MRS. ELLINOR WATKINS. UTICA, ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
January 1st, 1888, at Bridgewater, New York, Mrs. Ellinor Watkins at the age of 88 years and 18 days. Mrs. Watkins was the daughter of John and Margaret Jones, Penrhyn, Llangower parish, near Bala, North Wales. Her parents were members of the church at Llanuwchllyn, of which the renowned Rev. George Lewis, D.D. was pastor.At the age of 19 years she was married to John Watkins of the Ddolfawr in the same parish. They lived in their native parish until 1831 when they emigrated to this country and settled for about nine months in Utica, New York, and then bought a farm at Deerfield, Oneida County, on which they lived for 36 years. Then retiring from the farm, they went to reside between Bryn Mawr and Utica where Mr. John Watkins died May 11th, 1884, at the age of 86 years, 2 months, and 12 days. About two years after Mrs. Watkins went to reside with her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Williams, at Bridgewater, New York, where she died Sunday, January 1, 1888 in her 89th year. On the following Tuesday afternoon, after religious service at the house, the remains were removed to her daughter's residenceMrs. Evan R. Jones, Utica, whence the funeral took place on the following day.
The funeral services were held in the C. M. Church, Utica, where a large congregation of relatives, friends, and neighbors had assembled as a token of respect and sympathy, the following ministers taking part in the services, Revs. Robert C. Jones, Plainfield; John H. Jones, Rome; R. F. Jones, Hyde Park, Pa.; William. D. Williams, Deerfield; and E. C. Evans, Remsen. The remains were conveyed for burial to Forest Hill Cemetery, where her beloved husband and daughter Anne had also been laid to rest.
A memorial sermon was delivered on the following Sabbath at Utica by Rev. R. F. Jones, Hyde Park, Pennsylvania.
The married life of Mr. and Mrs. Watkins covered a period of 66 years which was marked by a large degree of prosperity and happiness. They had a large family of children. some of whom died in Wales, and two in America. David died in California and Anne was buried in Utica. There still remain of the family, three sons, Messrs. Robert Watkins, Holland Patent; John Watkins, Plainfield; and Thomas Watkins, Bridgewater, New York, and four daughters, Mrs. Evan Jones, New York Mills; Mrs. William T. Lewis, Lime Spring, Iowa; Mrs. Evan R. Jones, Utica; and Mrs. Robert J. Williams, Bridgewater, New York, all of whom are highly respected citizens in the communities in which they live.
Mrs. Watkins' life and character were marked by many noble qualities of mind and heart. She possessed a large degree of common sense, decision of character, good judgment and a large fund of secular and scriptural knowledge, with a talent for using it advantageously. At home she guarded and labored for the best and highest interests of her family. As a neighbor, she was social, upright and benevolent. And her religious life was characterized by sincere piety, great faithfulness, unusual intelligence, and a highly matured Christian experience.
Converted at the age of twenty-three, she devoted her life by her ministrations and prayers to the service of her Saviour, and in the last hour of death she calmly trusted her soul to his keeping in glory.