JOSEPH MOORE WATKINS

     Joseph Moore Watkins, b September 9, 1881 in Marengo County, Alabama, d May 27, 1941 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas - was a son of Napoleon Bonaparte and Carolina (Moore) Watkins of Wilderville, Falls County, Texas.

     Joseph Moore Watkins married on November 25, 1908 in Texas to Emma Conner, b April 17, 1884 in Rosebud, Falls County, Texas, d December 12, 1976 in Marlin - a daughter of Richard Benjamin and Margaret Jane (Donaldson) Conner of Rosebud. Joseph and Emma were buried in Woodland Cemetery at Rosebud.

     Joseph was employed at Gunnell's Hardware Store in Marlin. On meeting a train returning his sister, Carrie May Watkins and her friend, Emma Conner, from a teachers meeting, "Joe" was introduced to Emma - resulting in their courtship. After their marriage, the couple were spending their honeymoon a1 the Arlington Hotel in Marlin the night the hotel burned.

     In 1910, Joseph and Emma purchased a lot or Capps Street in Marlin, and Mr. Joel Phipps built the where their five daughters were born. Later that year, Joseph developed trachoma that temporarily blinded him for nine months. He owned and operated the Joe M. Watkins Hardware Store in Marlin until the depression caused him to close in 1931.

     "Joe" and Emma were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South where he served as a steward and taught a Sunday School Class. Emma was a charter member of the Susannah Wesley Bible Class and the Women's Missionary Society. Their five daughters were:

     Helen Hortense Watkins, b September 22, 1910, received her B.A. and M.A. degrees from Southern Methodist University, taught in Marlin High School, in Dallas College, at S.M.U., and was Chairman of the English Department at Highland Park High School. She never married, and resides in Dallas.

     Josephine Watkins, b February 24,1913, attended Southern Methodist University, was employed as a bookkeeper in Marlin until her retirement. She served on the Marlin Library Board, is a member of the Administrative Board of the First United Methodist Church in Marlin, a Sunday School teacher, a member of the United Methodist Women, the "Not So Great" Book Club, and Bridge Clubs. She is not married, and resides in Marlin.

     Emma Watkins, b January 30, 1918 - married Ray Howard Byford on September 2, 1937, and moved to Waco. She was employed as secretary at the Health- Unit and at Owens-Illinois. In 1956, Ray and Emma started their own business, Byford Machine-Tool, Inc., moving it to Bosque County, where Ray died on August 26, 1980 and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco. Emma still resides on their ranch in Bosque County, and is a Master Flower Show Judge.

     May Ethel Watkins, b April 6, 1920, received her B.A. degree from East Texas State University at Commerce, and subsequently taught in Schertz and Rose- bud High Schools. She served in the WAVES in World War II, and also in the Korean War. She was a Secretary in the Vocational Rehabilitation office in Waco, and secretary to the Librarian of Teachers College of Columbia University. On December 3, 1951, May Ethel was married to Norman Russell Wood, and they were employed by the U.S. Government, serving in Washington, D.C.; Japan, Germany, Nepal, Liberia, and Pakistan. They retired to Clifton, Texas in 1974- laving three children:

     Mark William, Barry Watkins, and Karen Russell Wood - the latter having married a Mr. Richards.

     Margaret Jane Watkins, b February 27, 1925, was Class Valedictorian in 1940 in Marlin High School. She was a member of the vocal trio composed of Dorothy Lil Cobb, Elizabeth Taylor, and Margaret Jane Watkins. Margaret received her B.A. degree from East rex as State University in Commerce, and taught school in Caldwell, La Marque, Marlin, Austin, and San Angelo. On November 1,1944, she was married to Delbert Gordon Tarter, a professor of chemistry at Angelo University in San Angelo. They have three children: Joe Brent Tarter, Margaret Jane Tarter who married Charles Stephen Joiner and had Charles Stephen Joiner, Jr. and Michael Bennett Joiner; and James Gordon Tarter.

Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical Commission, page 473 column 1 and 2 and page 474 column 1.  Member of Falls County Historical Commission.