Researching John Watkins

Watkins was an elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing the electorates of Gladesville (between 1995 and 1999) and then Ryde (between 1999 and 2008) for the Labor Party. During his parliamentary career, Watkins served in a range of ministerial portfolios including Fair Trading, Sport and Recreation, Police and Corrective Services, Transport, Finance, State Development, and Education and Training. Often touted as a possible Labor premier, Watkins was from the minority Labor Left faction.

Watkins was the son of Rev. Thomas Watkins and his wife Susanna Vaughan. His father was rector of Llandyfaelog. Watkins was educated at Harrow and at Christ Church, Oxford.

At the 1832 general election Watkins was elected Member of Parliament for Brecon. He held the seat until 1835. He was High Sheriff of Brecknockshire in 1836, and Lord Lieutenant of Brecknockshire from 1847. In 1847 he was re-elected MP for Brecon which he held until 1852. In 1854 he was re-elected again for Brecon and held the seat until his death in 1865.

Watkins lived at Penoyre House where he had an Italianate-style villa built by Anthony Salvin between 1846 and 1848. He died at the age of 63.

He was born in Maidstone, Kent, England. While living in London, he converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1852, and four years later he and his family emigrated to Salt Lake City, settling in Provo, Utah. While in Provo, Watkins worked on the Old Provo Tabernacle. In 1865, after marrying twice more, he moved to Midway, Utah, where he designed some of his best-known works. He also served for 17 years as an LDS Bishop until his death Christmas of 1902.

A number of his works are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Watkins designed some LDS meetinghouses in Provo and Springville.

Works include:*George Bonner Jr. House, 90 E. Main, Midway, Utah, NRHP-listed*George Bonner Sr. House, 103 E. Main, Midway, Utah, NRHP-listed*William Bonner House, 110 E. Main, Midway, Utah, NRHP-listed*William Coleman House, 180 N. Center, Midway, Utah, NRHP-listed*John and Margaret Watkins House, 22 W. Hundred S, Midway, Utah, NRHP-listed*Watkins–Coleman House, 5 E. Main St., Midway, Utah, NRHP-listed

Watkins played most of his career for the Cuban Giants, until he broke his leg playing for the Giants at Oil City, Pennsylvania in May 1907. Since the Cuban Giants broke off into several teams, such as the Cuban X-Giants, the Genuine Cuban Giants, the Original Cuban Giants, and even the Famous Cuban Giants, researchers are still working out which players played for which teams, and how the teams split up.

He continued to manage several teams, some called "Pop Watkins Stars" or "Pop Watkins Giants." Sometime after 1909, he would start the Havana Red Sox, a team which he managed until he died in 1924. During his career, he is said to have helped along the careers of George Dixon, Toussaint Allen, Phil Cockrell, Gifford McDonald, Luke Archer, and Dennis Graham.

As a scout, Watkins is also alleged to have found many white players while scouting for the majors, including John McGraw, Hughie Jennings, John Hummel, Al Schacht, and Jack Dunn.

In the off-season, census records show Watkins may have sold sporting goods. And on his death certificate, it lists Watkins as a "baseball trainer."