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Continued: While some old family notes indicates that she was born in 1853, Alice must have been born in 1854 or 1855, since she was born in California--as all censuses indicate. Her gravestone records that she was born in 1855. The 1860 Census recorded that she was 5 years old -- since she was born in April, and the census was taken in June, this also corroborates that she was born in 1855.
Alice Proctor and Wm. Charles Steinhoff married 27 May 1875 in Alameda County and lived in Washington Twp., probably near Centerville or Irvington (which are now part of incorporated Freemont).
Alice and Charles Steinhoff divorced sometime in the early 1880s. She married second Ed Watkins in 1885. They lived for a while in Mission San Jose Precinct. Between 1890 and 1892 they moved to Sunol, in what was then Murray Twp., Alameda Co.
Ed Watkins was noted as a laborer on the 1880 Census, at which time he was 16 and still living with his parents, William W. and Lucy Watkins, in Washington Twp., Alameda Co., California. The 1890, 1892 and 1894 Voter Registration Books for Alameda County note that Edward Watkins was a farmer. He was 5' 11" with dark complexion, black hair and eyes. The 1890 and 1892 registrations correctly indicate he was born in Illinois, while the 1894 registration erroneously notes he was born in Portugal. Watkins was a drinker and was abusive to his step-sons. He died in 1895. While on his death bed, his step-son Proc returned home to laugh at Ed as he lay dying. The cause of death was appendicitis (which incidentally also caused the death of Ed's brother Henry Watkins in 1911 -- for whom Watkins Hall in Newark was named.)
By 1900, Alice had moved back to Washington Twp. where she purchased several lots in in Newark on Rich Street between Olive and Magnolia Streets, where she operated a boarding house. The properties were situated where the Newark Moose Lodge and its parking lot are situated today. Her two sons lived with her in 1900, both employed by the Graham Manufacturing Company.
Alice's death certificate notes that she had been a resident of Newark for 16 years at her death, which would indicate she moved to town in 1909, but she seems to have been in Newark a few years before that.
1900; Census Washington Twp., Alameda, California;
(Roll: T623 83; Page: 13A; Enumeration District: 401. Taken 18-19 Jun 1900, family 254, lines 18-25.)
Watkins Alice, head, born Apr 1855, age 45, widowed, three children 3 living, born California, parents England, boarding house keeper;
Stienhoff, James, son, w, m, born Apr 1878, age 22, single, born CA, father Illinois, mother California, foundry man;
Proctor, son, w, m, born Sep 1880, age 19, single, born CA, father Illinois, mother CA, foundry man;
(her household included a servant and four boarders)
In 1910, Alice was enumerated with her daughter Nancy and son-in-law, William "Frank" Jones on Rich Street in Newark. Her son Proctor and his family lived one house up, while her son Jim and his family lived two houses down. Between the latter two, the household of Frank Frey was enumerated--he likely rented Alice Watkins' house.
The 1920 Census erroneously recorded Alice Watkins as the mother-in-law of Louis Crucian (a 21-year-old single man from Italy). The enumerator made a note in the margin for her to see line 92 on sheet no. 4B -- this refers to the household of her son-in-law, William R. F. Jones.
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