John T. Watkins

John Thomas Watkins (January 15, 1854 – April 25, 1925) was an American lawyer, jurist and politician who served eight terms as a U.S. representative for Louisiana's 4th congressional district from 1905 to 1921.

Early life and education John Thomas Watkins was the oldest of two sons raised by his parents, J. D. Watkins and Mary Morrow Watkins. His father was a judge and State Senator in Louisiana. Born in Minden, Webster Parish, in 1854, John Thomas Watkins attended Minden Male Academy and spent three years at Cumberland University in Tennessee. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1878, when he began working in his fathers law practice in Minden.

Family In 1879, at the age of 25, he married Elizabeth Murrell. As children, John T. and Elizabeth had been baptized in the same Baptist church in Minden on the same day.

The bad relationship with Wilson grew worse when Watkins initially sided with Speaker Clark in opposing Wilson's proposal for U.S. involvement in World War I. Appearing politically vulnerable, Watkins was challenged in the 1918 Democratic primary by Louisiana judge John N. Sandlin, who had served with Watkins as a delegate to the 1912 Democratic Convention, where Sandlin had supported Wilson. Watkins narrowly defeated Sandlin in the 1918 primary after a bitter campaign.

Sandlin ran again in 1920 and defeated Watkins by a large margin.

After Congress After his defeat, Watkins chose to remain in Washington, D.C., taking up a legal practice there. His wife Elizabeth had died shortly after the 1920 election, and Watkins had also lost a daughter in 1916. His son died in 1923, leaving him with two surviving adult daughters.

Death John T. Watkins died in Washington on April 25, 1925. His body was returned to Louisiana and is interred in Murrell Cemetery in Minden, Louisiana.