Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 156

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314

USA > Mississippi > Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II > Part 156

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BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

two years, and was in partnership with George B. Walker in general merchandising at Walker's Bridge for seven years. He sold that out in 1872 and bought an interest in the dry goods business at Pleasanton, continuing there for two years. He was appointed admin- istrator of his father's estate in 1863, and in 1870 he was appointed administrator of the estate of his brother. The Doctor is acknowledged by the medical profession as a physician of ability and prominence, and as a citizen he is esteemed and honored by all. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since June, 1857, and an able supporter of schools, churches, etc.

J. W. Waterer, Free Run, has been a lifelong resident of Yazoo county, Miss., where he first saw the light of day November 8, 1848. He is the eldest of the three children born to Needham and Lonise (McCormack) Waterer. The father was a native of Twiggs county, Ga., and there grew to manhood. At the age of twenty-one years he left kith and kin, and rode seven hundred miles through a comparatively wild country, inhabited by Indians, until he came to Yazoo county, Miss. He decided to tarry here a while and finally settled near Free Run, where he was employed as an overseer. At the breaking out of the Civil war he owned fifteen slaves and fifteen hundred acres of land. He was married in 1846 to Miss Louise McCormack, and by this union three children were born, only one of whom grew to maturity. Mrs. Waterer died in 1852, and after some time he was again married, his second wife being Miss Amanda McCormack, a sister to the first wife. Six children were born to them, tive of whom lived to be grown: Needham C., of Texas; Heibunia, wife of Henry Gorden; S. F., a planter of this county; Virginia L. ; and H. Y., a farmer of Holmes county. The father died in August, 1873, at the age of fifty-six years. He was a man of many sterling qualities, and by his industry and economy made a success of life. The subject of this notice, J. W. Waterer, grew up surrounded by the industry of husbandry, and early received a bent in this direction. At the tender age of fifteen years he entered the Confederate service in Capt. Ed. Berry's company of cavalry, and gallantly lent his aid in the defense of the Southern cause. After the surrender, in 1865, he went into agriculture, which he followed until 1888. During four years of this time he was assessor of the county. His next business venture was in the mercantile trade, in partnership with the Hon. D. Bunch, of Benton. He now has the entire business in his own name, carrying a stock of $2, 500, and doing an annual business of $10,000. He owns a well-improved plantation of six hundred acres in addition to his mercantile interests. Mr. Waterer was wedded. in 1869, to Miss Ella Reed, daughter of J. H. and A. L. (Hurst) Reed, prominent early settlers of Mississippi. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Waterer who lived to maturity, and four died in infancy. Those living are, Nellie L., Lizzie, Fannie and J. B. Mrs. Waterer passed from this life September 14, 1890, lamented by her family and a large circle of friends. She was an estimable Christian woman, and a devoted member of the Baptist church. Mr. Waterer is a member of the Free Run lodge No. 2994, Knights of Honor. He is one of Yazoo's enterprising, progressive citizens, and has always contributed to the support of all public movements that have been of general benefit.

Dr. Benjamin D. Watkins, physician and surgeon for the state and the city Charity hospital at Natchez, and a general practitioner, was born in Natchez in 1862, and is the son of Rev. William H. Watkins, D. D. The elder Watkins was born in Jefferson county, Miss., in 1815, was educated for the ministry (Methodist), and for a number of years was president of Centenary college at Jackson, La., a Methodist institution, and was afterward in the New Orleans conference. While in that city he met and married Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson, nee Jones, who was a native of Liverpool, England, born in 1818, where she had married her first

