JESSE GRANVILLE WATKINS

The following bio was taken from page 430 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Claudia Schuster

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

Jesse Granville Watkins became a part of Rusk County when he married Annie Isabella Brown, December 25, 1889 in the home of her parents, Mr. And Mrs. Richard Brown.

Jesse Granville Watkins was a descendant of Ezekial Watkins, a private from Virginia in the American Revolutionary Army. His grandfather, Jesse Jernigan Watkins, was born in Halifax County, Virginia in 1776 and died in 1837 in Texas. It was during Jesse’s early manhood that he and General Sam Houston became friends. Jesse Jernigan Watkins married Mary White McCorkle in Clarksville, Tennessee. The couple had eight children, one of whom was Robert McCorkle Watkins, father of Jesse G. Watkins. The Jesse Jernigan Watkins family came to Texas in 1833 at the request of Sam Houston, who needed help with Indian problems. Houston sent him with a Mexican interpreter to make a peace treaty with the Indians at Village Creek, where Jesse Jernigan Watkins was murdered in 1837. His wife and family remained in Linn Flat, Nacogdoches County.

Robert McCorkle Atkins married Sarah Jane Hayter, daughter of William D. and Jane Evans Hayter of Huntsville, Alabama. They settled in Hayterville, Tarrant County, in 1833. In 1878 Jesse G. Watkins sold the land, then called Hayterville, to the town of Arlington. Jesse G. Watkins was born November 17, 1856 in Linn Flat. He was educated at Linn Flat and attended Henderson College, where Dr. Oscar H. Cooper and John H. Reagan taught him. He also attended the University of Nacogdoches. After graduating from this university, Jesse Granville taught there two years, then returned to Linn Flat and went into the merchant business with Henry Brewer.

Jesse G. Watkins was an ardent Presbyterian. He was made a Ruling Elder in the Rock Springs Presbyterian Church, Nacogdoches County, at the age of eighteen. From this church, he was sent to Pine Grove Presbyterian Church in Rusk County as a delegate to the Presbytery. He was assigned with his pastor, Rev. George Self, to stay in the Richard Brown home. Here he met his first wife, Annie Isabella Brown.

Annie Isabella Brown, sixth child of Richard and Nancy Jane Brown, was a talented musician. She taught school for seven years. When she received her first teacher’s certificate, she had to pass an examination on Texas History and other subjects. She worked with her oldest brother, Richard McKee, a scholar, as was his father, Richard Brown. Annie never opened a Texas History book. Her brother taught her by rote. Annie had a remarkable memory. Mack promised to give her a beautiful pair of gold bracelets with her birthstone in them if she made a perfect score. She did, and received bracelets that her two daughters have in their bank box in Dallas. Annie Brown was also a great homemaker. She loved children and was most ambitious for them.

Annie’s father, Richard Brown, was with the famed Mier Expedition when it was captured by Santa Anna. (See Richard Brown account.)

Jesse G. Watkins was a merchant and cotton buyer in Linn Flat during the early years of his marriage. When he moved to Henderson, he was in business for several years and then became tax collector in 1908 and served four years. At the end of the term, he returned to the grocery business. His business ledgers may be found in the Dallas Public Library. Jesse Watkins and his son, Robert, were members of the Republic of Texas and Sons of the American Revolution.

The Jesse Watkins family had four children. The first died at birth. The others are Mary Leland Watkins, Robert Brown, and Virdian Drell Watkins Vaughn.

Leland attended Henderson Public Schools until her senior year, when she went to Sam Houston Normal Institute in 1909, took entrance examinations and graduated from Sam Houston State College on May 26, 1910, her eighteenth birthday, the same day her Henderson High School class finished school in Henderson. She taught her first school at Grandview, four miles north of Henderson, next at Glenfawn, and then at Laneville.

She went to Jacksonville and taught for four years. In the fall of 1916, Dr. J.F. Kimball called her to the Dallas City Schools, where she taught for twelve years. She was then made Director of Public Relations for the Dallas Power and Light Company. In the fall of 1928, the Dallas County Board of School Trustees elected her Elementary Supervisor of all schools in Dallas County, except the Dallas City system.

