Tehama-Shasta-Colusa County CA Archives Biographies.....Watkins, William W. 1824 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 31, 2007, 3:43 pm Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891) WILLIAM W. WATKINS.-Among the well-known pioneers of Tehama County and the Sacramento Valley, none perhaps are more worthy of mention than the above named gentleman, who first saw the light of day in Terre Haute, Indiana, January 4, 1824. His father, William Watkins, was a native of New York and a millwright by trade, who emigrated to the then far Western State of Indiana in 1810; his mother, nee Irene Watkins, was a native of Massachusetts. In 1850 the subject of this sketch, in company with three others, started across the plains via Forts Laramie and Bridger, and Salt Lake to California, arriving safely in the land of gold, and first located at Diamond Spring, where they spent the first year in mining. In February, 1851, they changed their mining operations to Clear Creek, Shasta County, and then to what was known as Tadpole Creek, where they established a trading post. In August, 1852, they purchased teams, and began teaming between Colusa and Shasta, which business they followed until 1854, when they began farming, and raising hogs and sheep, continuing jointly until 1859. Mr. Watkins then went to Tehama County, purchasing farm land, which he cultivated on his own account, still keeping up the same business of sheep and hog raising. He is now located in the southern portion of this county, at the town of Kirkwood, on his farm of 260 acres, and is also a dealer in real estate. He was united in marriage August 31, 1859, with Miss Elizabeth Ashurst, a native of Missouri, who crossed the plains in 1857. They have six children living, viz.: Lorena M., the wife of John A. Beauchamp, a native son of California and a resident of Kirkwood; William J., Catherine J., Harry F., Ellen P., Charles A. and Lebbeus, who died October 1, 1876. Politically Mr. Watkins is a Republican, and was formerly an old-time Whig. He has been School Trustee of Montgomery district about fifteen years, and is a member of the F. & A. M., Oreland Lodge, No. 265, of Oreland. Additional Comments: Extracted from Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California. Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of Prominent Citizens of To-day. "A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendents." – Macauley. CHICAGO THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1891. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/tehama/bios/watkins611gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 3.2 Kb