The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-03-19
COL. Ed. WATKINS
ENDS CAREER
Prominent Lawyer and Citizen
BreatheS Last After Long
Illness Friday Morning.
BURIAL AT MERIDIAN, MISS.
Once Member Of Mississippi
Legislature - Cast Vote
for L. O. G. Lamar.

lot IL. V. ". Lamar.
In the death OF Col. Ed Watkins
district counsel for the Central o
Georgia railroad, which sad even
occurred at 9 o'clock Friday morn.
ing at his home, 535 Oak street, Chat.
tanooga lost one of her most beloved
and useful citizens and the state one
OF its leading lawyers and counselors
Col. Watkins was a type of the
true southern gentleman, endowed by
nature with brilliant intellect sup
plemented by a thorough education
in the universities OF the south, and
trained by n course in the school OF
experience, which Is best of all, he
became not only a leader In his
chosen profession, that of the law
but he built for himself a place in
the hearts of his countrymen. II
can truthfully be said of him that he
| was man among men. He was
| possessed or charm OF personality
and universally courteous manner
which endeared him not only to his
Intimate friends, but won for him a
| friendship with all who came in con-
| tact with him during his long life of
active practice of his profession.
He was not native of Mississippi.
as many thought. but he lived in
| that state the first half of his life,
| having become a resident as a young
boy when his father left North Caro-
ma, the home of his nativity, and
settled in Mississippi. Thus he be-
came a real Mississippian with that
warmth of personality which that
| state seems to impart to her sons
| and which characterizes them as
| southerners to the manner born in
any cline where fortune may chance
to take them.
As lawyer Col. Watkins ranked
with the leaders of the bench and
bar. He was a close student OF his
cases and whenever he came to trial
with them he was prepared to pre-
sent them in the clearest and most
comprehensive manner to the court
or jury, and this was to a great ex-
tent one OF the qualities which made
MN a successful practitioner.
"A distinctive honor of appreciation
10 Col. Watkins by his brother law
yefs or the state was his election to
inc presidency of the Tennessee Bar
association some years ago, a posi-
ton which he held for one term with
distinguished ability.
Before coming to Chattanooga to
make his home Col. Watkins was a
member of the Mississippi legisla-
ture, session of 1875, which finally
Threw off carpetbag rule and re-
stored the government of the state
TO Its own people. In this session. of
the legislature he cast the deciding
vote which elected l.. Q. c. Lamar
TO the United States senate over Gen.
j. G. George.
Col. Watkins is survived by three
sons-Walter Watkins, "a partner
WIN ms rather in the practice OF
laW;. Gordon Watkins, both OF Chat
sanooga' and DR.. Edwin Watkins, of
memphis, and one daughter Miss
Ann Watkins. His wife. who vas
Miss ldellett C. Dial, a member OF
one of the oldest and most prominent
families OF Meridian, Miss, died last
july. The death of his wife was n
severe blow to Col. Watkins and he
seemed never to have recovered from
the shock which that sad event oc-
caslohed and ever since his health
seemed TO be gradually falling. until
rev days ago he wa forced to take
to his bed.
Col watkins was a member Of the
FIRST Presbyterian church, and the
funeral services, which will be an
nounced later, will be conducted hv |
" y. w. Bachman and the BODY will |
De taken to Meridian, Miss. TO be |
lald to rest in the family LOT i'm the |
cemetery there beside the body of his |
beloved wife. "''
Col. Edmond watkins the ma.
watkins who has been so long so In.
tlmately. In such tenderly friendly
way known to Chattanooga people for
nearly third of a century. was born
NJ NJ klchmond county North Carolina.
He was the son of Jesse and Saran
Ann (Morgan) Watkins. His early
education was acquired at a private
school, and he graduated from the
University I'm OF Mississippi in 1871. taxi
attended the law school OF Cumberland
University. Tenn. in 1872 graduating
with the degree OF LII. B. in 1875 he
married. Miss ldelette Dial, having be-
gun the practice of law at Meridian.
MISS, IN 1872. In 1857, he was
member OF tho Mississippi legislature.
Having enjoyed a successful practice In
he state OF his first adoption. no
anne to Chattanooga in 1888. ana
orlned law partnership with the late
Judge Lewis Shepherd in 1889. In 1892
10 became a partner OF w. II. BOYLE I'm
he law business, and later he and the !
ate T. G. Latimore became partners.
n 1899 he allied himself in the prac-
ice with Hon. Frank NJ Thompson.
nd In 1907 his son, Walter II. Watkins.
vas taken into the Arm, and in late
ears he and his son have been part
ers in the firm style Of Watkins a.
Watkins
Once Mayor.
Col. Watkins was elected mayor OF
in 1897. and served two
ears, giving TO the city consorva-
i've, business administration which |
as ever reflected credit upon him ana
pom the city which he so well and
served. HIS standing at the
ar has always been OF the highest L
nd there has never been doubt as to
Ia signal capacity as safe and COM
etent counsellor and practitioner. Tn
Ike many lawyers. and indeed II might |
e said unlike most OF them, especially |
the days when he was acquiring his
Professional training, no had q decided /
ant for business, entirely aside from
Is professional interests. and his in
inations were for transactions OF
agntude. He WAS not averse. I'm the
Of them. 70 taking risks
with his expectations OF
lin. He came to Chattanooga st
me when u was in tho transition 1
ate. from struggling and sometimes
beaten town OF ambitions
~. fairly bounding into an era OF ac-
witty which. despite many drawbacks
Il TO he encountered. was destined TO
nd II to the long sought goal OF solid
osperity and substantial, steady. un-
rocked growth into greatness He
me within that decade which MARKED
ore actual development into city pro-
,rtions and city ways. than has any
her in sll Of is history. He came
a period which was signalized by
table influx Of men and capital.
ade most notable in its outcome by
,ceFsions from points further south
pecially Mississippi and louisiana
. promptly became one Of a contin-
mt which contributed in fun meas
%. energy. enterprise and capital. FOR /
a. tfr.buIfdfDr ~ "a CITY IN which fbe,y 4