schools of Merrimack county, that state, until thirteen years of age. His parents, George and Abbie  C. (Bean) Watkins, were also natives of New Hampshire, the former born November 4, 1822, and the latter on the 6th of August, 1824. The father was educated in Wilmot Academy in his native state and also in Lowell, Massachusetts, where among his classmates were several students who afterward gained distinction, including General Benjamin F. Butler, Dr. Savery and ex-Governor Straw, of New Hampshire.      On the 12th of January, 1842, George Watkins was united in marriage to Miss Abbie C. Bean and they became the parents of seven children, namely: James, who was born March 29, 1844, and is now farming in Kansas; John F., of this review; Mary S., who was born August 31, 1848, and died in September, 1872; Martha, who was born August 30, 1850, and died in February, 1897; Lizzie, who was born March 10, 1856, and became the wife of Charles H. Tood, who is now living at New Richmond, Wisconsin, where he is engaged in the jewelry business; Fred O., who was born August 3, 1862, and died March 19, 1899; and George A., who was born October 17, 1864, and died September 5, 1896. The members of this family were all born in New Hampshire save the last two, who were natives of Fredericktown, Missouri.      It was in the year 1858 that the parents left their old home in Warner, New Hampshire, and remove to Fredericktown, where they remained for about five years. They came west for the purpose of living in a milder climate, and from Missouri they removed to Griggsville, Illinois, where they spent about five years and then went to Kansas, locating in Jackson county, that state. There the father gave his attention to farming and stock-raising, spending his remaining days in that locality. He was not only a successful business man but also a representative and honored citizen of Kansas and for two or three terms served in the state legislature, acting as a member of the house at the time that John St. John was governor. He was also county commissioner and town clerk while living in New Hampshire. He held membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was in full sympathy with its teachings and for a number of years served as noble grand in the local lodge. His wife, a member of the Daughters of Rebekah, was chaplain of her lodge for twenty-five years, filling the position at the time of her death, which occurred December 12, 1905, while she was visiting her son in Pike county. She was very active and bright for one of her age, being at that time in her eighty-first year. She maintained her home in Whiting, Kansas, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church there. Mr. Watkins favored that church and gave to it his financial support. In early life he was a democrat, supporting the principles advocated by Jackson. During the period of hostilities between the north and the south he was what is known as a war democrat and his last democratic vote was cast for Stephen A. Douglas. Following the war he became a republican and continued to support that party until his demise, which occurred on the 9th of August, 1892.      John F. Watkins, whose name introduces this record, began his education in the public schools of his native state, and when thirteen years of age accompanied his parents on their removal to Fredericktown, Missouri, and on the 15th of October, 1864, arrived in Griggsville, Pike county, Illinois. Here he began working for E. W. Baxter at the butcher's trade and after a year devoted to that labor turned his attention to farming, remaining in the employ of a Pike county agriculturist for sixteen months. He then began farming on his own account on land belonging to Isaac Hatch, and in 1869 he removed to the old Greeno place, where he has since carried on general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. He now owns one hundred and eighty acres of land, which is rich and arable, and he raises here shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs.      On the 31st of December, 1868, Mr. Watkins was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Brown, the wedding ceremony being performed by the Rev. E. E. Carpenter at the home of her parents in Griggsville township. Mrs. Watkins was born June 16, 1850, a daughter of Henry R. and Jane (Chapman) Brown, who are represented on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of William H. Brown, a brother of Mrs.