Watkins, Sr., John

Born: 1778-03-06 Maryland

Died: 1854-07-17 Menard County, Illinois

Flourished: 1832 Menard County, Illinois

As early as 1820, Watkins and his family settled in a section of Sangamon County, Illinois, that would later be subsumed into Menard County. In 1830, Watkins was still in Sangamon County, and by 1833, had acquired over 200 acres of land. By 1850, Watkins was farming in Menard County, and owned $800 in real estate. Watkins remained in Menard County until his death.

The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois (Chicago: O. L. Baskin, 1879), 284; T. G. Onstot, Pioneers of Menard and Mason Counties (Forest City, IL: T. G. Onstot, 1902), 144; Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales, Menard County, 68:43, 128, 139; Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL; U.S. Census Office, Fifth Census of the United States (1830), Sangamon County, IL, 199; U.S. Census Office, Seventh Census of the United States (1850), Menard County, IL, 330; Gravestone, Hash Cemetery, Menard County, Illinois; Election Returns for the New Salem Precinct in Sangamon County, Illinois.