Son of Samuel Watkins and Mary McClure
Married Christina Swearens August 8, 1804 in Hardin Co Ky. They were buried on their farm.
James and many of his brothers came to Illinois and settled in the Menard Co area:
HISTORY OF MENARD & MASON COUNTIES, ILLINOIS
1879
Chicago: O.L. Baskin & Co., Historical Publishers
186 Dearborn Street Chicago
Soon after the settlement of the Esteps - probably the latter part of the same year -- the Watkinses and a man named Teeters came to the precinct. There were Joseph, Samuel, James, John and Thomas Watkins. They were from Kentucky, and some of them settled in Clary's Grove as early as 1819-20. Joseph and Samuel Watkins made claims in this precinct in 1821, as noted above, while James Watkins did not come until 1825-26. Thomas Watkins bought the claim from John Clary, acknowledged the majority of old citizens to be the first white settler of Menard County, as noticed in the history of Clary's Grove. This claim Watkins sold to George Spears, in 1824, and removed to the "river timber," near the present city of Petersburg, where he eventually died. The old Watkins sold to George Spears, in 1824, and removed to the "river timber," near the present city of Petersburg, where he eventually died. The old Watkins stock are, we believe, all dead, but there are still descendents of the family living in the county. Thomas, Jr., a son of Thomas Watkins, was born in the county in 1824, and may be recorded among the early births. He is still living in this precinct, and is probably the oldest native-born citizen of the county. He served one year in the Mexican war. Mack Watkins, another son, also lives in the precinct. Teeters moved into Sandridge Precinct, where he is further noticed.
*****
James and Christina were among the first members of the Pontiac Baptist Church aka Little Flock or Regular Baptist Church of Christ.
The church was organized July 15 1831 by Ezekel Campbell, George Spears* and Thomas Plasters.
I have a copy of the original church record book which contains many familiar Menard and Cass county names, 12 Beliefs of the church, and Rules of Decorum. Please contact me if you would like a copy.
#12: We believe in the Sanctity of the first day of the week, or Lords Day, and that it aught to be observed and spent in public and private worship of God, and that on it we shall abstain from our worldly concerns.
Except in cases of neccesities and Mercy.
A partial list of church member names can be found at:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilcchgs/
*George Spears was a Revolutionary War soldier who is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Tallula IL.
*****
This is an exerpt from a bio of his son Lewis Watkins:
THE PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY, ILLINOIS - 1905
Chicago: The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
The great middle west was then largely an unclaimed and unimproved district and he [Lewis] opened his eyes to the light of day in a pioneer home. His parents were James and Stenia (Swearens) Watkins, Kentucky people, who had gone to Indiana at a very early epoch in its development. James Watkins came to Illinois in 1827, prior to the time of the deep snow, which has become an historic event in the annals of this state. This occurred in the winter of 1830-31 and for months the snow lay to a great depth over all the country side so that it made it impossible for the settlers to leave their homes. James Watkins settled in Menard county, where he took up land from the government and he made his home at Bobtown, where he owned a mill. He had descended in the maternal line from the McClure family of Kentucky.
******
James and Christina had a large family, as did his brothers. Christina died in 1845.
Married Christina Swearens August 8, 1804 in Hardin Co Ky. They were buried on their farm.
James and many of his brothers came to Illinois and settled in the Menard Co area:
HISTORY OF MENARD & MASON COUNTIES, ILLINOIS
1879
Chicago: O.L. Baskin & Co., Historical Publishers
186 Dearborn Street Chicago
Soon after the settlement of the Esteps - probably the latter part of the same year -- the Watkinses and a man named Teeters came to the precinct. There were Joseph, Samuel, James, John and Thomas Watkins. They were from Kentucky, and some of them settled in Clary's Grove as early as 1819-20. Joseph and Samuel Watkins made claims in this precinct in 1821, as noted above, while James Watkins did not come until 1825-26. Thomas Watkins bought the claim from John Clary, acknowledged the majority of old citizens to be the first white settler of Menard County, as noticed in the history of Clary's Grove. This claim Watkins sold to George Spears, in 1824, and removed to the "river timber," near the present city of Petersburg, where he eventually died. The old Watkins sold to George Spears, in 1824, and removed to the "river timber," near the present city of Petersburg, where he eventually died. The old Watkins stock are, we believe, all dead, but there are still descendents of the family living in the county. Thomas, Jr., a son of Thomas Watkins, was born in the county in 1824, and may be recorded among the early births. He is still living in this precinct, and is probably the oldest native-born citizen of the county. He served one year in the Mexican war. Mack Watkins, another son, also lives in the precinct. Teeters moved into Sandridge Precinct, where he is further noticed.
