Illinois: History of Cass County, Illinois, ed. William Henry Perrin. O. L. Baskin & Co. Historical Publishers, Chicago, 1882. Cass County. WILLIAM WATKINS, farmer; P. O. Berryton; was born in Wayne County, Ill., July 17, 1831; son of Elijah and Lydia A. (Montgomery) Watkins; residents of Richmond township, this county. Elijah Watkins, a farmer by occupation, was born in Kentucky, July 23, 1797; his wife, also a native of Kentucky, was born April 25, 1802; of their fifteen children William is the eighth child. Our subject, when about four years of age, was brought by his parents to this county, where he received his education in the subscription schools common in those days. When twenty-two years of age he left home and began farming on his own account, and has since followed that occupation. He married in this county Oct. 23, 1853, Margaret Hinchee; born Feb. 28, 1827. She died, leaving seven children, as follows: Charles W., William T., Elijah, Margaret, Lydia A., Albert, and Minnie B. His second marriage took place Sept. 1, 1881, when he married Belle Gordley, born in Adams County, Ill., May 5, 1850. She has taught school in this county about eleven years; and is a daughter of William and Sidney (Stephenson) Gordley, natives of Kentucky, he dying in June, 1856, she in September, 1859. Mr. Watkins is a member of the Methodist Church; he is a Democrat. Watkins Montgomery Hinchee Gordley Stephenson = Wayne-IL KY Adams-IL