john “babe” (candy John) watkins
1873-aft. 1940
Life Story
John Watkins, affectionately known throughout Newton County as “Babe” and later as “Candy John,” lived a life that embodied the values of hard work, generosity, and community. Though census records remembered him simply as a farmer, local memory preserved something far more enduring: the image of a kind man whose homemade candy brought joy to generations of children and whose family helped establish one of the Lawrence community’s most cherished churches. His story demonstrates that history is often written not only in official records but also in the treasured memories passed from one generation to the next.
Early Life in Reconstruction Mississippi
John Watkins was born around 1873 in Mississippi to Miles Watkins and Matilda Scanlan Watkins. His childhood unfolded during the difficult years following the Civil War, when newly emancipated African American families were building lives of independence despite the economic and social obstacles of Reconstruction.
Growing up in Beat 1 of Newton County, John was raised alongside his siblings Spencer, Scylla, and Thomas. Like many children of rural Mississippi, he learned the demanding work of farming from an early age. The fields that surrounded his home not only provided the family’s livelihood but also instilled the perseverance and work ethic that would characterize his entire life.
Although educational opportunities for African Americans in nineteenth-century Mississippi were limited, John learned to read and write and eventually completed approximately a fourth-grade education. His literacy reflected the determination of many Black families who viewed education as an essential pathway toward independence and opportunity.
Marriage and Building a Family
On January 3, 1900, John married Angeline “Angie” Lay in neighboring Scott County, Mississippi. Their marriage would endure for decades and become the foundation of a respected family deeply rooted in the Lawrence community.
Together they established their home along the Newton–Conehatta Road, approximately three miles west of Newton. There they raised a large family that included Clara, Estella (“Nanna”), Ruth (Jarutha), Spencer, Willie, H. Davie, Rosie Lee, and Mary Lee. As the years passed, grandchildren also filled the household, making the Watkins home a lively gathering place where several generations shared daily life.
Like many African American farm families in early twentieth-century Mississippi, the Watkins’s depended upon the land for their livelihood. Census records consistently identified John as a farmer operating his own farm, reflecting years of steady labor and careful stewardship of the family’s property.
The Man Everyone Called “Candy John”
While farming sustained the Watkins family, it was John’s candy-making that secured his place in local history.
Across Newton County, few people knew him simply as John Watkins. Instead, he became affectionately known as “Candy John,” a nickname earned through the homemade candy business that he and Angie operated from their family home.
Long before rural communities had convenience stores or neighborhood candy shops, children eagerly anticipated visits to the Watkins homestead.
Using a large wash pot, John and Angie prepared batches of peppermint candy over an open fire. Once the candy reached the proper consistency, they stretched and pulled the taffy across a specially constructed table fitted with wooden pegs before allowing it to cool. Hard candy was carefully broken into bite-sized pieces with a small hammer.
Their offerings became neighborhood favorites and included:
- Peppermint hard rock candy
- Pulled peppermint taffy
- Homemade peanut butter candy
For many neighborhood children, the journey to Candy John’s house became a cherished adventure. Some carried fresh eggs to barter for candy, reflecting the close-knit agricultural economy that characterized rural Mississippi during the first half of the twentieth century.
Inside the home, colorful trays of candy rested on handmade racks beneath bright crepe-paper streamers that decorated the hallway ceiling. Outside, the neatly swept yard welcomed visitors with carefully tended flower beds bordered by distinctive blue Milk of Magnesia bottles. These simple but unforgettable details became lasting memories for countless children who visited the Watkins home.
What began as a modest way to supplement the family’s income ultimately became a beloved community tradition.
A Home of Hospitality
The Watkins home was remembered for far more than candy.
Friends, neighbors, and relatives recalled it as a place where visitors were always welcome. The carefully maintained yard, the welcoming porch, and the warmth of John and Angie’s hospitality reflected the pride they took in their home and the generosity they extended to others.
Their reputation illustrates an important aspect of African American rural life during the Jim Crow era. While segregation limited access to many public spaces, families like the Watkinses created places of fellowship, hospitality, and joy within their own communities. Their home became one of those places where friendships were strengthened and childhood memories were made.
