RUBEN REED WATKINS

     Ruben Reed Watkins (called "Reed"), b October 22 1895 in Falls County, Texas, resides in 1986 in Marlin, Texas, where he is retired - was a son of Thomas Jefferson Watkins, b June 3, 1861, d June 8, 1929, and his wife, Annett Sophronia (Finley) Watkins, b December 17, 1859, d February 13, 1914. Thomas Jefferson Watkins was a son of Ruben (sic "Reuben") and Mary Watkins, and Annett Sophronia Finley was a daughter of A. A. and Nancy Catherine (Johnson) Finley. The Watkins family members are buried in Powers Chapel Cemetery in Falls County, Texas, and the Finleys are buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin, Texas.

     On August 29, 1915, Reed married at Cedar Springs in Falls County to Vida Elma Davis, b November 2, 1897, d October 23, 1973 and buried in Powers Chapel Cemetery - a daughter of F. P. and Anna (McKenzie) Davis.

     Reed is well known throughout Falls County. He has been a rancher and land owner in the Cedar Springs area. He owned and operated a general merchantile store/gas station at Cedar Springs. His father built the store when Reed was about 12 years old, and he became a partner with his father at age 29 years. They purchased another general merchantile store/gas station at Travis, which Reed operated until the death of his father, when he sold the Travis store and re- turned to Cedar Springs and operated that store until he sold it in 1944. In 1969, Reed built, owned and operated a Drive-In Grocery on the west side of the Brazos River bridge at the "Y" on the Chilton Highway - later also selling this store.

     Reed has served the community as a Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff Henry Barton, Sheriff Lester O. Hay, and Sheriff Brady Pamplin.

     Reed and Vida had no issue. His great love for music has entertained people for many years. He learned to play the fiddle from his father, who played for square dances and fiddlers contests. Reed played in a 35-piece band in Rosebud and Waco until 1932, when he organized his own band - playing the fiddle, base fiddle, and piano until 1972 when the band disbanded. Reed died August 2, 1986, and buried in Powers Chapel Cemetery by his wife.

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 475 column 1 and 2.  
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.