L. Whitney Watkins

L. Whitney Watkins
Member of the Michigan Senate
from the 10th district
In office
January 1, 1909 – 1913
Preceded byArchibald J. Peek
Succeeded byJ. Weston Hutchins
Personal details
Born
Lucius Whitney Watkins

(1873-08-06)August 6, 1873
Norvell Township, Michigan, U.S.
DiedSeptember 17, 1950(1950-09-17) (aged 77)
Tecumseh, Michigan, U.S.
Resting placeOak Grove Cemetery, Manchester, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Other political
affiliations		Bull Moose (1912–1915)
SpouseGrace Edith Alley
Children4
EducationAgricultural College of the State of Michigan

Lucius Whitney Watkins (August 6, 1873 – September 17, 1950) was an American politician who served in the Michigan Senate from the 10th district from 1909 to 1913, as a member of the Republican Party. He later served on the Michigan Board of Agriculture from 1920 to 1932, and commissioner of the Michigan Department of Agriculture from 1923 to 1927.

Born in Norvell Township, Michigan, Watkins was educated at the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan. He worked as a as a Deputy State Game and Fish Warden from 1896 to 1898, and operated a farm. He was elected to the state senate in 1908, where he served and chaired agricultural committees.

A supporter of Theodore Roosevelt, Watkins joined the Bull Moose Party and was its gubernatorial nominee in 1912. He was elected to the Michigan Board of Agriculture in 1919 and 1925, and chaired it from 1921 to 1931. In 1937, he was appointed as a director of the Detroit branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and served until 1945.

Early life and education

Lucius Whitney Watkins[1] was born on a farm[2] in Norvell Township, Michigan, on August 6, 1873, to L.D. Watkins and Sarah English. His father was born in Keene, New Hampshire, and his mother was born in King's County, Ireland.[1][3] L.D. Watkins moved from New Hampshire to Michigan in 1834, where he started a farm.[4] Watkins graduated from the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan in 1893.[1][3] He was given an honorary degree in agriculture from the college in 1932.[1]

Career

Agriculture, education, and appointments

Chase Osborn appointed Watkins as a Deputy State Game and Fish Warden for central southern Michigan in 1896, and served until 1898.[3][4] Watkins worked as a farmer[1] and operated a 2,000 acre farm by 1920.[5] He was president of both the State Association of Farmers' Clubs and State Live Stock Breeders and Feeders' Association from 1906 to 1907.[3] A farm bureau was established in Jackson County in 1918, and Watkins was made president.[6]

Governor Hazen S. Pingree appointed Watkins to the board of trustees for the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan in 1899, and served until 1905.[7][8][1] Watkins had a role in changing the name of the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan to Michigan State College in 1925.[1]

Woodbridge N. Ferris selected Watkins as a delegate to the 4th American Peace Congress in 1913.[9] He was the chair of the liberty bond campaign in Norvell in 1917.[10] He was made secretary of the Emergency Grain Board of the Michigan Committee of Near East Relief in 1921, and the organization called for 100,000 bushels of grain from Michigan to be sent to Anatolia.[11]

On May 29, 1937, Watkins was appointed to a term as a director of the Detroit branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago ending on December 31, 1938.[12][13] He was given two additional three year terms.[14][15] He was president and general manager of the Detroit Packing Company.[13]

Senate state and gubernatorial campaign

Watkins was elected to the Michigan Senate from the 10th district in the 1908 election and reelected in 1910.[16] During Watkins' tenure in the state senate he served on the Executive Business, Supplies and Expenses, Agricultural College, Liquor Traffic, Banks and Corporations, and Fisheries committees. He was chair of the Agricultural Interests, Gaming Interests, and Horticulture committees.[16]

Watkins attended the 1904 Republican National Convention as an alternate delegate from Michigan's 4th congressional district.[17] During the 1910 gubernatorial election Watkins supported Osborn for the Republican nomination.[18] Watkins was a delegate to the 1912 Republican National Convention from Michigan's 2nd congressional district and supported Theodore Roosevelt for the Republican presidential nomination.[19][20]

The Jackson Citizen-Press called for Whitney to run in the 1912 gubernatorial election, but he stated that he would not on May 20.[21] Watkins became the chair of the Bull Moose Party in Michigan and was elected as an at-large delegate from Jackson County to the state convention.[22][23] Watkins wanted Osborn to run for reelection in 1912, but Watkins was given the Bull Moose's gubernatorial nomination[24][25] despite him stating that "I have earnestly sought to avoid" the nomination.[26] Osborn endorsed Watkins for governor.[27] Watkins placed third behind Democratic nominee Ferris and Republican nominee Amos S. Musselman.[28]

In 1913, Watkins was an at-large delegate to the Bull Moose's state convention.[29] There were attempts to get Watkins to run for governor in 1914,[30] but he declined to run[31] and instead endorsed Osborn.[32] Watkins rejoined the Republican Party in 1915, as he no longer believed the Bull Moose Party was capable of winning elections.[33] He declined to run seek the Republican gubernatorial nomination in the 1920[34][35] and 1928 elections.[36]

