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R. WATKINS, 84, COUNTY PIONEER BURIED TODAY
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Was One of Country's Mail Carriers on Horseback
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Randolph Watkins, 84, resident of Montgomery county
for sixty-four years, died at his home, 611 Second street Friday evening
at 11:10 o'clock from infirmities due to his advanced age. He had been
ill just a few days prior to his death.
Funeral services were held from the home this afternoon at 2:30 with
Rev. L.L. Weis, of the Methodist church, in charge. Burial was made in
Evergreen cemetery.
Randolph Watkins was born December 8, 1844 at Mt. Vernon, Ohio. He
came with his parents as a child from Ohio to Monmouth, Ill., in the fall
of 1850, where he made his home until in 1865. In the spring of 1865 he
came to Red Oak, Iowa, remained about nine months and returned to
Illinois. In the spring of 1867 he came to Red Oak again, crossed the
state back and forth seven or eight times, finally locating here in 1867.
He followed teaming for two years, then following farming for three years.
His marriage to Matilda Kerrihard took place on Christmas eve 1868,
it being the first wedding to take place in the old Methodist church which
stood where the present edifice now stands. The wedding took place in
front of the first Christmas tree ever prepared in Red Oak. Mr. Watkins'
bride was a native of Pennsylvania. In 1873, Mr. Watkins went to Nebraska
with a load of farming implements, located on a claim in Webster county
and moved his family there. He remained just long enough for the
grasshoppers to eat them out, and returned to Iowa. In 1874 he went back
his Nebraska claim, planted a crop, but soon sold out and returned to Red
Oak for good. He was one of the first mail carriers. He carried mail
between Sciola in Montgomery county, to Council Bluffs making the trips by
horseback.
He was one of the few remaining pioneers who helped to move the
court house from Frankfort to Red oak. It was moved by ox teams during a
blizzard. The court house was a heavy structure, being made from native
lumber. Mr. Watkins also worked on the railroad when it was first built
through this section. He was a member of the Methodist church, and had
served at one time as county supervisor.
Mr. and Mrs. Watkins were the parents of four daughters, Charlotte
died in infancy, Mrs. Alma Wilkins in 1912. The two surviving daughters
are: Mrs. Anna Lloyd of Ogden, Utah, and Mrs. Bonnie Stevens of Red Oak.
They also reared in their home a foster son, Lou Watkins, now deceased.
Mr. Watkins leaves one brother, J.H. Watkins of Red Oak, eight
grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Mrs. Watkins died in Red Oak
January 6, 1927. His youngest daughter, Mrs. Stevens maintained a home
for him after the death of the wife and mother.
Relatives who came for the funeral included Mrs. Lloyd of Ogden and
Miss Loie Stevens, a granddaughter who has been attending school at
Grinnell.
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