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husband, who was a ship captain. Mrs. Watkins is still living and makes her home among her children. She is an excellent lady and a devout Methodist. After leaving New Orleans Mr. Watkins was placed on the Mississippi conference, and was stationed at Natchez, Wood- ville, Jackson and Vicksburg, continuing in the ministry with unabated success until his death in 1881. His father, Asa Watkins, was born in Jefferson county, Ga., in 1777, and at a very early day came to Mississippi, locating in Jefferson county, where his death occurred in 1840. He was a planter by occupation and a pronounced Baptist in his religious belief. Dr. Benjamin D. Watkins is the youngest of six sons and five daughters, six of whom are living, born to his parents. They are named as follows: Dr. William H., a successful physician and surgeon of New Orleans; Thomas H., a planter of Louisiana; Dr. John M., a physician of New Orleans; Rev. Alex. F., a prominent divine of Jackson and agent for a college, and Olive B. Dr. Benjamin D. Watkins was educated at Centenary college, La., and then, afer a three years' course, graduated from the medical department of Tulane university at Baton Rouge, La., in the meantime spending a portion of two years in the Charity hospital, New Orleans. After finishing his course he at once located in the city of Natchez, where he already ranks among the foremost of his profession. He has an extensive and lucrative practice. He is a prominent member of Harmony lodge No. 1, A. F. & A. M., and also of Natchez lodge No. 3, of Knights of Pythias. He selected Miss Eloise Reimer, a native of Natchez, as his life companion and their nuptials were celebrated in June, 1889. She is the daughter of Daniel and Minnie Reimer, early settlers of Natchez, where Mr. Reimer died a number of years ago. He was a planter. Mrs. Watkins is an earnest and active member of the Methodist church. Dr. Watkins is a public-spirited citizen and stands high in his profession and in social circles. He was pension examiner for about two years under the Cleveland administration.

Erskine Watkins, merchant, of Jackson, Miss. In giving a history of Hinds county, Miss., the name of Mr. Watkins deserves honorable mention, for he has always been industrious and public spirited, and has ever aided enterprises which tend to the interests of his city and section. He was born in Huntsville, Ala., on the 8th of November, 1838, the fourth of six children born to Dr. Miles S. and Sallie D. (Shelby) Watkins, the former a native of Virginian and the latter of Tennessee. Dr. Watkins was brought up in the state of his birth, but about 1820 removed to Alabama, and, having graduated from the Jefferson Medical college, of Philadelphia, Penn., he practiced his profession in Huntsville until 1850, when he removed to Mississippi, taking up his abode near the city of Jackson, where he engaged in planting until the opening of the war. During the great conflict between the North and South all his property was swept away, after which he lived a retired life, until his death, in 1866, at the age of seventy five years. He lived the life of a true Christian, having for many years been a member of the Presbyterian church and an elder in the same, and although not an aspirant for political favors, he was very public-spirited and a very prominent man of the county. He was very successful in business until the war swept his accumulations away, possessed decided literary tastes, being an omnivorous reader, and was a graduate of Hampton Sidney college, of Virginia. He was a model husband and father, was devoted to his children and gave them all good advantages. He was a true and tried soldier of the War of 1812, and in every respect ranked among the highest civilians. He was of Scotch descent, and a nephew of his, Benjamin Watkins Leigh, was one of the ablest men of his times. Erskine Watkins has been a resident of Mississippi since his twelfth year, but the most of his education was obtained in Huntsville, Ala. He left school at the age of sixteen years to enter a general mercantile store in Jackson, and from 1855 to 1861 he was with the firm of Fearn & Putnam. Upon the opening of the Civil

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war he enlisted in company K, Eighteenth Mississippi regiment (which was the second or third regiment organized in the state), as lieutenant of his company and served until the last gun was fired, and made an enviable record as a brave and faithful soldier. He took part in the first battle of Bull Run, the first battle of Manassas, and was afterward transferred to company I, Thirty-ninth Mississippi, with which he remained until captured at Port Hudson. He was a participant in the bloody battles of Vicksburg, Corinth and Baton Rouge. He was severely wounded in the engagement at Corinth, and was disabled for over three months. He was captured at Port Hudson and kept as a prisoner of war until the surrender of General Lee, after which he was released and returned to his home. He soon after opened a mercantile establishment, and to this calling has industriously devoted his attention ever since. He is the sole proprietor of the house of E. Watkins, which is the largest hardware establishment of Jackson, and does an annual business of $50,000. In every respect he has shown that he is a man of discrimination and judgment, and his upright and honorable business career is a worthy example to the rising generation. He has always . endeavored to follow the teachings of the golden rule and his many admirable qualities of heart and head, and his kindly, courteous and pleasing manners, make him an agreeable and desired companion, and one who holds an enviable position in the religious and social circles of Jackson. He is extremely public-spirited, and to aid in the improvement of his section and to assist and encourage worthy enterprises, he gives generously of his means. He has been a member of the board of aldermen for some years, in which position he has used his influence for justice and right, and for the good of the city. In addition to managing his hardware establishment, he also successfully conducts a fine plantation of one thousand acres, and thus finds that his time is fully and profitably occupied. Besides his fine store building he owns a beautiful residence in Jackson, which he erected in 1881, and here he and his intelligent and amiable wife dispense a generous and free-hearted hospitality. In 1875 he was united in marriage to Miss Alice Petrie, a native of Jackson, Miss., and a daughter of Lemuel W. and Rosa (Farrar) Petrie, the former a native of Maine and the latter of Virginia. To Mr. Watkins and his wife three children have been born: Rosa F., Marian S. and Alice P., all of whom are at home. Mr. Watkins and his wife are worthy members of the Presbyterian church.