Department of Agriculture

Dora Hall Stockman and Watkins were given the Republican nominations for seats on the Michigan Board of Agriculture, defeating incumbents A.J. Doherty and Robert D. Graham;[37] both were elected in 1919.[38] W.H. Wallace, chair of the board, resigned in 1921, and Watkins was selected to replace him as chair;[39] Watkins served as chair until he left the board.[40] Watkins and Stockman were reelected in 1925,[41] but Watkins chose to not seek reelection in 1931.[42]

John A. Doelle, the commissioner of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, tendered his resignation on January 4, 1923.[43] Governor Alex J. Groesbeck appointed Watkins to replace him on February 1,[44] and the state senate approved his nomination on February 7.[45] He was director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development from 1926 to 1928.[46] Governor Fred W. Green appointed Herbert E. Powell to replace Watkins as commissioner of agriculture on February 3, 1927.[47]

Personal life

On June 28, 1899, Watkins married Grace Edith Alley, with whom he had four children, in Dexter, Michigan.[2][3][48] Watkins died in Tecumseh, Michigan, on September 17, 1950, and was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Manchester, Michigan, on September 19.[2] When Whitney died he was treasurer of the Michigan Insurance Company.[13] Grace died on July 30, 1956.[49]

Political positions

The direct election for members of the United States Senate was supported by Watkins.[50] In 1907, he called for the creation of a referendum system and recall elections.[51] In 1909, he proposed to have the Michigan Highway Commission be an elected office.[52] He supported women's suffrage.[53]

Watkins supported the use of capital punishment.[54] He opposed reciprocity with Canada and a resolution he proposed against it in 1911, stated that Canadian agriculture was a menace to American farmers.[55] He supported the passage of the McNary–Haugen Farm Relief Bill.[56]

Electoral history

1925 Michigan Board of Agriculture election[41]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican L. Whitney Watkins (incumbent) 87,596 38.56%
Republican Dora Hall Stockman (incumbent) 87,552 38.54%
Democratic Benjamin Halstead 27,291 12.01%
Democratic Minnie Kaltenbrun 24,733 10.89%
Total votes 227,172 100.00%

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Papers.
  2. ^ a b c Detroit Free Press 1950.
  3. ^ a b c d e Beal 1915, p. 368.
  4. ^ a b Martindale 1912, p. 771.
  5. ^ The Grand Rapids Press 1920.
  6. ^ Jackson Patriot 1918.
  7. ^ Lansing State Journal 1899.
  8. ^ Peters 1991, p. 751.
  9. ^ Gov. Ferris Names Peace Delegates 1913.
  10. ^ Jackson Citizen Patriot 1917.
  11. ^ The Times Herald 1921.
  12. ^ The Grand Rapids Press 1937.
  13. ^ a b c Jackson Citizen Patriot 1950.
  14. ^ The Grand Rapids Press 1938.
  15. ^ Jackson Citizen Patriot 1942.
  16. ^ a b Legislator.
  17. ^ State Convention 1904.
  18. ^ Owosso Times 1910.
  19. ^ The Ann Arbor News 1912.
  20. ^ Battle Creek Enquirer 1912.
  21. ^ Not A Candidate 1912.
  22. ^ Issue Call For State Convention 1912.
  23. ^ Progressives of Jackson Repudiate Taft's Nomination 1912.
  24. ^ Want Osborn To Run Again For Governor 1912.
  25. ^ Detroit Free Press 1912.
  26. ^ Jackson Citizen Patriot 1912.
  27. ^ Will Vote For Watkins 1912.
  28. ^ Vaughan 1915, p. 430.
  29. ^ Many Moose To Go To Battle Creek 1913.
  30. ^ Battle Creek Enquirer 1914.
  31. ^ The Grand Rapids Press 1914.
  32. ^ Tinkham 1914.
  33. ^ Jackson Citizen Patriot 1915.
  34. ^ Lansing State Journal 1920.
  35. ^ Detroit Free Press 1920.
  36. ^ Niles Daily Star 1928.
  37. ^ Jackson Citizen Patriot 1919.
  38. ^ The Herald-Press 1919.
  39. ^ Jackson Citizen Patriot 1921.
  40. ^ Kalamazoo Gazette 1931.
  41. ^ a b Detroit Free Press 1925.
  42. ^ Lansing State Journal 1931.
  43. ^ The Flint Journal 1923.
  44. ^ Battle Creek Enquirer 1923.
  45. ^ Kern 1923.
  46. ^ MDA.
  47. ^ The Saginaw News 1927.
  48. ^ Jackson Citizen Patriot 1899.
  49. ^ The Grand Rapids Press 1956.
  50. ^ Saginaw Courier-Herald 1906.
  51. ^ The Herald-Press 1907.
  52. ^ The Flint Journal 1909.
  53. ^ Watkins Jollies Women 1912.
  54. ^ The Saginaw News 1906.
  55. ^ The Flint Journal 1911.
  56. ^ Dowagiac Daily News 1926.

Works cited

Books

  • Beal, W. (1915). History of the Michigan Agricultural College and Biographical Sketches of Trustees and Professors. Michigan Agricultural College.
  • Martindale, Frederick (1912). Michigan Official Directory and Legislative Manual for the Years 1911-1912. Michigan Secretary of State.
  • Peters, Roger (1991). Michigan Manual 1991-1992. The Legislative Service Bureau. ISBN 1878210041.
  • Vaughan, Coleman (1915). Michigan Official Directory and Legislative Manual for the Years 1915 and 1916. Michigan Secretary of State.

News

Web

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