Gov. David O. Watkins

In 1886, David Ogden Watkins (at the age of 24) became the youngest elected Mayor of the City of Woodbury, New Jersey.   Subsequently, Watkins was elected to the New Jersey Assembly in 1896 and after only 2 years of service, he was elected the “Speaker of the New Jersey Assembly”.   Later that year, at the age of 34, by virtue of his Speakership, he succeeded then resigning Acting-Governor (and New Jersey Senate President) Foster M. Voorhees in order to become the 38th Governor of the State of New Jersey!

In 1900, Watkins left State service when he was appointed by President William McKinney to serve as the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey.   Three years later, New Jersey Governor Franklin Murphy appointed Watkins to be New Jersey Banking and Insurance Commissioner – holding this office until 1909 when he retired from public service.

Watkins married the widowed Eliza Andrews in 1900.    During his “retirement” from public life; Watkins worked in various compacities within the Banking Industry as well as then fledgling Public Utility Sector, including: natural gas, electricity and telephone providers.

Later, he personally encouraged President Theodore Roosevelt to provide funding for the preservation of the historic Red Bank Battlefield (West Deptford Twp, Gloucester County; on the Delaware River - opposite Philadelphia, Pa.)

Watkins died in Atlantic City, N.J. on 20 June 1938 at the age of 76.