Randolph WATKINS

1844 - Abt 1929  (84 years)

• Name	Randolph WATKINS  [1]
  Born	8 Dec 1844	Mt Vernon, OH   [2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  Died	Abt 3 Jun 1929	Red Oak, Montgomery, IA   [4]
  Buried	3 Jun 1929	Evergreen Cemetery, Red Oak, Montgomery, Iowa   [5]
  Notes	Posted By: Sara Patton at http://iagenweb.org/boards/montgomery/obituaries/index.cgi?review=22711 Date: 2/13/2003 at 17:35:48 RED OAK EXPRESS June 3, 1929 R. WATKINS, 84, COUNTY PIONEER BURIED TODAY Was One of Country's Mail Carriers on Horseback 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 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 horsebac 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 on 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."
  Person ID	I1023	Hayward Family Tree
  Last Modified	10 Nov 2007

  
  

  Family ID

  F512

  Group Sheet

  
  

  Family	Mathilda (Lilly) Catherine KERRIHARD,   b. 17 Aug 1849, Straubston, PA ,   d. 6 Jan 1927, Red Oak, Montgomery, IA  (Age 77 years)
  Married	24 Dec 1868	Red Oak, Montgomery, Iowa   [6, 7]
  Notes	found on 14 Oct 2005 at http://iagenweb.org/montgomery/vr/watkins-kerrihard56th.htm Mr. Randolph Watkins and Miss Matilda Catherine Kerrihard 56th Wedding Anniversary Submitted by Sara Stevens Patton Red Oak Express, Red Oak, Iowa Friday, January 1, 1925 Special to The Nonpareil CELEBRATE FIFTIETH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ---------------- Red Oak Couple Wed Fifty-six Years RED OAK, Ia., Jan. 1. -- Fifty-six years ago Christmas eve, under the first public Christmas tree in Red Oak accompanied with a wedding march on the first piano ever brought into this city, Mr. and Mrs. Randolph Watkins were married, (by) Rev. Andrews in the first Methodist church built in this city and now used as an apartment house. In honor of the occasion, the symbol of the Yuletide season--the Christmas tree--was the principal feature of the decorations in the Watkins home where their children and many relatives gathered to celebrate the event, the entire party attending the Christmas exercises at the Methodist church Christmas eve beside in recollection of the past event when the best gift on the old fashioned Christmas tree comprising a hickory tree with trunk and limbs wrapped in cotton and the decorations composed of pop corn string and muslin strips soaked in alum which when dry produced the glistening stincel effect on which was placed the marriage certificate which launched a happy companionship that has continued down through the years. The first piano ever brought to Red Oak was in the old church and Mr. and Mrs. Watkins recall that for a short time it was feared that this wonderful instrument could not be used for the occasion as there was no one in the city that could play a piano. However, Mrs. DeLay happened to be spending the Christmas holiday in Red Oak and she was able to play and consented to do so for the event, thus eliminating the only possible marr (sic) to the occasion. Mrs. Watkins has resided in this community for the past sixty-three years as a continuous resident. Her maiden name was Matilda Catherine Kerrihard. She was born in Bloomsburg, Marion county, Pa., August 17, 1849. With her parents she came to Red Oak from Davenport in 1861. Mr. Watkins was born in Vernon, Ohio, December 8, 1844, and came to this city in an early day from Monmouth, Ill. He is unable to give the exact date but it was a short time after his wife came here with her parents. They were the parents of three children, one having died. Two daughters, who were at home in honor of the event were Mrs. W. M. Lloyd, of Ogden, Utah, and Mrs. Harry E. Stevens, of Red Oak. They are the grandparents of eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Mrs. Lloyd and great granddaughter, Joyce Hall, of Ogden, and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stevens and family were among the relatives present at the festivities which commemorated the anniversary. Mrs. Watkins celebrated her 75th birthday in August and Mr. Watkins was 80 years of age December 8, but despite their advanced years they are hale and hearty and enjoy the blessings that come to those in happy wedlock in their fine home at 611 Second street in Red Oak. --------------------
  Children	1. Anna WATKINS,   b. Abt 1871, Iowa   2. Alma WATKINS,   b. Abt 1872, Iowa ,   d. 1912  (Age ~ 40 years)   3. Charlotte WATKINS   4. Bonnie WATKINS
  Family ID	F322	Group Sheet

  
  

• Sources

  [S04453] Census, 1880, Iowa, Montgomery, Red Oak twp, ED 144, p 7/291. [S04453] Census, 1880, Iowa, Montgomery, Red Oak twp, ED 144, p 7/291. b Illinois ? [S03988] Obituary, Red Oak Express, 3 Jun 1929. see notes for full text posted by Sara Patton 13 Feb 2003 on Iowa GenWeb message board; [S03988] Obituary, Red Oak Express, 3 Jun 1929. see notes for full text posted by Sara Patton on Iowa GenWeb message board 13 Feb 2003 [S03988] Obituary, Red Oak Express, 3 Jun 1929. see notes for full text [S03988] Obituary, Red Oak Express, 3 Jun 1929. see notes for full text posted by Sara Patton 13 Feb 2003 at Iowa Genweb message board [S03988] Obituary, Red Oak, Iowa, January 14, 1927. see Mathilda Catherine Kerrihard's obituary