WATKINS BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri
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WATKINS, William G. - b: 1833 Mason Co, WV
source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 549
residence: Clinton Twp

William G. Watkins, dealer in organs, sewing machines, etc., was born in Mason 
County, West Virginia, March 14, 1833. He was reared at his birth place and his 
early life was that of a farmer's boy. He came to Henry County in 1853 and for 
two years followed farming, then being engaged in manufacturing lumber and 
running a saw mill until the outbreak of the war. He was one of the first in Henry 
County to offer his services to the south, enlisting in Captain Owens' Company of 
Missouri State Guards. After serving six months he joined Shelby's command and 
was commissioned captain. He was authorized to recruit a company. and while 
operating in Saline County was arrested and taken to St. Louis and confined in 
prison, and afterwards tried by a military commission for being found within the 
lines of the regularly organized forces of the United States, and having in his 
possession and person commissions and pretended authority to recruit for the 
armies of the so called Confederate States, of which commissions the following 
are copies: CAMP HINDMAN, Mo., September 9, 1862. Captain W. G. Watkins is 
hereby authorized to recruit a company of cavalry for the army for three years, 
or during the war, to consist of eighty able bodied and well mounted men, and to 
furnish transportation and subsistence for the same, and to report to these 
headquarters whenever required. (Signed) J. V. Cockrell, Colonel Commanding C. S. 
A. Headquarters Jackman's Partisans, November 24 1862. Captain Watkins; Sir: - 
In pursuance of an order from Major General Hindman, commanding the trans-
Mississippi district, and Col. Waldo P. Johnson, recruiting officer of the state of 
Missouri, you are hereby authorized to enlist and swear into service of the 
Confederate States for three years, or the war, one company of men to serve as 
cavalry and comprise a part of my independent regiment, now being raised to 
operate in the state of Missouri, and to report to these headquarters as soon as 
practicable. S. D. Jackman, Colonel Commanding. The commission having 
materially considered the evidence in the case, sentence the prisoner to be shot 
to death at such time and place as the general commanding the department may 
direct. The findings and sentence of the commission in this case was approved by 
the proper commanders and forwarded for the action of the president of the 
United States. The sentence has been approved and will be carried into effect 
September 23, 1864, at St. Louis, under the direction of the provost marshal 
general. He made his escape from the prison and thus thwarted the sentence of 
the military commission. He rejoined his command at Batesville, Arkansas. He 
continued in active service until the surrender, in 1865. He returned to Missouri 
and for one year was interested in farming and milling, then he came to Henry 
County, which has since been his home, excepting a period of five months in 
Texas. In 1876 the firm of Watkins Brothers embarked in the general merchandise 
business and continued therein until March, 1883. Mr. Watkins married Miss Mary 
H. Spencer, a native of North Carolina, in May, 1867.

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