Legislator Details

Image of Roy Milton Watkins
Image Description:
Portrait captured from Find-a-Grave.com 11/24/2025

Roy Milton Watkins
AKA:
Number of sessions served 2
Sessions served
Gender: Male
Age at election: 40

Vital Records Information:

Birth
Date: 10/17/1874
City: Rockford, MI
County: Kent County, MI
Country: US
 
Death
Date: 3/1/1944
City: Grand Rapids, MI
County: Kent County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date: 3/4/1944
City: Rockford, MI
County: Kent County, MI
Country: US
Cemetery: Rockford Cemetery

Marital Information:
married Lucretia Shipp, dau. of Zelotes and Flora (Kibby) Shipp, 8/24/1909, in Grand Rapids, MI; children: 1, Donald Shipp Watkins.

Number of Children: 0

Background

Religion:
Military Service:
Occupation: lawyer
Race: Caucasian or White

Education:
attended Ionia and Rockford schools; graduated from Rockford high school, 1892; graduated from University of Michigan, law dept., 1899

Biographical Sketch:
Son of Erwin C. and Julia S. (Brown) Watkins. He was a clerk in the Auditor General's department 1893-1897. He began practicing in June, 1899 in a partnership with his father in Grand Rapids, MI. He was appointed examiner of taxable inheritances and served 1901-1905; and later served as probate register of Kent County 1907-1911. He resumed practicing law in 1912. He was a member of the Masons; Shriners; the Knights of Pythias; the Odd Fellows; Modern Woodsmen; K. O. T. M.; the Moose and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and S. of V.

Notable Facts:
Son of Rep. Erwin Watkins [1873-74 and 1875-76]; grandson of Rep./Sen. Milton. C. Watkins [House 1859-60 and also in the Senate 1863-64 and 1865-66]. Both were elected in Kent county districts. Poiticalgraveyard gives father's name as Ervin; marriage record says Erwin.

Sessions Served:

Fiftieth Legislature, 1919-1920
Chamber: Senate
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Insurance , Judiciary , Military Affairs , Penal Institutions
Postions Held:

City of Residence: Grand Rapids
County of Residence Kent
District: 16
District Description: Comprising the 1st thru 5th and 10th thru 12th wards of the city of Grand Rapids

Date Elected: 11/5/1918
Date Sworn In: 1/1/1919
Date Left Office:

Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed

Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Penal Institutions
Forty-Eighth Legislature, 1915-1916
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Judiciary , Michigan Reformatory , Military Affairs , State Psychopathic Hospital
Postions Held:

City of Residence: Grand Rapids
County of Residence Kent
District: Kent 1
District Description:

Date Elected: 11/3/1914
Date Sworn In: 1/6/1915
Date Left Office:

Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed

Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Chair of Michigan Reformatory;

Bibliography:

Manual 1919 pp. 806-07; PolGryd; Find-a-Grave.com, includes portrait and clipping; Manual 1915 p.789; Michiganology; MIMarRec 1867-1952
View Bibliographical Sources