Person:Lloyd Watkins (1)

Lloyd was 18 years when he went to Valpariso, Indiana college andlearned to be a wireless Telegrapher. He then took a job with PereMarquette Railway Company, working on a Steamboat on Lake Michigan,out of Ludington, Michigan Mason County. This would have been about1916- 1917. It is believed that he worked on the Steamboat : PereMarquette #20 And or #18, As a Purser. On the 26th of April, 1917in Chicag, Ill. Lloyd enlisted in the Army as a Private in the SignalSection, Listing his occupation as Student. Serving in France and Germany and particitating in the St Michiel Offensive fromSept 12 to Sept 16, 1918. Serving with Company A, 311th Field SignalBattalion. Lloyd received an Honorable Discharge from the UnitedStates Army, at Camp Sherman, Ohio, Sept 26, 1919 and the Rank of Sgt.First Class. He then Returned to his job with Pere Marquette RailwayCompany, working on a Steamboat on Lake Michigan, out of Ludington,Michigan Mason County. This would have been about 1919- 1920. It isbelieved that he worked on the Steamboat : Pere Marquette #20 And or #18, As a Purser. During thetime that Lloyd worked for the Steamboat line, he petitioned the courtof Mason County, Michigan, to change his name from Lloyd Lee Smith toLloyd Lee Watkins on the 28th day of February, 1920, ordered by JudgeClark B. Jagger

As told by Wavie Watkins in a letter dated 11 Dec 1989: Lloyd's Experience in the Army gave him sobering thoughts that broughthim the name "Deacon" from his buddies that he tried to tell aboutGod. He felt convicted in his own heart that if he had beenprofessing, he would have been able to help them. This drew him tomeetings, when he came back to the United States after 4 yearsoverseas. He had gone to Valpariso, Indiana college and learned to bea wireless telegrapher and had a job on a steamboat on Lake Michiganbefore going in the Army. His kids will find it hard to associate himwith the proud young man he was then; proud of himself and his job.But his experience at the battle front had changed that when he wentback to his job when he came home. He soon heard about convention inMichigan and wrote to Alwilda and I, that if we would like to go toconvention, we could meet him in Lansing, Michigan. We had both beenpraying for this opportunity to profess. We had moved to South Bend,Indiana in 1918. Lloyd, Alwilda, and I went to convention inCarsonville, Michigan and all threee of us professed in 1920 when theymeeting was tested. Lloyd knew then he could not stay with his job onthe boat, so he came home with us. We soon had meeting in our home.Just the four of us but we had sister workers near and often in ourhome for meeting. Lloyd went in the work with Willie Wilson in 1924.Lloyd's health failed after 10 years in the work and he had to leavethe work.

1. ↑ Dave Watkins - [email protected].
2. ↑ Dave Watkins - [email protected].
3. ↑ Dave Watkins - [email protected].
4. ↑ Dave Watkins - [email protected].
5. ↑ Dave Watkins - [email protected].
6. ↑ Old Section, lot # 1233-1