John T. Watkins
Encyclopedia
John Thomas Watkins was a Democratic
U.S. representative from northwestern Louisiana
who served from 1905-1921. A lawyer in his hometown of Minden
, the seat of Webster Parish, Watkins was a state district courtjudge
prior to entering Congress.
Watkins attended the public schools of Minden and graduated from the Minden Male Academy, a forerunner of Minden High School
. He then studied for three years at Cumberland University
in Lebanon
, Tennessee
. As was then customary, Watkins studied law privately, was admitted to the bar in 1878, and opened his practice in Minden. He was elected judge in 1900 and served in that capacity until 1904.
He briefly resumed his law practice prior to his election to Congress. He defeated incumbent Democrat Phanor Breazeale
of Natchitoches
for renomination in 1904 and was seated with the incoming 59th Congress on March 4, 1905. In his fourth term, he became the chairman of the House Committee on Revision of the Laws.
Watkins rarely faced serious opposition in his reelection bids until he was defeated for a ninth term in 1920 by John N. Sandlin
, another state district court judge from Minden. In 1908, for instance, Watkins defeated two opponents in the general election
by a lopsided margin. He polled 88.2 percent of the ballots compared to 5.5 percent for Republican
John F. Slattery. The Socialist Party of America
candidate, W. S. Emmons, outpolled Slattery, having finished with 6.3 percent of the vote.
After Watkins surrendered his congressional seat to Sandlin, he practiced law in Washington, D.C.
, until his death. Like Watkins, Sandlin would also hold the Fourth District House seat for eight terms.
Watkins, like Sandlin, is interred in the original section of Minden Cemetery
along side his wife, the former Elizabeth Murrell (January 23, 1858–February 26, 1921).
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
U.S. representative from northwestern Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
who served from 1905-1921. A lawyer in his hometown of Minden
Minden, Louisiana
Minden is a city in the American state of Louisiana. It serves as the parish seat of Webster Parish and is located twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish. The population, which has been stable since 1960, was 13,027 at the 2000 census...
, the seat of Webster Parish, Watkins was a state district courtjudge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
prior to entering Congress.
Watkins attended the public schools of Minden and graduated from the Minden Male Academy, a forerunner of Minden High School
Minden High School (Minden, Louisiana)
Minden High School is the public secondary educational institution in Minden, a small city of 13,000 and the seat of Webster Parish located twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport in northwestern Louisiana...
. He then studied for three years at Cumberland University
Cumberland University
Cumberland University is a private university in Lebanon, Tennessee, United States. It was founded in 1842, though the current campus buildings were constructed between 1892 and 1896.-History:...
in Lebanon
Lebanon, Tennessee
Lebanon is a city in Wilson County, Tennessee, in the United States. The population was 20,235 at the 2000 census. It serves as the county seat of Wilson County. Lebanon is located in middle Tennessee, approximately 25 miles east of downtown Nashville. Local residents have also called it...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. As was then customary, Watkins studied law privately, was admitted to the bar in 1878, and opened his practice in Minden. He was elected judge in 1900 and served in that capacity until 1904.
He briefly resumed his law practice prior to his election to Congress. He defeated incumbent Democrat Phanor Breazeale
Phanor Breazeale
Phanor Breazeale was a U.S. Representative from Louisiana.Born in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, Breazeale attended private schools.He moved to Natchitoches, Louisiana, in 1877....
of Natchitoches
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Natchitoches is a city in and the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. Established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis as part of French Louisiana, the community was named after the Natchitoches Indian tribe. The City of Natchitoches was first incorporated on February...
for renomination in 1904 and was seated with the incoming 59th Congress on March 4, 1905. In his fourth term, he became the chairman of the House Committee on Revision of the Laws.
Watkins rarely faced serious opposition in his reelection bids until he was defeated for a ninth term in 1920 by John N. Sandlin
John N. Sandlin
John Nicholas Sandlin, Sr. , of Minden, Louisiana, represented his state's Fourth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives from 1921 to 1937. In 1936, rather than seeking a ninth term in the House, Sandlin, upon the request of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt,...
, another state district court judge from Minden. In 1908, for instance, Watkins defeated two opponents in the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
by a lopsided margin. He polled 88.2 percent of the ballots compared to 5.5 percent for Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
John F. Slattery. The Socialist Party of America
Socialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
candidate, W. S. Emmons, outpolled Slattery, having finished with 6.3 percent of the vote.
After Watkins surrendered his congressional seat to Sandlin, he practiced law in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, until his death. Like Watkins, Sandlin would also hold the Fourth District House seat for eight terms.
Watkins, like Sandlin, is interred in the original section of Minden Cemetery
Minden Cemetery
The Minden Cemetery, located in Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana, United States, has graves dating from 1843, seven years after the founding of the city in 1836...
along side his wife, the former Elizabeth Murrell (January 23, 1858–February 26, 1921).