San
Joaquin County
Biographies
ALFRED GWYNNE WATKINS
One of the esteemed and helpful
citizens of Bellota is Alfred Gwynne Watkins, a prominent rancher and
cattleman, well known throughout the county as an authority on stock. He has assisted in building schools and
churches, and contributed to every project for the upbuilding of the
community. He was born on his father’s
ranch at Bellota, August 1, 1885, the youngest child of the late Craddock
Gwynne and Hannah (Young) Watkins, both born in England. Craddock G. Watkins and his wife came to
America from England in early days and settled near Bellota where they engaged
in farming, the old homestead now being operated by James G. Watkins, a brother
of our subject. Mrs. Watkins resides at
519 West Vine Street, Stockton. Alfred
G. Watkins attended the Bellota and Linden schools and this section has been
his home his entire lifetime. While
still in his teens he took up the carpenter’s trade, which he followed for
awhile, and at all times was interested with his father in the stock business.
The marriage of Mr. Watkins occurred
at San Francisco August 18, 1908, and united him with Miss Ruby A. Bliss, born
at Stockton; a daughter of William D. and Nellie (Youngs)
Bliss, the former now deceased, while the latter makes her home with her
daughter, Mrs. Watkins. Mrs. Watkins
spent her childhood days in Stockton and graduated from the Stockton high
school in 1899 and for some years engaged in teaching. Four children have blessed the home of Mrs.
and Mrs. Watkins: Kenneth C., William
C., Teddy B., and Alice Marie. In 1914,
Mr. Watkins purchased 160 acres, known as the W. A. Shippee
place, and about one year ago he purchased an additional seventy acres, making
a total of 230 acres on which he raises stock and grain; he also leases a tract
of range land near Waverly Station where a fine herd of beef cattle range. In politics, Mr. Watkins is a Republican and
is a director of the Linden Union high school since its reorganization in 1921;
for some years he was a director of the Bellota district school. Recently he has completed a fine residence on
his ranch, which makes it one of the show places of this section of the county.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
596. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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