*****
James and Christina were among the first members of the Pontiac Baptist Church aka Little Flock or Regular Baptist Church of Christ.
The church was organized July 15 1831 by Ezekel Campbell, George Spears* and Thomas Plasters.
I have a copy of the original church record book which contains many familiar Menard and Cass county names, 12 Beliefs of the church, and Rules of Decorum. Please contact me if you would like a copy.
#12: We believe in the Sanctity of the first day of the week, or Lords Day, and that it aught to be observed and spent in public and private worship of God, and that on it we shall abstain from our worldly concerns.
Except in cases of neccesities and Mercy.
A partial list of church member names can be found at:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilcchgs/
*George Spears was a Revolutionary War soldier who is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Tallula IL.
*****
This is an exerpt from a bio of his son Lewis Watkins:
THE PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY, ILLINOIS - 1905
Chicago: The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
The great middle west was then largely an unclaimed and unimproved district and he [Lewis] opened his eyes to the light of day in a pioneer home. His parents were James and Stenia (Swearens) Watkins, Kentucky people, who had gone to Indiana at a very early epoch in its development. James Watkins came to Illinois in 1827, prior to the time of the deep snow, which has become an historic event in the annals of this state. This occurred in the winter of 1830-31 and for months the snow lay to a great depth over all the country side so that it made it impossible for the settlers to leave their homes. James Watkins settled in Menard county, where he took up land from the government and he made his home at Bobtown, where he owned a mill. He had descended in the maternal line from the McClure family of Kentucky.
******
James and Christina had a large family, as did his brothers. Christina died in 1845.
Son of Samuel Watkins and Mary McClure
Married Christina Swearens August 8, 1804 in Hardin Co Ky. They were buried on their farm.
James and many of his brothers came to Illinois and settled in the Menard Co area:
HISTORY OF MENARD & MASON COUNTIES, ILLINOIS
1879
Chicago: O.L. Baskin & Co., Historical Publishers
186 Dearborn Street Chicago
Soon after the settlement of the Esteps - probably the latter part of the same year -- the Watkinses and a man named Teeters came to the precinct. There were Joseph, Samuel, James, John and Thomas Watkins. They were from Kentucky, and some of them settled in Clary's Grove as early as 1819-20. Joseph and Samuel Watkins made claims in this precinct in 1821, as noted above, while James Watkins did not come until 1825-26. Thomas Watkins bought the claim from John Clary, acknowledged the majority of old citizens to be the first white settler of Menard County, as noticed in the history of Clary's Grove. This claim Watkins sold to George Spears, in 1824, and removed to the "river timber," near the present city of Petersburg, where he eventually died. The old Watkins sold to George Spears, in 1824, and removed to the "river timber," near the present city of Petersburg, where he eventually died. The old Watkins stock are, we believe, all dead, but there are still descendents of the family living in the county. Thomas, Jr., a son of Thomas Watkins, was born in the county in 1824, and may be recorded among the early births. He is still living in this precinct, and is probably the oldest native-born citizen of the county. He served one year in the Mexican war. Mack Watkins, another son, also lives in the precinct. Teeters moved into Sandridge Precinct, where he is further noticed.
*****
James and Christina were among the first members of the Pontiac Baptist Church aka Little Flock or Regular Baptist Church of Christ.
The church was organized July 15 1831 by Ezekel Campbell, George Spears* and Thomas Plasters.
I have a copy of the original church record book which contains many familiar Menard and Cass county names, 12 Beliefs of the church, and Rules of Decorum. Please contact me if you would like a copy.
#12: We believe in the Sanctity of the first day of the week, or Lords Day, and that it aught to be observed and spent in public and private worship of God, and that on it we shall abstain from our worldly concerns.
