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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jefferson County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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R. J. Watkins, farmer at Wabbaseka, Ark., is one of the representative and progressive agriculturists of Jefferson County, and is also one of its most esteemed citizens. He was born in Madison County, Ala., being the son of William Watkins, a native of Georgia, born in 1798, who received his education in his native State, and subsequently moved to Alabama, where he married Miss Harriet Anderson, a native of Washington County, Md. The result of this marriage was the birth of seven children, two sons and five daughters, of whom but three are now living, one residing in Alabama, one in Nashville, Tenn., and the subject of this sketch, who has made his home in Arkansas for many years. William Watkins had always been a planter. He died in Huntsville, Ala., in 1861, and his wife in 1856; both were worthy members of the Methodist Church. R. J. Watkins received a fair education in Huntsville, Ala., and on the 11th of October, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha East, a native of Alabama, and the daughter of Alexander and Martha J. East. Four children have been born to this union, only two now living, and both residing at home. Mr. Watkins has held the office of justice of the peace for fourteen years, and was a school director for a period of some ten years. He served in the late war, entering the army, in 1861, under Capt. Coltart, commanding the Madison Rifles, C. S. A., and his first hard fight was at Baton Rouge, La. He was discharged in May, 1865. Perhaps on account of his early training on the farm, Mr. Watkins has always followed tilling the soil, and that he has made a success of this pursuit is evident when looking over his well-kept place. He lost his estimable wife, September 15, 1877. She was a member of the Episcopal Church. In 1881 he married Miss Mary Patrick, who died in September, 1882, having a child which survived its mother only a few days.

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This family biography is one of 136 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jefferson County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Jefferson County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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