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| Women in traditional Welsh rural costume. Late 19th Century. |
PLACE OF BIRTH: Caerphilly, Glamorgan, Wales
FATHER: Watkin Watkin Watkins Sr.
MOTHER: Margaret Davies
SPOUSE: William Fairburn
DATE OF MARRIAGE: November 25, 1891
PLACE OF MARRIAGE: Mahoning County, Ohio, USA.
CHILDREN: John
RELATIONSHIP: RELATIONSHIP: Great-Aunt, adopted son John is a 1st Cousin 1x removed, his children are second cousins.
EDUCATION: Completed 3rd Grade
RESIDED: Caerphilly, Glamorgan, Wales, Weathersfield Twp. Mineral Ridge. Ohio. - 43 Depot St.
DATE OF DEATH: August 18, 1949
PLACE OF DEATH: Mineral Ridge, Trumbull County, Ohio
BURIAL: Kerr Cemetery, Mineral Ridge, Ohio
ABOUT:
Margaret Ann Watkins was also Margaret Fairburn, or Maggie Fairburn. She was Grandpa Watkins oldest half sister. Margaret married William Fairburn when they were both 24 years old. They never had any children of their own, but when Maggie's brother John William died suddenly in 1919 leaving six children, Maggie and William took in John, who was 10 at the time.
In 1920, young John Watkins, age 11, is listed as "nephew" and William and Maggie are both 53. In 1930, he is "step-son" to William, and in local news papers he is eventually referred to as son.
John William (Watkins) Fairburn was born August 22, 1908 in Niles, Ohio. He married Winifred Townsend (1913-1996) on August 23, 1933. He worked as an inspector in a Sheet Mill (30's), and as a clerk at a foundry(1940), before working for Hughes Coal Yard (Obit).
In 1937, the elder Fairburns celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary at the home of "Mr. and Mrs. John Fairburn". I'm not sure how things like this worked in mid-20th century, but it would seem to indicate a legal name change, and/or adoption via the courts. In Margaret's obituary, it lists John as a "nephew". The Niles Times reported several times in the Society section, that Howard Watkins, John's youngest brother, was a dinner guest of the couple. And, when John unexpectedly died in an accident, he is "son of" the Fairburns, and his brothers and sisters are included in the obituary.
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"A fall at the Hughes Coal Yard in Mineral Ridge yesterday proved fatal to John William Fairburn, 43 of Depot St., Mineral Ridge. There were no witnesses to the accident but when found about 3:30 p.m. Mr. Fairburn was unconscious. His head had hit a concrete pillar.
He died at Trumbull Memorial Hospital at 5:45 p.m. without regaining consciousness.
Born in Niles Aug 22, 1908, he had resided in Mineral Ridge for 33 years. He was the son of the late William and Maggie Fairburn.
Surviving are his widow, Winifred, three sons, Robert, Carl and Thomas, all at home, two sisters Mrs. Mary Jane Pierson of Warren and Mrs. Katherine Fellows of Niles, two brothers, Raymond and Howard Watkins, both of Niles.
Funeral services will be held at the Church of Christ, Mineral Ridge, where he was a member, Sunday at 3 p.m. The Rev. Robert Palmer will be in charge and burial will be in Riverside Cemetery.
The body is at the Lane Funeral Home where the family will meet friends Saturday night."
Sons of John and Winifred Fairburn:
Robert Gene "Bob" Fairburn was born in 1934 and died in 2010. He was 17 when his father died.
He married Patricia Hopkinson (1932-1998) in 1962, and had one son:
Robert Gene Fairburn Jr. (1963-2009)
Robert Gene Jr. was the father of three daughters all who lived in Austintown at the time of his death.
Carl Leon Fairburn was born in 1940, he was 11 when John died.
He married Patricia MacArthur (1941-2011) in 1959 and they had three sons who grew up and graduated from Mineral Ridge High School in the 70's and early 80's.
Thomas A. Fairburn was born in 1947 and died in 1983 age 36.
