The Watts Families of Greene County, Missouri

THOMAS J. WATTS, M. D.

Dr. Watts is the son of James and Delilah (Tabor) Watts, and was born in Tennessee* Aug. 10, 1837. His parents were natives of North Carolina. His great grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and his grandfather of the war of 1812. His parents moved to Greene county, Missouri, and settled on the James river, near the Webster county line. Thomas grew to manhood here, and was educated at the Ozark High School. He taught school for some time, and in 1858 commenced the study of medicine under Drs. Robinson and Barrett, and took lectures at the St. Louis Medical College. In 1861 he commenced the practice in Webster county, and in 1864 he removed to where he now lives. He enjoys a large and lucrative practice, and is one of the leading physicians of the county. He owns a fine farm of four hundred acres, and deals extensively in stock. He began life poor and has arisen to dignity and wealth by his own exertions. Dr. Watts was married in 1863 to Miss Martha A., daughter of Wiley and Charlotta (Edwards) Hedgheth, of Christian county. Mo., formerly of Tennessee. Their union has been best with two children, James W. and Lula T., deceased.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES W. WATTS.

Not all of us can succeed in more than one line of endeavor. As a rule it requires years of preparation, study and practical experience to reap more than mediocre success. It seems that James W. Watts, a well known citizen of Clay township, Greene county, is a man endowed with a versatility of talents, for he has succeeded as a farmer, stockman, veterinary surgeon, a breeder of live stock, pump salesman, harnessmaker and shoemaker. He has always applied himself very assiduously to whatever task he set himself to perform and, being courageous has never permitted little things to reflect him from his course, when once he decided that he was right.

Mr. Watts was born in Webster county, Missouri, September 5, 1864. He is a son of Dr. Thomas J. and Martha A. M. (Hedgepeth) Watts. The father was born in Tennessee, August lo, 1837. He came west at an early age and settled in Greene county, Missouri, on the James river. He was educated in the Ozark high school, and in early life taught school for some time. In 1858 he began the study of medicine under Doctors Robertson and

Barrett. In 1861 he began the practice of his profession in Webster county, and in 1864 moved where his son, our subject, is now living, in Greene county. He was one of the well-known and successful early-day physicians of this section of the state. He became owner of four hundred acres of valuable land in this county. He married in 1863. His wife, mother of our subject, was born on December 3, 1838, in Tennessee, where she was reared, and from that state emigrated with her parents in ox wagons to Christian county, JMissouri. She received a good education and taught school several years. She was a great charity worker. She was a member of the Christian church. Her death occurred on February 7, 1905, and on April 19th, of that year, she was joined in the Silent Land by her husband, they thus having run a pretty even race on the highway of life. They were useful, influential and highly esteemed in their community. To these parents only two children were born, Lula T.. who died in infancy; and James W., of this sketch.

James W. Watts grew to manhood on the home farm and received his education in the local schools. He removed to the place where he now resides when he was three weeks old, and thus he has here spent his life. After attending Henderson Academy, he married, in May, 1890, Carrie K. Dixon, of Ohio. She was born August 17, 1870. When young he learned the trades of harnessmaker and shoemaker, but his attention has been directed principally to general farming and breeding and handling live stock on an extensive scale. He owns two hundred and eighty acres of well-improved and productive land in Clay township, all in a body, constituting one of the most desirable farms in this part of the county. He studied the science of veterinary medicine and surgery at home and is well up in such matters and maintains an office at his place and has a good practice. He is also agent for The Hayes — the leading pump — and has sold a large number. He has been very successful in whatever line he has engaged.

Mr. Watts’ first wife was a daughter of Jack and Ardella Dixon, and her death occurred May 20, 1905. To this union two children were born, Arlie, May 18, 1892 and Gladys, born December 9, 1894, both at home. Mr. Watts married for his second wife. Mrs. Lillie (Gray) Dixon, widow of George B. Dixon. She was born July 6, 1875, in Douglas county, IMissouri, and is a daughter of John and Artela Gray. She became the mother of two children by her first husband: they are Agnes A., born November 28, 1897, and Hallie A., born August 22. 1899, both living at home. To IMr. Watts and his second wife one child has been born. Thomas A. [name withheld], born December 22, 1911, who is living with his parents. Mrs. Watts is a member of the Methodist church. Politically, Mr. AVatts is a Republican. IMr. AAHtts has been repeatedly asked to take different public offices of the county, but has always refused on account of his large varied interests which require all his time.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

GRANVILLE H. WATTS.

