Grave of Nephew of
Declaration Signer in Local Cemetery
The grave of Major Isaac
Watkins, native of Virginia (1777-1827) is in Mt. Holly Cemetery,
Little Rock. His uncle was a signer of the Declaration of
Independence. He established the first public tavern in Little
Rock, in 1821, and called it “Little Rock Tavern.”
Nicholas Peay took over
the tavern in 1825, and Watkins then established the first “horse
mill in Little Rock, grinding six bushels of grain per hour.” Major
Watkins was assassinated in McLane’s store in December 1827, by John
Smith, “a nobody,” with a rifle at 10 feet. The slayer escaped and
was never captured. Only a short time before the major’s death,
Governor Adair of Kentucky visited Hot Springs and was entertained
by Major Watkins in his Little Rock home.
