John E. Watkins, born May 7, 1858, in Delaware County, Ohio, moved to South Dakota in 1885, where he established a successful farm in Badger Township, Davison County. He expanded his initial 160-acre claim to a 480-acre farm, known for its cultivated crops and high-grade livestock. Watkins, a dedicated Republican, served as school treasurer and township assessor. He and his wife, Anna Streeter, whom he married on December 24, 1881, were active members of the Congregational Church. They had seven children: Edward L., Sarah M., Mabel E., William Neill, Clarence, Clara, and Norvel.
John E. Watkins is a native of the old Buckeye State, having been born in Delaware County, Ohio, on the 7th of May, 1858, and being the first in order of birth of the five children of Edward and Sarah (Evans) Watkins, both of whom died in Ohio, where the father devoted his active life to farming. Our subject’s early educational advantages were confined to a somewhat irregular attendance in the common schools of his native state, and as a mere boy he had occasion to learn what is implied in the term hard work. At the age of fifteen years he gave up his school in order to assist in the labors incidental to the improvement and cultivation of the homestead farm, and he continued to be thus engaged until he had attained the age of twenty-seven years, when he inaugurated his independent career by coming to what is now South Dakota. He arrived here in the fall of 1885 and took up one hundred and sixty acres of government land, in Badger Township, Davison County, the same constituting the nucleus of his present fine farm of four hundred and eighty acres, upon which he has made substantial improvements, including the erection of a commodious and attractive residence. About one-half of his farm is under cultivation and devoted to the raising of the various cereals best adapted to the soil and climate, while the balance is given over to pasturage and the raising of hay. He has a high grade of livestock upon his place and is known as one of the energetic and wide-awake farmers of the county. His valuable property indicates the success which has attended his assiduous and well-directed efforts, and he has unbounded admiration for the state of his adoption and great faith in its still more brilliant future. Mr. Watkins is a stanch Republican in politics and has been prominent in local affairs of a public nature. He has served for twelve years as school treasurer of Badger Township, and for three years was incumbent of the office of township assessor. Both he and his wife are valued members of the Congregational Church, being zealous workers in the same.
On the 24th of December, 1881, Mr. Watkins was united in marriage to Miss Anna Streeter, daughter of Rev. A. W. Streeter, of Stockton, Kansas, and the seven children of this union still remain beneath the home roof, their names, in order of birth, being as follows: Edward L., Sarah M., Mabel E., William Neill, Clarence, Clara, and Norvel.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.