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, Thomas (1815-1887) --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 680-683, THOMAS WATSON FAMILY. In 1790, William Watson came from Eastern Virginia and settled near what is now known as Masontown, Preston county, having patented 300 acres of land. His wife was Elizabeth Patton. His children were: John, David, Jacob, Nancy, Mary, Jane, and William. William was a soldier in the War of 1812. Thomas Watson, a son of William, was born May 7, 1815, and lived all his life on a portion of the 300 acres patented by his grandfather William. On Wednesday, November 12, 1844, Thomas Watson and Sabina Anne Cobun were married by the Rev. I. Davis. Sabina Anne Cobun was a daughter of Cobun and Anna Young, who was a daughter of Isaac and Charity Young, and was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, June 22, 1791. She died at the home of Thomas and Sabina Anne Watson, near Masontown, October 13, 1875, at the age of 84 years. Thomas Watson was justice of the peace in what is now Valley district for several years. He and his wife were Presbyterians and were among the original organizers of the Presbyterian Church in that section. Ministers came from Morgantown, Fairmont and Western Pennsylvania about once a month to preach. The venerable Doctor Fairchild, author of some religious works, often visited them when he came there to preach. Thomas Watson died April 7, 1887, and his wife died August, 1900. The children born to them were: Sylvanus, born December 4, 1845, died June 24, 1846. John William, born February 28, 1848. Granvil, born April 27, 1849. Almira Ann, born October 15, 1851. Charity Elizabeth, born July 20, 1853. John W. married Nancy Virginia Stuck, a daughter of Mathias F. and Nancy Hays Stuck, at Terra Alta, May 6, 1872, by Rev. D. W. Rogers. Mrs. John W. Watson died March 27, 1911. The children born to them were: Nyra Estella, born July 18, 1873. Clyde Emil, born November 16, 1879. Cecil Lenore, born December 20, 1889. Nyra E. was married to Edward Thornton Hartman, August, 1898, in Kingwood, and resides in Boston, Massachusetts. They have one son, Dallas Watson, born February 7, 1901. Mrs. Hartman graduated at the New England Conservatory of Music in the class of 1906. Clyde Emil married Elizabeth Wisner, a daughter of the late J. Nelson Wisner of Martinsburg, West Virginia. One son, John William, born to them. Clyde E. graduated from the West Virginia University and also came from Johns Hopkins Medical College, and after his graduation accepted a chair in the Medical Department of the West Virginia University. Subsequently he resigned and is now in the practice of his profession in Council, Idaho. Cecile Lenore was married to John Clyde Lewis, September 19, 1907. Two children were born to them: Jean Watson Lewis, born June 24, 1909; Thomas Watson, born September 2, 1912. Granvil Watson married Julia Ann Field, March 9, 1874. To them one daughter was born, Julia Anna, February 22, 1875. His wife died February 27, 1875, and he died March 20, 1877. The daughter married and lives in Pittsburgh, Pa. Almira A. Watson was married to Claude C. Wheeler, May 13, 1874, by the Rev. Dr. Flanagan. They reside in Fairmont, West Virginia. Two children born to this union: Cora M., born May 19, 1875, and Harry, born December 29, 1879. Charity Elizabeth was married to Homer C. Posten. To this union two children were born: Effie M., born September 20, 1881, and Lela Ruth, born May 11, 1894. Effie M. was married to Ulysses W. Arnett, January 5, 1913. They all reside in Fairmont, West Virginia. The children of Thomas and Sabina Watson received the principal part of their education in the subscription schools, in the log school houses, and the books used were the United States Spelling Book, commonly known as "The Blue Back Speller," the English Reader, Pike's Arithmetic and the Western Calculator. After the free school system was inaugurated better books came into use, John W. attended school one term in Kingwood, in the Old Brick Academy, and one term in Newburg. He was a student in the first Normal School in Fairmont, West Virginia, held in the basement of the Methodist Protestant Church. He taught four terms thereafter. In October, 1870, he engaged with Jones & Glover in what is now known as Terra Alta, as clerk and bookkeeper. He held the office of secretary and president of the Board of Education for Portland district. Was appointed post- master in said town under Hon. David M. Key, Postmaster General, and was reappointed under Hon. Frank Hatton. He resigned as post- master in 1884 and accepted the position of manager of seven counties in Virginia for the Singer Manufacturing Company, with headquarters at Charlottesville. Resigned as manager in 1886, and engaged with Baer Sons Grocery Company of Wheeling, West Virginia, and built up a trade in his territory from $20,000.00 to $90,000.00 per year. While engaged in that capacity he was elected clerk of the Circuit Court for Preston county and took charge of the office November 23, 1888, and has held same continuously to the present time. He is a candidate for re-election, and if nominated and elected, and lives through the term, will have held the office for over thirty-two years. When a boy, he, with his brother, engaged to "grub" the white thorn sprouts from a large field for "Uncle" Samuel Graham during the long days between corn planting and harvest. The eight-hour system was not then "patented" and farm hands were expected to work all day; the work continued for six days, and the pay was twelve and one-half cents per day — seventy-five cents for the week, and board. He was paid off in what was then known as "Levys." The wearing apparel was principally made at home from the raw material and woven into "Jeans" or "Linsey," and the flax made into linens. The spinning of these products was done on what was known as the "Big" wheel and the "Little" wheel. Later a machine was brought into the neighborhood called "The Spinning Ginny." The "flyers" were mounted on a little four-wheeled carriage running on a track which would run back and forth at the will of the spinner and would stretch out the "rolls" and twist it into yarn. All these old things have passed away (with perhaps the exception of still having to "grub" the white thorn sprouts) and we are living in a new day; nearly everything is done by machinery, and we are moving in a more rapid way. Put us back to the old way of doing things, and me- thinks you would not hear any complaints of the "High cost of living." --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------