U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Watson, Daniel G. (1847-1925) --------------------------------------------------------------------- A History of Preston County West Virginia Biographical Department, Supplied by J. R. Cole Kingwood, W. Va., The Journal Publishing Company, 1914 by H. S. Whetsell Pages 687-689, DANIEL G. WATSON. Daniel G. Watson, son of Rawley Watson, and president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank, of Reedsville, was born June 12, 1847, on the old home farm near Masontown. He was educated in the district schools of his native town, also in Morgantown, Kingwood, and subsequently Smithfield, Fayette county, Pa. When fourteen years of age he left Masontown for Morgantown, then a noted seat of learning, where he spent four years in school and learning the trade of a cabinet maker. When seventeen years of age, he taught school one term, having just come from the old Academy of Kingwood in 1865, and in 1868, he left the Academy of Kingwood in 1865 and in 1868 he left the Academy at Smithfield, Pa., well qualified for the work of a teacher. He taught school thirteen years afterward. Mr. Watson tried hard to enlist in the army at one time, but because of his youth the military authorities refused his services without the consent of his parents, which could not be obtained. As a teacher Mr. Watson made an excellent record, and has subsequently been of great service to the cause of education as a member of the board of education of Valley district for many terms, being now a member — because of that long experience in practical school work. Mr. Watson was married May 24, 1877, to Emma Ray Fairfax, a family distinguished in the two Virginias. During that same year he began a business career as a merchant in Reedsville. A partnership was formed with his brother, Mason Watson, under the firm name of "Watson Brothers." That continued from 1877 to 1888, when Mr. Watson retired, the store being continued by his brother until his death a few years since. Before going out of business Mr. Watson purchased what was known as the James Reed farm, at Reedsville, The farm is a large and valuable one, coming up into the corporate limits of the town. In fact his residence, which at the time he purchased the site was a woodland — stands upon one of the main streets of the town, the farm lying to the north. From that time until the present Mr. Watson has been actively engaged in agricultural pursuits, especially interested in breeding and raising blooded stock. Pole-Angus cattle, Poland China swine, brown Leghorn and Plymouth Rock chickens, are some of his specialties. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Watson are as follows: (1) an infant, born March 21, 1878, which did not live; (2) Forest G.; (3) Otis I.; (4) Pearl E.; (5) Rawley F.; (6) Margaret S.; (7) Nina, born May 4, 1892, who died at the age of 2 years. Mrs. Watson died April 21, 1894, and Mr. Watson has never re-married. He has devoted much of his thought to the education of his children in the local schools, keeping the family together although some of them were very young when his wife died. The old home is still maintained, and the children, now grown, continue to reside there with their devoted father. Mr. Watson is of a retiring disposition, and lives a quiet unostentatious life. The Watson family is one of the oldest and best known in that part of the county, and its members have always been held high in the esteem of the people. Mr. Watson is a member of no secret organization, and takes no active part in politics, although he is a staunch republican and a warm supporter of every progressive movement for the good of his town and native county. Besides his membership in the Board of Education, he was one of the promoters and organizers of the Reedsville bank and is its first president. Mr. Watson affiliates with the Presbyterian faith and has been a generous contributor to church building and maintenance for years. --------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Preston County, WV #3890 FULL-NAME: Daniel G. Watson BIRTH-DATE: June 12, 1847 BIRTH-PLACE: Preston Co., W.Va. DEATH-DATE: March 9, 1925 DEATH-PLACE: Reedsville, Valley District, Preston County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Widower OCCUPATION: Retired Farmer FATHER: Rawley Watson (born in Preston Co., W.Va.) MOTHER: Sarah Ann Whip (born in Loudoun Co., Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Died suddenly from heart disease INFORMANT: Rawley F. Watson (of Reedsville, W.Va.) BURIAL: Reedsville Cemetery --------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Preston County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/preston/bios.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------