Robert Watt

As printed in 1906

OBERT WATT, one of Jackson township’s prominent farmers, has resided for the past 53 years on his present farm in section 20, which now consists of 225 acres. He belongs to one of the old pioneer families of Allen County. He was born in Champaign County. Ohio, November 16, 1827. and is a son of Samuel L. and Olive (Walton) Watt.

Samuel L. Watt was born near Marysville, Kentucky, and accompanied his parents to Champaign County, the family consisting of four sons and three daughters. His father. Thomas Watt, who was born in Ireland, emigrated to America, settled first in Pennsylvania, went from there to Kentucky and later to Champaign County, Ohio, where he died aged

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So years. He was a farmer and wood-worker, an expert manufacturer of wagons and ploughs. His children were: Robert, John, James, William, Samuel, Joseph, Margaret, Polly and Betsey. William was the first judge in Allen County. Joseph died in the War of 1812. All the Watt Brothers entered land in Allen County and all settled along Hog Creek. Samuel L. Watt owned several different tracts of land, and at one time a farm of 120 acres.

Samuel L. Watt married Olive Walton who was born in Quebec, Canada. She came to Union County, Ohio, with her parents who were Joseph and Deborah (Gilbert) Walton, natives of Canada. For his second wife Mr. Watt married Mary Greer. The children of the first marriage who reached maturity were: Deborah (Jamison), who died in Iowa; Robert. of this sketch; Joseph, deceased in young manhood; James, deceased; Thomas, of Michigan; Harriet, widow of John Guthrie, of Nevada; Christina (Leech), who died at Walla Walla, Washington; and Nancy (Enos), of Oakland, California. The children of the second marriage were: John J., of Louisiana; Samuel L., of Sac County, Iowa; Olive (Conley), of Iowa; Lydia (Stouker), of Iowa; Sidney. of Iowa; and Sarah Frances, of Missouri.

In 1852 Mr. Watt moved to Sac County, Iowa, driving through with an ox team. Two months were spent on the journey and when he reached there he located near Sac City, the county seat. He laid out Jackson township there and named it after his old home township in Allen County. He became the first county judge of Sac County, where he died.

Robert Watt, our immediate subject, remained at home until he was 20 years old and then went on a rented farm for a year before buying 40 acres of timber land in section 20, Jackson township. Little by little he kept on buying land and clearing it until he owned some 500 acres. Of this he retains 225. having divided the rest among his children. For 40 years he lived in the first little frame dwelling which he built with timber taken from his place, but it finally gave way to the handsome, modern brick residence in which he has lived ever since. Mr. Watt can look back over years of honest industry. He cleared 100 acres of land by himself and he has assisted his children to build comfortable homes on land which he has helped them to acquire. He has done a great deal of teaming and has had contracts for public work. He and his sons have done the greater part of the pipe laying in their section of the county. As a farmer, he has devoted the most of his attention to the raising: of grain and the breeding of draft horses.

In his 20th year Mr. Watt was married to Eva Staley, who was born in Pickawav County, Ohio, May 13, 1825, and came here with her parents when seven years of age. She is a daughter of Jacob and Eunice (Fisher) Staley, natives of Virginia. They have five children living, as follows: Samuel J., of Jackson township; James R., of Jackson township; Marion; and William Henry and Jacob Allen, of Jackson township. Two sons and one daughter died young.

Mr. Watt has been a life-long Democrat. He has been offered many of the local offices, but has accepted only that of township trustee. He is one of the reliable, substantial and representative men of his township.

As printed in History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.