Alfred Watkins was Birda's brother-in-law. He was the first husband to Birda's older sister, Lenora (or Nonie).
To my great dismay, there are no photos to be found of Alfred.
According to these documents, the following dates apply:
BIRTH: abt. 1864?
DEATH: 17-19 Nov 1896- Midway, Wasatch, Utah
He was about 31 years old when he died.*
Marriage license from the year before in 1895 states he was 31 years old.
Birth year was estimated from information found on marriage license as well.
Death notice:
 |
| SOURCE: Deseret News 1896, Nov 16, p.5 |
Death notice transcribed:
DIED IN THE MOUNTAINS
A Young Hunter of Midway Frozen to Death.
A report was brought to town late last evening that Alfred Watkins, a son of Bishop Watkins of Midway, had been found dead on Mahogany ridge, about four miles north of Midway, supposed to have been frozen to death some time between Tuesday and the time his body was discovered.
A Wave man set out to hunt up further particulars, but did not meet with the desired success, and owning to the closeness to press day we can only give this meager report of the sad affair.
Last Tuesday Alfred Watkins left his home and young wife and babe in Midway to go out gunning in the hills just north of the town, saying he would return that evening. Upon his failing to appear late at night, his wife became alarmed and notified other members of the family. Thinking the missing man would surely return by morning, no attempt to search for him was made that night, but early Wednesday morning a searching party was formed and diligently searched the hills and canyons the entire day without success. The search was continued until late in the afternoon of yesterday, when the lifeless body of the object of their anxiety was found on what is called Mahogany ridge, between the old Warm Land resort and Snake Creek, north of Midway, as stated above. From what we could learn the body appeared to have been frozen, as there were no signs of having met with an accident or of having been foully dealt with.
The body was brought to town and the news broken to the distracted wife of about eighteen months, who is left with the child.
The deceased was about 30 years old, and one of Midway's honorable young men. The affair has cast a gloom over the entire community.-- Wasatch Wave, Nov. 13th
*I can find no mention of Alfred's death within the Wasatch Wave, the county where the event occurred.
Local death notice:
 |
| SOURCE: Vernal Express 1896, Nov 19, p.1 |
Local death notice transcribed:
Alfred Watkins, formerly of this county, was found dead near Midway last Thursday and it is thought that he froze to death as he started out hunting on Tuesday. He has been living in Midway about a year and has brother living here, and about two years ago married Miss Lewis whose parents live in Millward.
*Marriage record is dated 1895, so this notice's marriage guess is off by a bit.
Because the state of Utah did not produce death certificates until after 1900, there is no death certificate available for Alfred. I am hoping to find living descendants that may have more information.
The only photo I have on this sad tale is that of the wife and child he left behind.
 |
| "Daughter Hazel with mother, Lenora L Watkins (Evans)" From the personal albums of Phil Foster |
The widowed Nonie went on to remarry Mr. Edward W. Evans in 1904, so her story picks up from there...