A small, fenced graveyard on the Watkins family homestead (Township 22S, Range 16E, Section 8) has a single headstone for Emma L. Watkins, 1843-1893, and her daughter Katie L., 1875-1890. Emma’s great-grandson wrote that two to four unmarked graves are also present, including a visiting minister and a child. [Personal correspondence, Joseph L. Schmazlel, Jr., 1989].
Christopher Columbus Watkins (“C.C.”) was born in Pennsylvania in 1840 and served in the 30th Wisconsin Infantry, Company B during the Civil War. He married Emma Levina Ellis in Wisconsin in 1866. The couple farmed in Wisconsin and Ukiah, California before moving with their five children to Harshaw in 1880. Their first home in Harshaw was a tent. In 1881 they worked at a dairy in Sonora, Mexico, and returned to work in the Harshaw mine in 1882. [Personal correspondence, Joseph L. Schmazlel, Jr., 1989].
By 1884 C.C. and Emma were farming on a 160-acre homestead and their family had grown to include eight children: Albert, Bassett, Elwyn, Katie, Waldo, Brewster, George and Harvey. In 1885 C.C. was appointed Crittenden constable. [Arizona Weekly Citizen, 10/17/1885]. C.C. became an enthusiastic promoter of farming in the area: “…this section of country [is] looking better than ever before …of the thirteen separate floods that occurred there during the past rainy season the smallest was larger than any he had seen in previous years. In July he planted corn, potatoes, pumpkins etc. and they grew amazingly. The corn is thirteen feet high, pumpkins weigh from 80 to 100 pounds and potatoes as fine as ever grew.” [Tucson Citizen, 9/30/1887].
“Mr. Watkins has had ripe peaches in abundance for family use since the 4th of July. One peach tree yielded over 300 pounds of peaches, which at the retail market price would amount to over $850. Mr. Watkins also has recently planted some fine apricots, prunes and pears. All this fruit was raised without any irrigation whatever, save what nature furnished by way of rains. I think the day is not far distant when Southern Pima County will be at the front in regard to fruit raising. I am so well pleased this season with my trial orchard that I am preparing four acres more, which I intend to fill with fruit trees this coming winter.” [Arizona Weekly Citizen, 8/24/1889].
C.C. and Emma were awarded the patent on their homestead in 1890; sadly their daughter Katie, age 15, died that year and was buried near the family home. Emma died three years later and was buried next to Katie. Emma’s obituary noted: “As a wife and mother Mrs. Watkins had no superior and but few equals. As a neighbor all loved her who came within the magic influence of her kindly nature and warm, generous heart. She ruled her household with the potent power of love and governed with a wise and careful hand.” [Tucson Citizen, 4/7/1893]. C.C. continued to farm/ranch until 1896 when he moved to California with his youngest sons: Brewster (1883-1972), George (1885-1966) and Harvey (1887-1970). C.C. died at the Sawtelle Soldier’s Home in Santa Monica in 1919.
The eldest sons, Albert (1868-1915), Bassett (1871-1958), Elwyn (1872-1959), and Waldo (1879-1919) moved to Bisbee. Albert, Bassett and Elwyn worked in the mines. Albert, a well-respected mine foreman, died in a mining accident. Bassett served as Bisbee city marshal, Elwyn represented Cochise County in the Arizona House of Representatives, and Waldo was a partner in a jewelry business.
Alison Bunting can be contacted at alisbunting@gmail.com