James William Watkins was born on 23 Mar 1856 in Warren, North Carolina. His parents were James Rives Watkins and Martha Talley. He married Josephine S Owen on 21 Oct 1878 in Mecklenburg, Virginia. She was born on 3 Jun 1855 in Mecklenburg, Va to William T Owen and Susan Hudson. Josephine died in 1936. James William Watkins died on 21 July 1926.
James William Watkins and Josephine Owen had at least six children:
1. Emma Josephine Watkins (06 May 1880-22 Oct 1961) who married Emmett Spencer Goodrich on 11 Jun 1900 and had 5 children (Maude E Goodrich, Clinton Goodrich, Roland R Goodrich, Ola T Goodrich, and Mary Frances Goodrich). She then married Washington Payne and had one more child (Gilbert Young Payne).
2. Mattie Eugene Watkins (29 Aug 1882- 19 Sep 1965) who married Sidney Gray Edwards on 21 Dec 1898 and had at least 4 child (Lewis Edwards, Eva Eugene Edwards, Willie Floyd Edwards, and Minnie Gray Edwards).
3. Blanche Watkins ( 13 Sept 1884 -1954) who married Earnest Carson in Jan 1912 in Warren, North Carolina and had at least 1 child (Jasper Green Carson).
4. Irene Watkins (8 Jun 1888-20 Feb 1913) who married Manley Hunter on 10 Feb 1904 in Hawtree, Warren, North Carolina and had at least 4 children (Lillian Hunter, Manley Hunter, Beatrice Hunter and Irene Hunter).
5. James Watkins (1891-)
6. Earnest Watkins (4 Aug 1894- 29 Jul 1949) who married Elizabeth Watkins and had at least 4 children.
Census Records:
1880: James William Watkins is 24 and a Farmer, Josephine Watkins is 21 and keeps house. They have one child at this time: Emma J Watkins.
1900: J.W. Watkins is 44 and a night worker in a cutting mill. Josephine is 44 and keeps house. Emma J Watkins is 20, Blanche Watkins is 14, Irene Watkins is 11, James W Watkins is 9, and Earnest Watkins is 6.
1910: James W Watkins is 54 and a farmer, Josephine is 55 and keeps home. Their daughter Blanche Watkins is also living at home. Jinnie Watkins (I think they mean James) is 19 and Earnest Watkins is 17. Also living with them is James Carson who is 10 and a servant.
1920: James Watkins is 63 and a farmer. Josephine Watkins is 65 and keeps house. Also living with them is their 27 year old son James Watkins.
1930: Josephine Watkins is now widowed and 75. She is living with her daughter Mattie Edwards and her husband Sidney Edwards. Also living there is Mattie and Sidney’s child Eva (who is 24) who is married William R Lerner who is 26 and a salesman.
