A New York City teacher’s acquisition of a 19th century photograph led him on a fascinating journey across the country to Philomath. In the end, the family represented in the old image has descendants that still live here.
Michael Agovino is a New York social studies teacher who loves “microhistory.” He collects photographs, ephemera and bottles and when he finds something that intrigues him, he starts searching for information to bring those items to life.
“I came across a tombstone stonecutter photograph that caught my eye,” Agovino said. “The seller thought it may have been from Salem, Massachusetts.”
That turned out to not be the case. The photo actually showed a stonecutter in Salem, Oregon standing in front of a small tombstone.
“I have always been a fan of ephemera and how New York City residents deal with death,” said Agovino, who maintains an Instagram page that illustrates his microhistory projects. “This photograph, albeit not from New York, shares multiple stories of different lives. After hours of using Photoshop and corroborating facts, the tombstone in the center was being finalized for George Loring Watkins in 1886. This photograph was taken in August of 1886 and George was only 3 years old.”
The child died a few weeks after his third birthday on Aug. 9, 1886.
“George was one of eight children and succumbed to an early death — most likely due to diphtheria or scarlet fever,” Agovino said. “Newspaper articles from that month reveal that George’s town of Philomath was succumbing to various diseases.”
While trying to find information on the child, Agovino came across a Philomath News item on his father, Levi Watkins, that had been published as part of the Mount Union Stories series. George was buried at Mount Union Cemetery.
“The Watkins family came from Massachusetts and were the exemplar internal migrants moving from the East Coast towards the West Coast,” Agovino said. “Many in Oregon called the Watkins family the ‘old pioneers.’”
Agovino theorized that the stonecutter in the photo may be William Staiger, who worked with many people across Oregon in those days.
The nature of George’s death was one question that Agovino was trying to answer. An obituary or news item has not been found. Beyond that question, he also wondered if there were any Watkins family members still living in the Philomath vicinity.
And sure enough — the Watkins family is still here.
“Levi Watkins is Russell’s great-great grandfather and George was his great uncle,” said Philomath resident Lisa Watkins, referring to her husband Russell Watkins.
Russell and Lisa Watkins run a local trucking business. Or, folks might also connect Lisa with her former position with the Philomath Area Chamber of Commerce.
From Levi Watkins, the paternal family line goes to Ralph Watkins (great grandfather), Hugh Watkins (grandfather) and John Watkins (father).
The family still has a very strong presence in Philomath. Russell and Lisa’s children, Brooke Jackson and Riley Watkins, both live in town with their spouses. Brooke and Austin Jackson have a 6-year-old daughter that attends Clemens Primary School — the fifth generation to attend classes in the Philomath School District.
“Our son, Riley, bought the Watkins farm — 50 acres on Henkle Way in Philomath — in 2023 where Hugh was born,” said Lisa, who reached out to a cousin for family history information. “John moved back to the farm after his father Hugh passed away to help care for his mother, Stella. John lived there until he passed away in 2023. It’s been in their family over 100 years.”
Russell also has a brother, Rex, that lives in Albany and another brother, Rodney, who lives in Covington, Washington.
2. No candidates for School Board
Three weeks into the filing period, nobody as of Friday afternoon had submitted paperwork to run for the Philomath School Board.
The May 20 special election ballot will include three positions on the five-member board. Candidates can file by declaration until March 20.
School Board members are elected to four-year terms and successful candidates will serve from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2029. Terms expiring in June include those currently held by Rick Wells (Position 1), Joe Dealy (Position 3) and Erin Gudge (Position 4).
Wells and Dealy said they do not plan to run again. Gudge indicated at a January board meeting that she plans to seek re-election. Board members Ryan Cheeke and Sandi Hering (Positions 2 and 5) are serving terms that expire in 2027.
3. City of Philomath’s strategic plan
The Philomath City Council has been busy in recent weeks working on a new strategic plan, a document that outlines the city’s vision, goals and objectives and various improvements in the coming years.
Key areas that city leaders are working on include infrastructure upgrades, economic development, public services and community engagement.
The planning process includes not only the City Council discussions but also community input and collaboration with local organizations to establish goals and action steps.
Residents with an interest can follow the process at council meetings. The public should be able to provide feedback on a draft version of the plan at some point in the near future.
(Brad Fuqua is publisher/editor of the Philomath News. He can be reached at News@PhilomathNews.com).