Faith and Community Legacy
Faith also occupied an important place in the Watkins family’s life.
Land that had long been part of the Watkins family homestead would eventually become the site of one of the Lawrence community’s enduring institutions. After ownership passed to John and Angie’s son, Spencer Watkins, he and his wife, Macy Watkins, conveyed a portion of the family property to the trustees of White Stone Missionary Baptist Church and their successors in 1957 for the nominal sum of one dollar.
Although the legal conveyance was executed by Spencer and Macy, the gift represented the continuation of a family legacy established by John and Angie through decades of faithful stewardship of the property. Their family’s generosity helped provide White Stone Missionary Baptist Church with a permanent place of worship, creating a legacy that continues to serve the community.
Later Years
John remained active on his farm well into his later years. The 1940 United States Census recorded him still managing his own farm in his late sixties, demonstrating a lifetime commitment to agriculture and self-reliance.
The exact date of his death has not yet been documented, but available records confirm that he was living in 1940. Additional research into probate records, deeds, cemetery records, or death certificates may help establish the final years of his life more precisely.
Legacy
John Watkins left behind two remarkable legacies.
One was tangible: the family homestead that eventually contributed to the establishment of White Stone Missionary Baptist Church, ensuring that generations of families would have a place to gather in worship.
The other was far more personal.
Long after his farm ceased operation and the candy kettles grew cold, the stories of “Candy John” continued to circulate throughout Newton County. Former neighborhood children grew into adults who remembered the excitement of walking to his home, trading eggs for candy, admiring the colorful decorations, and experiencing the kindness that John and Angie extended to everyone who visited.
History often remembers political leaders, wealthy landowners, or public officials. Yet communities are just as often shaped by ordinary people whose generosity leaves an extraordinary impression.
John Watkins earned his place in local history not because of public office or personal wealth, but because he transformed a simple farmhouse into a place of welcome, happiness, and community. Through hard work, hospitality, and a handful of homemade peppermint candy, “Candy John” became one of the most beloved figures in the history of the Lawrence community.
Research Note
John Watkins is documented through federal census records, his 1900 marriage record, and Newton County land records. His occupation as a farmer is well established in official records. His nickname, candy-making enterprise, and the descriptions of the Watkins home are preserved through family and community oral histories, which provide valuable insight into his reputation and daily life. The 1957 deed executed by Spencer and Macy Watkins documents the Watkins family’s contribution of land for White Stone Missionary Baptist Church, illustrating how the family’s stewardship of their homestead benefited the broader Lawrence community.
Resting Place
Unknown
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1900 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, Beat 1, Enumeration District (ED) 94, sheet 10, dwelling 175, family 177, John Watkins household; 1910 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, Beat 1, ED 92, sheet 4B, dwelling 74, family 74; 1920 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, Beat 1, ED 109, sheet 2B, dwelling 40, family 40; 1930 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, Beat 1, ED 50-2, sheet 7B, dwelling 132, family 132; 1940 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, Beat 1, ED 50-6, sheet 5B, dwelling 96, John Watkins household.
- Scott County, Mississippi, Marriage Book __, p. __, John Watkins and Angeline Lay, marriage license issued January 3, 1900.
- 1880 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, Beat 1, John Watkins in the household of Miles and Matilda Watkins.
- 1940 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, Beat 1, ED 50-6, sheet 5B, John Watkins household. The census records John as a farmer operating his own farm and indicates that he had completed the fourth grade and was able to read and write.
- Oral history of the Watkins family candy business, preserved through interviews and recollections of descendants and longtime residents of the Lawrence and Newton communities. These accounts describe the manufacture of peppermint candy, pulled taffy, peanut butter candy, the barter of eggs for candy, and the appearance of the Watkins homestead.
- Newton County, Mississippi, Deed Book __, p. __, Spencer Watkins and Macy Watkins to the Trustees of White Stone Missionary Baptist Church, June 15, 1957. The deed conveyed a portion of the Watkins family property to the church trustees and their successors for the consideration of one dollar.
Leave a Reply