Watkins, James H.

History of Southeast Missouri by Robert Sidney Douglas, A. B., LL. B. Publishers: The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago and New York, 1912

Among the very early settlers that came to Caruthersville and, casting their fortunes with the southeastern section of Missouri, have since aided in its growing prosperity and loyally supported all enterprises and measure advanced for the welfare of the community as a whole, the name of James H. Watkins must ever be written high. When Mr. Watkins first came to Caruthersville to make his home there were only two stores in the town, a far cry indeed from the prosperous business center of the present day.

James H. Watkins was one of the six children that blessed the union of William and Evelyn (Culver) Watkins. He first saw the light of this world sixty-six years ago in Tippah county, Mississippi, where his father was the owner of a fertile farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Concerning his brothers and sisters the following brief data are here inserted: John, whose death occurred three years ago in De Soto County, Mississippi, was the owner of a large farm, and at one time held title to considerable real estate in Pemiscot county; Henry, passed away five years ago this winter, near Covington, Tennessee; Caroline, passed away thirty years ago and was survived by two children, one of whom is now Mrs. Kipton, living in the neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee, and the other, formerly, Miss Jane Baker, is now Mrs. Charles Turner, of Pemiscot county, and has one son, who makes his home in Memphis, Tennessee; and Thomas who lives at the present time near Covington, Tennessee.

Mrs. William Watkins, the mother of the subject of this brief personal review, passed to her eternal reward some time before the lowering cloud had broken and devastated her native state, and her husband married again, the lady of his choice being Miss Nancy Pall. He died in Tippah county fifteen years ago, the father of twelve children, some of whom make their homes in Pemiscot county. George is at Canda Switch, running a store and the post-office; George married Miss Frankie McCall, and is the father of a family; Haywood is the owner of a fine farm just across the river in Tennessee; Richard, who was united in marriage to Miss Hettie Donovan, of Pemiscot county, owns considerable property in Caruthersville, including an up-to-date store building and four other structures; Mrs. M. Sides is engaged in the mercantile business in Caruthersville; and Robert, who was married to Miss Allie Bram, is the present constable of Caruthersville.

In 1865, on the 24th of November, Miss Martha Entrikin, the daughter of John Entrikin, of Tippah county, Mississippi, prominent farmer and land-owner of that region, became the bride of Mr. James Watkins. He stayed in Mississippi until November, 1877, when he left the Bayou state and came direct to Caruthersville, where he bought some town property, consisting of two lots and a house. After one year he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of fertile farm land, located southwest of Caruthersville, and farmed the same for a period of ten years, with such success that he was able to retire from the field of agriculture. After selling forty acres of his land to his brother John he moved into town and, buying six acres of town property, he has since erected four residence houses, one of which he occupies himself and three of which he lets to tenants.

He is the father of eight children, of whom the following brief account is here given: Wesley, now in his forty-fifth year, is a farmer and stock-raiser, located in Middleton, Tennessee; Jesse, now living at Hot Springs, Arkansas, is a farmer, and has a family, his first wife being Miss Bettie Culver, and his second, Miss Julia Wills; Alice who died in June 1895, was the wife of George Feltes, and the mother of one child; Golden, thirty-six years old, married Mrs. N A. King and is engaged in agricultural pursuits in the state of Arkansas; Ida passed to her reward in 1892, while yet a girl of fifteen; Louis settled in the Bear state, where he is a picture agent and owns property in Walnut Ridge, that state, where he lives with his wife, who was formerly Miss Willie Coffee; Myrtle died on her father’s farm in February, 1889, when a child of two years, and Maud now lives in Caruthersville, where her husband, Mr. C. E. Meek, has a paint and butcher’s business. Mrs. Watkins spent her youth at Charleston, South Carolina. She and her husband, among many other good deeds, have undertaken to raise an orphan child, and Fleety McGinthy, now eleven years old, makes her home beneath their hospitable roof. Mrs. Watkins is a member of the First Missionary Baptist church of Caruthersville, which she joined in 1865.