Jesse Watkins (deceased) was originally from North Carolina, his birth occurring in Rich- mond county in 1813, and he there grew to maturity, receiving a common-school education. He was early trained to the duties of farm life, and it was but natural perhaps that that should be his chosen vocation when starting out for himself. He was married in 1835 to Miss Sarah A. Morgan, daughter of Richard and Annie (Ewell) Morgan, natives of Virginia and Maryland respectively. To Mr. and Mrs. Watkins were born four children, three of whom are still living: James, Mary A., (wife of M. A. Cooper, of Neshoba county, Miss. ) and Edmond (who is a prominent business man of Chattanooga, Tenn.) Mr. Watkins came with his family to Neshoba county, Miss., in 1849, located in the woods and on the exact spot where the old home now stands. He began opening up land, and in the short space of two years he had a good farm opened and was making considerable money. At the breaking out of the war he owned about two thousand acres of land and about twenty-five slaves. He thought slavery wrong, and when he had to give up those belonging to him he never lamented the loss. He opposed the ordinance of secession, but when the die was cast went with his people. He was an old-line whig in politics, but although active he never sought office and never allowed his name to come before the people. He died in 1885, after having lived a useful and Chris- tian life. His son, James Watkins, was born in Richmond county, N. C., in 1836, and

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removed with his parents to Neshoba county, Miss., at the age of thirteen years. Here he labored on his father's farm, and was educated in what was then known as Carolina academy, near his father's home. In 1857 he was married to Miss Martha, daughter of Jones Brant- ley, a native of Georgia, but who came to Mississippi in 1855. The fruits of this union were five children, four of whom are still living. In 1861, when the war between the two sections broke out, Mr. Watkins enlisted in company K, Fifth Mississippi regiment, and served until the close. He was in the battle of Pensacola, Fla., Farmington, Miss., and Chickamauga, where he was wounded in the arm and prevented from further service. Returning home after the war Mr. Watkins followed farming and in 1867 moved to Meridian, where he opened a general merchandising store. He was burned out in 1868, after which he returned to the farm, where he has since remained. He owns immense tracts of land, between ten and fifteen thousand acres, and is the largest landowner in the county. He is a devout, religious man, and one who gives his liberal support to every worthy enterprise. He believes in educating the young, and puts this into practice by giving all his children liberal educational advantages. He has the good will and esteem of all who know him. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Watkins' paternal grandfather, Israel Watkins, was probably a native of the Old Dominion, but located in North Carolina when young. He was an active Revolu- tionary soldier aud served his country well. The maternal grandfather, Richard Morgan, was also a soldier in the Revolution.

