days.

He with his parents and brothers and sisters, lived in Wales until he reached the age of 12 years, at which time they emigrated to America and came to Keosauqua in June 1881. He worked on farms near Keosauqua and later in the state of Kansas until he had saved sufficient of his earnings to obtain a college education. He was graduated with the degree of bachelor of Science from Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, Ind., in the class of 1896. Following his graduation he taught in the public schools of Van Buren county for ten years. On Dec. 24, 1899, he was united in marriage with Hilma Sofia Nelson of near Willlits Station in Vernon Township. To this union two sons were born, Roy L. and an infant who died at birth.

Jesse and Hilma purchased and moved on their present home place near Center Chapel in the spring of 1900 and have lived there continuously with the exception of two years on his father’s farm one mile away. [ Eighty acres one mile south known as the S 1/2 NW 1/4 Sec 28]

He leaves to mourn his passing, his devoted wife, Hilma, one son, Roy and daughter-in-law, Dorothy, two grandchildren, Dorothy Jeanette and Hilma Maxine, two brothers, John E. of Loring, Kansas and David E. of Keosauqua, two sisters, Mrs. Gwen Armstrong and Mrs. Rosabel Sheets, both of Mt. Sterling, several nieces and nephews and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters and one brother.

He became a member of the Center Chapel Methodist church in 1904 and attended services regularly as long as he was able. He taught the Bible class in the Sunday School for many years and always enjoyed his work in the church and community where he lived.

Mr. Watkins was a good man and deeply loved by all who knew him. He was a farmer by choice and worked hard and long at his tasks for the sheer love of it. He was a keen student of his day and was much distressed by the turn of events in world affairs. His interest in the community and loyalty and service to the church marked him for the Christian gentleman that he was. He will be sadly missed not only by those who were near and dear to him but by those in the church and community with whom he lived and served.

Services were held from the Center Chapel Methodist church on Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 18, 1940, the Rev. C. H. Orf pastor of the church officiating. Internment was in the Center Chapel cemetery.

From a clipping in an unknown Van Buren County newspaper in possesion of the author.