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- Robert Watkins, retired farmer, Bluffton, was born in Wayne, County, Ohio, September 6, 1820, son of Thomas and Susan (Miller) Watkins, natives of Ohio, the former of Irish [actually Welsh] and the latter of German descent. Thomas Watkins, [Robert's father], followed farming, and died in Hancock County, in 1865.
Our subject, the fifth in a family of twelve children, received a district school education in Wayne County, Ohio, and has farmed all his lifel was one of the pioneers of Hancock County, Ohio; has been very successful in all his undertakings; is owner of a farm, though he is now living a retired life in Bluffton. Mr. Watkins has been married twice, on the first occasion in 1841, to Susan Showalter, who died in 1850, by whom he had four children, all now living: Rebecca, wife of James Rail, a farmer in Henry County, Ohio; William, Amos and Martin. All of these sons are married and engages in farming.
Our subject was again married, in 1851, this time to Mary Ann Benner, by whom he has five children now living; Jefferson J., married and farming; Lydia, wife of John Williams, a farmer; Susan V., wife of Gideon Clymer, a farmer in Hancock County, Ohiol Hannah, wife of Horace Stearns, a merchant of Bluffton; Clement, married and also farming.
Mr. and Mrs. Watkins are members of the Christian Union Church, in which he has been an officer for twenty-three years, and is at present ruling elder. Mr. Watkins is a Democrat in politics, and has held most of the township offices.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio. Chicago. Warner, Beers & Co. 1885. P. 782
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