Among the prominent farmers of Copiah county is William A. Watkins, who resides near the eastern border of the county, on the Pearl river, on the plantation upon which he was born in 1838. He is the son of Henry and Anna Watkins. His father was born in South Carolina, May 4, 1802, a son of William and Sarah Watkins, both natives of that state. In 1822, after the death of his father, Henry Watkins came to Mississippi with his mother. After a few years devoted to planting interests, he was appointed warden of the state penitentiary, at Jackson, Miss., which position he held for eleven years. Upon his retirement he purchased a farm in Copiah county, upon which he located and lived till his death, which occurred February, 1878. He was married in 1836 to Mrs. Anna (Carter) Young, a daughter of Burrel and -Carter, of Pike county, Miss. To this couple was born one child, a son, William A., the subject of this sketch. Mr. Watkins was prominent in the Masonic order. William A. Watkins began life for himself at the age of twenty-one as a farmer, which vocation he now follows, owning the farm upon which he first started out for himself, and upon which he has lived during that whole period, except two years, when he was merchandising in Brookhaven. He was married in 1859 to Margaret Conn, a daughter of Matthew and Ada Conn, of Copiah county. They had two children, Benjamin A. and Nannie, wife of Francis Barlow. In 1861 Mr. Watkins enlisted in Gray's battalion for the Confederate service, but soon after joined company K, of the Twentieth Mississippi infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. He is a member of Charles Scott lodge No. 136, A. F. & A. M. Mr. Watkins, although well advanced in life, is well preserved, and though somewhat stout is quite active. He is rather tall, quite erect, with clear blue eyes and gray hair, and a long gray beard, presenting an appearance no less striking than pleasing. His business reputation is of the highest character, and the esteem in which he is held by his fellow-citizens would be flattering if it were not deserved.

Dr. W. W. Watkins, physician and planter, is well known in Monroe county, where he was born in 1849, the son of Bryant and Susan (Whitfield) Watkins, the former of whom was born in Dublin county, and the latter in Wayne county, N. C. They came to Monroe county in 1837, where they were married and passed the remainder of their lives. Mr. Watkins

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died in 1852, his wife in 1878. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South for many years, and Mr. Watkins was an Odd Fellow. The grandfather of our sub- ject was John Watkins, supposed to have been born in North Carolina, where he lived till he came to Monroe county, in 1837, becoming a well-to-do planter, and dying in what is now Clay county, in 1866. He was of Welsh descent, his family consisting of seven sons and six daughters, two sons and one daughter of whom are living. Several of his sons, and quite a number of his grandsons, did service for the Confederacy in the Civil war. His maternal grandfather, Hatch Whitfield, was born in North Carolina, and in 1835 also came to Mon- roe county, settling near Aberdeen. He engaged in planting with considerable success, and died in 1883. He will long be remembered as being a veteran of the War of 1812, during which he served under General Jackson, at New Orleans. He was of English descent, but thoroughly American in his ideas, and active in all matters of public impor- tance. He was twice married, and had ten children, nine of them by his first wife. Mr. Watkins' mother was married, a second time, to D. Wiley Howe, now deceased. Our subject was the third of three sons and one daughter, named as follows: Amelia, who became the wife of Mason Cummings, now deceased, dying in 1858; John H., a planter who served during the war in Lander's battalion of Ferguson's brigade, and died in Lauderdale county in 1882; William W .; Bryant Y., a planter of Monroe county, who died in 1890. Mr. Wat- kins obtained a common-school education, but became a practical planter on his own account at the age of nineteen, continuing that business till 1870, when he began studying medicine with Dr. Thomas B. Elkin, graduating in March, 1872, from the Tulane university at New Orleans. He practiced afterward in the vicinity of his birth, for seventeen years, when he relinquished the active duties of his profession and again turned his attention to planting, with which he combined the merchandise business, being a member of the firm of Mitchell & Watkins, of Aberdeen. He owns two thousand two hundred and forty acres of land in Monroe county, as well as several other valuable tracts of prairie land in Clay and Monroe counties, aggregating about six thousand acres. He was married in 1873 to Miss Anna, a daughter of Benjamin and Anna Knowles, who were born, reared and married in Rhode Island, and came from there to Monroe county about 1830, where Mr. Knowles died, in 1866, and his wife in 1869. He was a merchant, and both he and his wife were members of the Christian church. They had two daughters and one son. One of the daughters was Mrs. Watkins, who was born in Monroe county, but received her education at Wilbraham, Mass. She has five children. During the last four years the family have resided in Aber- deen. Dr. Watkins is of an old and highly respected family. He is known as a successful business man, and is perhaps the largest single planter in Monroe county, one thousand eight hundred acres of his land being cleared. It is crossed by both the main line and the Aber- deen branch of the Mobile & Ohio railroad. He gives this place his personal supervision, and under his superb management it is one of the most productive plantations in the whole of Monroe county.