Except in cases of neccesities and Mercy.
A partial list of church member names can be found at:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilcchgs/
*George Spears was a Revolutionary War soldier who is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Tallula IL.
*****
This is an exerpt from a bio of his son Lewis Watkins:
THE PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY, ILLINOIS - 1905
Chicago: The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
The great middle west was then largely an unclaimed and unimproved district and he [Lewis] opened his eyes to the light of day in a pioneer home. His parents were James and Stenia (Swearens) Watkins, Kentucky people, who had gone to Indiana at a very early epoch in its development. James Watkins came to Illinois in 1827, prior to the time of the deep snow, which has become an historic event in the annals of this state. This occurred in the winter of 1830-31 and for months the snow lay to a great depth over all the country side so that it made it impossible for the settlers to leave their homes. James Watkins settled in Menard county, where he took up land from the government and he made his home at Bobtown, where he owned a mill. He had descended in the maternal line from the McClure family of Kentucky.
******
James and Christina had a large family, as did his brothers. Christina died in 1845.
Married Christina Swearens August 8, 1804 in Hardin Co Ky. They were buried on their farm.
James and many of his brothers came to Illinois and settled in the Menard Co area:
HISTORY OF MENARD & MASON COUNTIES, ILLINOIS
1879
Chicago: O.L. Baskin & Co., Historical Publishers
186 Dearborn Street Chicago
Soon after the settlement of the Esteps - probably the latter part of the same year -- the Watkinses and a man named Teeters came to the precinct. There were Joseph, Samuel, James, John and Thomas Watkins. They were from Kentucky, and some of them settled in Clary's Grove as early as 1819-20. Joseph and Samuel Watkins made claims in this precinct in 1821, as noted above, while James Watkins did not come until 1825-26. Thomas Watkins bought the claim from John Clary, acknowledged the majority of old citizens to be the first white settler of Menard County, as noticed in the history of Clary's Grove. This claim Watkins sold to George Spears, in 1824, and removed to the "river timber," near the present city of Petersburg, where he eventually died. The old Watkins sold to George Spears, in 1824, and removed to the "river timber," near the present city of Petersburg, where he eventually died. The old Watkins stock are, we believe, all dead, but there are still descendents of the family living in the county. Thomas, Jr., a son of Thomas Watkins, was born in the county in 1824, and may be recorded among the early births. He is still living in this precinct, and is probably the oldest native-born citizen of the county. He served one year in the Mexican war. Mack Watkins, another son, also lives in the precinct. Teeters moved into Sandridge Precinct, where he is further noticed.
*****
James and Christina were among the first members of the Pontiac Baptist Church aka Little Flock or Regular Baptist Church of Christ.
The church was organized July 15 1831 by Ezekel Campbell, George Spears* and Thomas Plasters.
I have a copy of the original church record book which contains many familiar Menard and Cass county names, 12 Beliefs of the church, and Rules of Decorum. Please contact me if you would like a copy.
#12: We believe in the Sanctity of the first day of the week, or Lords Day, and that it aught to be observed and spent in public and private worship of God, and that on it we shall abstain from our worldly concerns.
Except in cases of neccesities and Mercy.
A partial list of church member names can be found at:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilcchgs/
*George Spears was a Revolutionary War soldier who is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Tallula IL.
*****
This is an exerpt from a bio of his son Lewis Watkins:
THE PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY, ILLINOIS - 1905
Chicago: The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
The great middle west was then largely an unclaimed and unimproved district and he [Lewis] opened his eyes to the light of day in a pioneer home. His parents were James and Stenia (Swearens) Watkins, Kentucky people, who had gone to Indiana at a very early epoch in its development. James Watkins came to Illinois in 1827, prior to the time of the deep snow, which has become an historic event in the annals of this state. This occurred in the winter of 1830-31 and for months the snow lay to a great depth over all the country side so that it made it impossible for the settlers to leave their homes. James Watkins settled in Menard county, where he took up land from the government and he made his home at Bobtown, where he owned a mill. He had descended in the maternal line from the McClure family of Kentucky.
******
James and Christina had a large family, as did his brothers. Christina died in 1845.
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