John T. Watkins
| John Thomas Watkins | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 4th congressional district | |
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In office March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1921 |
|
| Preceded by | Phanor Breazeale |
| Succeeded by | John N. Sandlin |
| Judge of Louisiana's 2nd Judicial District Court (since 26th District) | |
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In office June 2, 1900 – December 8, 1904 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Cleveland Drew |
| Succeeded by | Richard Cleveland Drew |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
January 15, 1854 Minden, Webster Parish Louisiana, USA |
| Died | April 25, 1925 (aged 71) |
| Resting place | Minden Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Murrell Watkins (died 1921) |
| Relations | Lynn Kyle Watkins (brother) |
| Children |
Flora Lizzie Watkins (1881-1889) |
| Parents | Mahala Flora Morrow Watkins |
| Alma mater | Cumberland University |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Religion | Methodist |
Flora Lizzie Watkins (1881-1889)
Willie Murrell Watkins (1861-1890)
Elizabeth Murrell Watkins (born 1894)
Drury Murrell Watkins (1818-1884)
John Thomas Watkins (January 15, 1854 – April 25, 1925) 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 court judge prior to his election to 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 for renomination in 1904 and was seated with the incoming 59th Congress on March 4, 1905, during the administration of Theodore Roosevelt. 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.
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