The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-07-16
(Grccnville News, Tuesday,

Sapl. l1enfy Hit Watkins, Of An
derson, prominent lawyer and citizen
or the Piedmont section, will succeed
the late Joseph II. Johnson as federal
Judge for the Western district of South
Carolina.
According to Associated Press dis
patches and special correspondence
from Washington to The News yes
terday the nomination Of Capt. Wat
kins as federal judge was sent to the
United States senate by President
wilson. The nomination now needs
only the formal confirmation of the
senate, which will be given within
the next few days, in all probability
and Capt. Watkins will shortly there
after assume the office. He will, in
all probability, preside over the fed
efal court for the first time at the
special term which is to be held in
Greenville beginning the first Tuesday
in August.
News correspondence from Wash
lnSton last night was to the effect that
Senator Dial has requested Chairman
nelson, OF the Judiciary committee, to
expedite action upon the nomination
or Capt, Watkins. Ordinarily tho nom
nation, with others received Yesterday
from the White House. would lie over
until the next regular meeting of tho
committee, and then be referred to n
subcommittee. BY reason Of Senator
Dlals request, however. II is now very
probable that the confirmation of Cant
watkins as Judge will take place with
in very short time
The nomination Of Capt. Watkins
brings TO an end contest for the
1udgcship which developed shortly
after the death OF Judge Joseph T.
Johnson on May 8. The names OF a
large number Of prominent lawyers
from various parts Of the Piedmont
section were proposed by their friends
and admirers, and virtually every
community put forth a candidate for
the vacancy
The appointment Of Capt Watkins
has caused very general satisfaction
throughout the district, and after the
news or the appointment was received
yesterday the opinion was very gen
orally expressed that Capt Watkins
would fill the position in a thoroughly
satisfactory manner, and that his
to the district and credit to him
self
Henry Hit Watkins was born in
Waterloo township Taurcns county,
on June "a, 1866. His father was
Capt Henry Fl. Watkins, OF Laurens
county, who was born May 26, 1918,
and died March %. 1866. His father
was engaged in farming all his life
and never sought or held political Of
flee, but was a captain in the state
militia prior to the War Between the
States, and served as a lieutenant in
James South Carolina battalion. His
earliest paternal ancestors to come to
America emigratcd from Wales to
Virginia in the early part Of the sew
entcenth century, probably having
come over with Capt John Smith
and settled IL Prince Edward county
Virginia, where the family lived until
shortly after the close Of the Revolu-
ton. Not long after the close OF the
Revolution John C. Watkins, grand
father of the present Capt. Watkins.
moved to South Carolina, and after
remaining for a short while in Able
Vile county, moved to Waterloo
township, Laurens county, and settled
at tho old homestead OF the family
on Recdy river.
He was twice married, his second
wife being a daughter Of John Moore,
a Revolutionary soldier OF Laurens
county. whose lands adjoined those
subsequently owned by John c. Wat
kins.
On the maternal side Mr.. Watkins
is descended from Robert Culbertson,
a Revolutionary soldier, whose family
emfgrated from Ireland and first set
tied In Pennsylvania long prior to the
Revolution, and who entered the Revo-