This gentleman is the son of Joseph and Patsey Watts, and was born in Halifax county, Virginia, July 6th, 1818. His parents were native Virginians, and his father was a soldier in the war of 1812. He grew to manhood in his native county upon the farm, and at the age of twenty-five he learned the saddler's trade, which he has followed in connection with farming until the present. In 1857 he went to Lincoln county, Kentucky, where he carried on the saddlery business at Crab Orchard until 1879. He then came to this county, settling at Ash Grove, but in 1880 removed to Greenfield, and in 1881 came back to Greene and located permanently at Bois D'Arc, where he and his nephew carried on the saddle and harness business very successfully. Mr. Watts has reared two of his nephews, though never married. He has been a consistent member of the Methodist church for forty years, and is regarded by all as an upright, Christian gentleman.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Henry Watts is the son of Milton and Lucinda (Brown) Watts, who were natives of Virginia, and his grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1812. Henry was born in Scott county% Virginia, March 7th, 184.5, and when twelve years of age he went with his uncle, Granville H. Watts, to Lincoln county, Kentucky, where he was reared, working on the farm and at the saddler'a trade with his uncle. He lived in that county until 1879, when he came to Ash Grove, Greene county, Missouri, where he engaged in the harness and saddlery business. In 1880 he went to Greenfield, and in 1881 located at Bois D'Arc, where they are now doing a flourishing business. He also owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, the result of his industry and energy. Mr. Watts is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is one of the most substantial citizens of Bois D'Arc.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HENRY T. WATTS.

Restlessness causes many of us to leave our parental halls and seek our fortunes in distant lands. Some people feel this wanderlust spirit so strongly that they have no control over it. Offer to them whatever inducements you please — wealth, honor, a pleasant home — they will not yield to them, but rather struggle against the hardships which the building up of a new domicile in a foreign land implies. It is exactly this hardship that attracts them. They dislike nothing more than the monotony of a well-regulated life, and consider themselves well repaid for their troubles by the charms which everchaftiging enterprises offer them. Another cause for emigration is the attraction which another occupation holds out to the new-comer. It is the outcome of the excellent and infallible law of supply and demand. These are doubtless some of the reasons that have brought millions of Europeans to America, among them being the Watts family, of which Henry T. Watts, foreman of the air room at the Frisco's North Side shops, Springfield, is a creditable representative.

Mr. Watts was born in London. England. December 18. 1868. He is a son of Robert Watts, a native of Summersetshire, his birth having occurred near the town of Yoeville, England, and there he grew to manhood, was educated and married. He was there engaged in wool buying until he emigrated with his family to the United States, in 1872. having first traveled through Canada, and located in St. Louis, Missouri, where he took up the carpenter's

Il82 trade and worked as a journeyman. After remaining in St. Louis ten years he removed to Springfield, in 1882, where he followed carpentering, contracting and building for a number of years; also worked as coach carpenter and bridge builder for the Frisco railroad for many years. His death occurred at his home here in 1908 at the age of sixty-eight years, and he was buried in Hazelwood cemetery. He was a member of St. John's Episcopal church in England, but after coming to Springfield he united with the Baptist church. His wife, who was known in her maidenhood as Emily Baker, was born, reared and educated in the same locality in England of which he was a native. She is residing in Springfield with her unmarried daughter at their home on Sherman street, and she will be seventy-two years of age on July 4. 1915. To these parents the following children were born: Alice, Mollie, Bessie, Henry T., Frederick, Minnie and Frances.

Henrv T. Watts was four years old when his parents brought him to America, lie spent his boyhood in St. Louis and received a common school education, which was very limited, for he went to work when only nine years of age, and has supported himself since that time, his record being one of self-reliance, grit and unswerving perseverance, and be is deserving of much credit for what he has accomplished. When a boy he worked for the newspaper known as the Springfield Southwest, the name of which was later changed to the Southweslcr. He held the position of "printer's devil" for three years, then worked as pressman for some time at the plant of the Springfield Patriot, and later was pressman on the Springfield Republican. As pressman he turned out the first daily paper in Springfield, in the building opposite the Metropolitan lintel on College street. He remained in the employ nf the Republican five or si\ years. From there he went to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in [886, and was there during the memorable flood, then went to Pittsburgh, but later returned to Johnstown. He subsequently worked as machinist at Rankin. Pennsylvania, with the Braddock Wire Company, and learned his trade there. Returning to Springfield on a visit, he accepted a position at his trade in the Frisco's North Side shops, first being under instructions, then worked during the year of [888 as regular machinist, and continued as journeyman for sixteen or seventeen years, when he was transferred to the round-house as air-brake inspector in the North Side shops, which position he held for four years, then was promoted to foreman of the air room there, in July, mot), and is still holding this position, and discharging his duties in an able and acceptable manner. He has ten men under his direction. They do repair work for the entire system.

Mr. Watts lives at 152 Clay street, where he bought a lot and had a neat dwelling erected according to Ids own plans. He was married, in 1880, to Minnie Sterling, a daughter of John and Mary (Shepard) Sterling. Her father is a farmer near Crocker, Missouri. She grew up in this state and received a common school education.

The union of our subject and wife has been without issue.

Politically, Mr. Watts is a Republican. He is prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Royal Arch, the Blue Lodge, the hire Shrine and the Order of the Eastern Star; also the Woodmen of the World, the Loyal Order of Moose and the International Association of Machinists.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.