My Genealogy Hound

Charles J. Watkins, Sr., is a member of the firm of Watkins Bros., merchants, who are doing a prosperous business at Mount Ida. They have the largest and best-paying establishment of the kind in the county, and sell all kinds of merchandise at the smallest possible margin. Mr. Watkins was born in Hamilton County, Tenn., near Old Harrison, October 17,1847, to William and Martha (Rogers) Watkins, a short history of whom is given in the sketches of John A. Watkins, to whom three children were born: Charles J., Elijah R. (who was born on January 6, 1830, and died in 1874 in Montgomery County, Ark., where he had risen to prominence as a farmer; he left a widow and two children), John A. (was the youngest of the family and is now a prominent attorney and ex-representative of this county). The subject of this sketch was reared by his grandparents, in Tennessee, until after he was a lad of eleven years, and in the schools of that State he received a practical education. In 1866 he came with his grandfather, William Rogers, to Arkansas, but after one year spent near Camden, in Ouachita County, he came to Montgomery County and here, after a time, began farming for himself, a calling he continued to follow until 1881, when he and his brother, John A., formed a partnership in the mercantile business. In 1866 he was married to Miss Susan E. Henegar, of Tennessee, but she died in the fall of the same year, and in 1868 he espoused Miss Ruanna Mayberry, of this county, her people being old settlers of this region from Kentucky. To them a family of six children has been born: Mary A., Mattie May, John G., Robert, Cordelia and Grover C. In 1871-72 Mr. Watkins served as justice of the peace, then resigned his position. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he belongs to Mount Ida Lodge No. 140, of the A. F. & A. M. He has always been a Democrat. He has been a successful business man, and he and his brother are the largest tax payers in the county. As they started out in life poor boys, this fact speaks well for their ability as financiers. Charles J. owns 320 acres of fine land near Washita, on the Ouachita River, and he and his brother are the joint owners of 820 acres on the South Fork. This is the finest farm in the county, and a large portion is in an admirable state of cultivation.