WATKINS, THOMAS, one of the honored residents of Cass County, who for many years was connected actively with agricultural work, was born in Greene County, Ky., August 23, 1827, a son of Elijah and Lydia (Montgomery) Watkins, of Kentucky. They came to Wayne County, Ill., in 1829, making the trip in wagons and a few years later went to Menard County, Ill., in the same way. After four years there, they came to Cass County, where they bought forty acres of land, adding to the farm until there was 160 acres. A portion of this was entered from the government, and some of it was timberland. The father died about 1869, and the mother died about 1874. They had a large family of children, fifteen in all, five being older than Thomas, of which family three are still living: Thomas; William M., who is of Virginia, Ill.; and Lydia E., who is Mrs. J. R. Griffin, a widow, who resides at Chandlerville.

Thomas Watkins had no educational opportunities aside from those offered by the subscription school. He resided with his parents until 1849, when he began renting land in township 18, range 9. After four years, he bought eighty acres of timber and brush land, and kept adding to his holdings until he now owns 220 acres, all under cultivation except twenty-five acres of pasturage and timber. He has lived on this farm ever since he bought and conducted it until 1894, when he turned the work over to his sons.

In 1849 Mr. Watkins married Charlotta Griffin, born in Tennessee, a daughter of Henry and Edith Griffin, of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Watkins became the parents of the following children: Celia J., who is Mrs. J. H. Bixler, of Idaho; Elsie, who is deceased, was Mrs. J. L. Lucas; Charles, who died in infancy; Elijah J., who is of Richmond Precinct; William A., who lives at Pittsburg, Kas.; Emeline, who is Mrs. Samuel T. Myers, of Pittsburg, Kas.; Nancy Ann, who is deceased, was Mrs. Samuel McGee; and James A., who lives with his father. Mr. Watkins belongs to the Primitive Baptist church, and has been a trustee of it since 1881. A Democrat, he served as road commissioner, and also as a school director. Mrs. Watkins died September 25, 1889, since which time his children have cared for him and tried to take her place. He is widely known and is numbered with the oldest residents of this section.