Leonora Lewis & Alfred Watkins

Leonora Lewis (or Nonie) was one of Birda's older sisters.

She married Alfred Watkins (of Uintah County) on 25 Nov 1895 in Uintah County, Utah.

Thus, she became Leonora Lewis Watkins.

Unfortunately, no photos of Alfred Watkins have emerged, but I do have one of Lenora at a younger age as follows:

"Leonora"
From the personal albums of Phil Foster

Marriage license:

SOURCE: familysearch.org

 Newspaper notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1895, Nov 27, p.3

Newspaper notice transcribed:

"A marriage license was granted this week to Alfred Watkins and Lenora Lewis of Ashley precinct.  They were married Monday."

Although the records state Alfred was from Uintah County, his family lived in Midway, UT.  In fact, the Lewis family had lived in Midway before moving to Uintah County, so it's likely that's where the two met as young lovebirds.  It was to Midway, UT that Alfred and Lenora moved once married, as indicated an exerpt from the personal history of Lenora's sister, Mary Lewis Hatch entitled, "My Life", written by Mary Hatch, 25 Dec 1956. (Found in the personal albums of Glen Hatch).  This excerpt was found on page 6 of the document:

"...The fall we moved to Vernal, Nonie had left her beau, Alfred Watkins, in Midway.  They wrote letters and, all at once, Mother and Nonie became very confidential.  They whispered and made us children leave the room.  One day Mother said she was going to tell me a secret.  I must tell no one.  Nonie was getting married that evening.  I believe I would have died rather than broken that trust.  I thought school would never let out that day.  That evening the house was filled with friends and neighbors to witness the marriage.  Bishop Alplanap married them- November 25, 1895.  The first member of the family to leave us- Mother’s standby.  It was late in the fall so Alf fixed up a wagon with even a little stove in it and they left to make their home in Midway..."

Unfortunately, Alfred died a year into their marriage during a winter hunting trip.  The above mentioned document had this excerpt just a few paragraphs later:

"...After my sister Nonie had been gone from us for about a year, her husband died suddenly and Nonie stayed that winter with his people.  The next spring Father went after her and her baby with his team and wagon.  We just couldn’t wait to see that baby.  We never took our eyes off from the road.  At last the covered wagon was in sight and we ran like crazy children to meet it.  Hazel was a beautiful baby, with large brown eyes, almost red hair, and her mother kept her like a doll.  We were so proud of her and wanted to take her with us everywhere..."

(I've posted this before with the info on Alfred Watkins death, but HECK, why not post it again while we're talking about it?)

"Hazel and Lenora Watkins"
From personal albums of Phil Foster