Fair Oaks Historical Society

Virtual Walking Tour

From the north west corner of the Smith-Dixon plot, turn to the left and you'll see the Watkins family plot.

Leanna Watkins came to Fair Oaks with her husband, Uriah Watkins, in 1896. Uriah was a successful orchardist and one of the founders of the Pioneer Methodist Episcopal Church of Fair Oaks. However, Leanna had been a teacher before moving to Fair Oaks with her husband and brought with her all of her books. Leanna started the first school in Fair Oaks under an oak tree and even taught English as a second language to Japanese farm laborers in her home. She is buried here with her husband.

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