Maj. Augustus C. Watson. In the preparation of this brief outline of the life history of one of the most cultured and honorable men who has ever made his home in Jefferson county, facts appear which are greatly to his credit. His intelligence, enterprise and integrity, and many estimable qualities, have acquired for him a popularity not derived from any ficti- tious circumstances, but are a permanent and spontaneous tribute to his merit. In the space allotted in this sketch it is impossible to mention in detail all the services he has rendered to his much-loved South, but they are of much interest and show that he has always been ready to identify himself with what be considered justice and right. He was born in the county in

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which he is now residing, on the 14th of July, 1825, but his father, James H. Watson, was born in the Old North state, and, after making his home in that state until he was a young man, he determined to devote his energies to the accumulation of a competency in a different state, and the year 1779 found him in what is now Jefferson county, Miss. He was a man who possessed intelligence of a high order, and upon the large and valuable plantation which he opened near Rodney, he brought all his native intelligence and knowledge of agriculture to bear, and, as a natural result, became wealthy. He was called from life in 1841, and his wife, whose maiden name was Anna M. Cable, died a few years earlier. She was born in Jefferson county, her father, Fred Cable, being one of the pioneers of the state. Maj. A. C. Watson is the youngest of a family of five sons and four daughters that grew to mature years, he, his brother, William, a planter of Louisiana, and their sister, Mrs. Anna Hunt, widow of George Hunt, a sketch of whom appears in this work, being the only ones of the family who are now living. Major Watson attained man's estate in Jefferson county, and, owing to his father's excellent financial circumstances, he was privileged to devote his time to his books, and received a thorough and practical education in Oakland college. After complet- ing his studies he was married to Miss Polivia McGill, in 1850, daughter of Jeremiah McGill, but after a married life of two years he was left a widower. Soon after the celebration of his nuptials he located on a plantation in Louisiana, and for a number of years was success- fully engaged in planting in Tensas parish. Being a firm believer in state's rights, and enthusiastic in his love for the South, he immediately responded to the call of the Confeder- acy for troops at the opening of the Civil war. In 1861 he raised what was known as Wat- son's battery, and, as he was wealthy, he uniformed and equipped his men and furnished two hundred head of horses, the entire amount he spent being about $60,000. He went at once to the front, and, with his battery, took part in the battles of Belmont, Shiloh, Corinth, Baker's Creek and Port Hudson, his battery being captured in the last named engagement in 1863. Major Watson then served with different commands until the close of the war, a short time prior to which event he was commissioned by Jefferson Davis to raise and organize a new command in Louisiana, and was following out these commands when he heard of the surrender of General Lee. Although the war was at an end, and the North victorious, Major Watson returned to his home with the consciousness of having performed every duty faith- fully and well, and, although he was considerably impoverished, he did not fold his hands and uselessly repine, but set energetically to work to retrieve his fortunes by locating on a plantation in Louisiana, his attention being devoted to this calling until 1882, when he sold out and bought his present place, known as Woodlawn. This is one of the most beautiful and best places in Jefferson county, and is situated about half way between Fayette and Rod- ney. Besides being beautiful and well appointed in every particular, it is a home of true and unbounded hospitality, where love, kindness and unselfishness reign supreme. Major Watson was happy in his choice of a wife, and in Louisiana was married, in 1865, to Miss Louisa Mason, a native of the Pelican state, but who was reared and educated in Boston, Mass., her father being a well-known physician, Dr. Josiah Mason. Major Watson became the father of two children by his first wife: A. C., a planter of Louisiana, and Frank, a business man of New Orleans. To his last union three children have been born: A. J., a merchant of Louis- iana; Lulie A., and Albert Sidney Johnston, a prosperous young business man of Louisiana. One son, James M., died at the age of fourteen years. Major Watson has all his life appre- ciated the liberal education he received in his youth, and has given all his children excellent advantages, which they did not fail to improve, being a credit to themselves and their parents. Mrs. Watson is a member of the Episcopal church, and, socially, the Major is a Master

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 156

Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Number of Pages: 1314

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314