As she taught and worked, she earned her Bachelor, Masters, and Library Science degrees. Leland joined the City Temple Presbyterian Church in 1916.

Leland was active in the Business and Professional Women’s Club, Delta Kappa Gamma, Eastern Star, Daughters of the American Revolution, and Daughters of the Republic of Texas. She was president of the Avery Book Review Club and a member of Clionian Study Club. She also received a Certificate of Award for twenty-six years of service in the Dallas Junior Red Cross chapter.

Leland received the Zonta Award in 1950, given to the outstanding lady in the city of Dallas. Her award reads: "The Zonta Service Award 1950—Mary Leland Watkins—in recognition of long years of service and inspiration in the development of citizenship and character throughout the Dallas County Schools."

Robert Brown Watkins was educated in the Henderson Public Schools, Draughan’s Business College, Tyler Commercial College, and, for a short time, in Texas A & M College before he was called to serve his country in 1917.

Robert began his business career working for M. Kangerga and Brother in Henderson as a cashier. Next, he joined Mayfield Grocery Company in Tyler. Upon his return from World War I, he married Miss Eva D. Lacy. They moved to Ennis, where he and John Mayfield, Sr. established a branch of the Mayfield Grocery company. Then later he was asked to work for Waples Platter Grocery Company in Dallas, having Ellis County as his main territory. He stayed with Waples Platter for forty-two years. He and his wife, Eva were active in the First Methodist Church and belonged to both professional and civic clubs. Robert was also a staunch Mason. Robert and Eva are buried in the Myrtle Springs Cemetery in Ennis.

Virdian Drell Watkins attended Henderson schools and graduated June, 1919. She and her life-long chum, Doris Corner, started in the first grade and finished school together. Virdian and Doris took music together from Miss Margaret Wood and Mrs. Fannie Fowler Cain. They attended Southern Methodist University in 1919-1920 and roomed together. Virdian and Doris are still devoted friends. Virdian received her B. A. and M.A. degrees from S.M.U. She studied music with Dr. Paul Katwitz, then Head of the Music department. She took her Library Science training at Texas Woman’s University in Denton.

Virdian taught in the Overton and Jacksonville schools before coming to the Dallas City Schools. During the first few months in Dallas, The Dallas Times Herald offered a prize of $250.00 for the best essay on "The Relationship Between the Home and the School." Virdian won the first prize. Her career in the Dallas City Schools lasted forty-two years. She was first an elementary English teacher; then she was one of the first three elementary librarians in the Dallas system, a position she held until she retired.

Virdian Watkins has been active in church work. She played the organ in the Presbyterian U.S.A. Church in Henderson, and in Jacksonville First Presbyterian Church. She was president of Clionian Study club, president of the Avery Book Review, president of the Dallas City Schools Elementary Library Club, and Women Circle Leader of the Highland Park Presbyterian.

On November 27, 1952, Virdian Watkins married Thomas Edward Vaughn. Tom Vaughn died August 8, 1968 and is buried in Restland Memorial Cemetery in Dallas. Virdian joined the University Park Methodist Church for sixteen years with her husband. Tom Vaughn was an active Mason and Shriner. He was Worthy Patron of Royal Chapter of Eastern Star in Dallas. Tom, Virdian, and Leland traveled extensively during their vacations. They visited the capitols of each of the forty-eight states and nine provinces of Canada. After Tom’s death, Virdian and Leland now live together in the home they bought January 10, 1932.

On January 30, 1932, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse G. Watkins came to Dallas to live with their daughters. Mrs. Watkins lived until May 5, 1932. Her body was taken back to Henderson. She is buried in the Old City Cemetery west of the courthouse.

Ten years later, June 5, 1942, Jessie Watkins died. His body was returned to Henderson to be buried beside his wife.

The Watkins reared three children in Henderson. They loved home, school, and church. The Browns and the Watkins families have fought, bled and died for American freedom. They "gave to the world the best they had."

Submitted by Leland Watkins and Virdian W. Vaughn