He married in 1979, and divorced in 1981, and had one son in '78.
He was 4 when his father died.
Will Fairburn died February 26, 1951. He and Maggie seemed to have been wonderful companions during their life together. They were frequently in the Society pages, motoring here and there, visiting family and sick relatives. When John Watkins (Maggie's brother) was dying of influenza, they brought him into their home from the hospital and took care of him until he passed away. Will's family frequently dined at the Fairborns and visiting relatives often came in "from out of town" to stay the weekend.
Interesting to note, out of town in 1930, was quite different from now. Deerfield, Ohio in Portage County to Mineral Ridge was considered "out of town" and probably quite an arduous drive in the 30's and 40's without power steering (it required a lot of upper body strength to turn the car) no air conditioning and heat, but not a lot of ability to regulate it. The gear shift could have been in the floor (Model Ts had bizzare hand controls and a foot activated shifter) while suspension was pretty much non-existent as were nice smooth roads, and good brakes. Some cars only ran on a 6 volt battery and blind spots in the window design weren't considered until later models as were rear view and side view mirrors. Driving at night then, was especially dangerous. Which might account for the overnight stays.
Speaking of cars, there was the time John had his Chevy Coup stolen.
Photos: Traditional_Welsh_costume
He died at Trumbull Memorial Hospital at 5:45 p.m. without regaining consciousness.
Born in Niles Aug 22, 1908, he had resided in Mineral Ridge for 33 years. He was the son of the late William and Maggie Fairburn.
Surviving are his widow, Winifred, three sons, Robert, Carl and Thomas, all at home, two sisters Mrs. Mary Jane Pierson of Warren and Mrs. Katherine Fellows of Niles, two brothers, Raymond and Howard Watkins, both of Niles.
Funeral services will be held at the Church of Christ, Mineral Ridge, where he was a member, Sunday at 3 p.m. The Rev. Robert Palmer will be in charge and burial will be in Riverside Cemetery.
The body is at the Lane Funeral Home where the family will meet friends Saturday night."
Sons of John and Winifred Fairburn:
Robert Gene "Bob" Fairburn was born in 1934 and died in 2010. He was 17 when his father died.
He married Patricia Hopkinson (1932-1998) in 1962, and had one son:
Robert Gene Fairburn Jr. (1963-2009)
Robert Gene Jr. was the father of three daughters all who lived in Austintown at the time of his death.
Carl Leon Fairburn was born in 1940, he was 11 when John died.
He married Patricia MacArthur (1941-2011) in 1959 and they had three sons who grew up and graduated from Mineral Ridge High School in the 70's and early 80's.
Thomas A. Fairburn was born in 1947 and died in 1983 age 36.
He married in 1979, and divorced in 1981, and had one son in '78.
He was 4 when his father died.
Will Fairburn died February 26, 1951. He and Maggie seemed to have been wonderful companions during their life together. They were frequently in the Society pages, motoring here and there, visiting family and sick relatives. When John Watkins (Maggie's brother) was dying of influenza, they brought him into their home from the hospital and took care of him until he passed away. Will's family frequently dined at the Fairborns and visiting relatives often came in "from out of town" to stay the weekend.Interesting to note, out of town in 1930, was quite different from now. Deerfield, Ohio in Portage County to Mineral Ridge was considered "out of town" and probably quite an arduous drive in the 30's and 40's without power steering (it required a lot of upper body strength to turn the car) no air conditioning and heat, but not a lot of ability to regulate it. The gear shift could have been in the floor (Model Ts had bizzare hand controls and a foot activated shifter) while suspension was pretty much non-existent as were nice smooth roads, and good brakes. Some cars only ran on a 6 volt battery and blind spots in the window design weren't considered until later models as were rear view and side view mirrors. Driving at night then, was especially dangerous. Which might account for the overnight stays.
Speaking of cars, there was the time John had his Chevy Coup stolen.
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Photos: Traditional_Welsh_costume
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