CHARLES WILLIAM "CHARLIE" ADKINS, son of Andrew Jackson Adkins and Olevia Jane "Levie" Ward Adkins, was born on May 21, 1878, at County Line, northwest of Whitesboro, in Grayson County, Texas.

Charlie married Eley Nora Rollins, daughter of Howard D. Rollins and Fannie Jones Rollins, on October 19, 1898 in Grayson County, Texas (across the Red River from Amos in Indian Territory). Charlie's youngest sister, Nora, remembered that Charlie needed to get married in Texas because that was where he and Eley got their license. The Adkins family watched the wedding from the banks of the Red River in Indian Territory while Charlie and Eley "tied the knot" just across the Red River in Grayson County.

Shortly after Charlie Adkins and Eley Rollins married, they were living in the Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory. As was usual at that time, their home was a sod house, with a blanket hung across the door opening to keep out weather and animals. One time, when their daughter, Annas, was just a baby, a bobcat walked in the door of the house. Charlie could not reach his gun, as it hung over the door opening where the bobcat had entered. Eley fell across Annas to protect her and Charlie tried to cover both of them with his body. They watched as the bobcat slowly walked around the room and left the way it had entered. The "bobcat story" has been recounted in the family, down through the years.

Charlie and Eley were the parents of two children: Lula Annas Adkins Miskell, 1899-1990, and Leslie Rudell Adkins, 1919-2002.

Charles William Adkins died on September 17,1962 in a Cleburne hospital, Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas. He was buried in Godley Cemetery, at Godley, Texas.


NEWSPAPER OBITUARY FOR CHARLES WILLIAM ADKINS:

"CHARLES ADKINS DIES IN TEXAS; RITES CONDUCTED--Funeral services were held last week for Charles W. Adkins, an early-day Marshall County resident, who died September 17, in Cleburne, Texas, where he made his home.

Mr. Adkins was born May 21, 1878, at County Line, northwest of Whitesboro, Texas, and moved to Lark, Indian Territory, December 5, 1888, with his parents. He resided in the area 20 years before moving to Tillman County, near Frederick, in southwestern Oklahoma. He married the former Eley N. Rollins, October 19, 1898, and she survives.

Funeral services were held at the Croser-Pearson Chapel with burial in Godley, Texas, with the Cleburne Masonic Lodge in charge.

Mr. Adkins returned to Texas in 1914 and became employed with the Santa Fe Railroad's coach department at Cleburne.

He was a life-long, active member of the First Baptist Church and a member of the Cleburne Masonic Lodge 46 years. He had been a frequent visitor in Marshall County.

In addition to Mrs. Adkins, he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Tom Miskell of Godley; a son, L. R. of Tulsa; two sisters, Mrs. Algie Blakely of Madill and Mrs. J. P. Anderson of Shawnee; and a brother, R. E. Adkins of Sherwood Shores."