El Dorado County Biographies


This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm




DAVID WATKINS
 
            Of French creek, came to California in 1850, and mined in the 
vicinity of Placerville.  He had left his family behind, and in 1852 returned to 
the East to bring them out, which he did in 1853, with an ox team.  After a 
journey of over six months, he reached French creek, and began mining again, 
after two years he purchased the place on which he now lives, and settled down 
with his family, at that time there was but two white women on the creek, Mrs. 
Shanks and Mrs. Z. P. Brandon, who died in the fall of the same year.  Mr. and 
Mrs. Watkins were both natives of Columbia county, Ohio.  He was born February 
11, 1818.  In 1837 he went to Putnam county, Illinois, where he engaged in 
farming and operating a wood yard.  They were married on December 19, 1839, they 
have four children, John W., Henry T., Lucinda, now Mrs. M. Keith, and Sarah C., 
now Mrs. George O. Grist.
 
Historical Souvenir of El Dorado County, California with Illustrations & 
Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men & Pioneers - Oakland, Cal. - Paolo 
Sioli, Publisher, 1883. p - 269
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler