WATSON, John N. 1878-1907

WATSON, VAN METER, HOWELL

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 5/19/2013 at 18:17:43

15 people killed in a wreck of the Rock Island passenger train September 6, 1907.

[Waterloo Daily Courier, Saturday September 7, 1907]

John, N. Watson, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Watson of Iowa City, was born ten miles east of Iowa City where the family formerly lived, on January 22, 1878, and would have been 30 years of age his coming birthday.

His early life was spent in and near Iowa City, part of the time being spent in attending the Iowa City Academy, and later the Iowa State University, but owing to ill health, he did not take his degree. For a time, he engaged in business in Iowa City, but he came to Waterloo last April where he has been assistant superintendent of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company whose offices are in the LaFayette building.

He was going to Waverly on a business trip yesterday, when his life was so suddenly cut off in the awful wreck. His neck was broken, so it is believed that his death was instantaneous.

A sad feature of the case Is the fact that his wife and only child, Mary Hortense, aged three, years, had gone to visit relatives near Greenfield and were not at home when the accident occurred. They were visiting eighteen miles in the country and a message finally reached the wife at that place. She and her mother, who was with her, were, taken eighteen miles to Stuart, only to find that the train had gone and that they would have to wait all night there before getting a train for home. They left at six o'clock this morning and arrived in Waterloo this afternoon over the Great Western at 2:15.

Mrs. Watson's maiden name was Ethel Van Meter. She was an Iowa City girl and is a niece of Mrs. A. T. Hukill of this city. They were married five years ago Tuesday and celebrated their anniversary on that day. On the next day Mrs. Watson started off on her little visit and Mr. Watson expected to go a week from today to bring her home. Her home coming was sad indeed.

Beside his wife and child, Mr. Watson leaves to mourn his untimely death, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Watson of Iowa City; a brother, Grover Cleveland Watson of Iowa City, who graduated from tne State University last June; apother brother, Elbert, who is employed by a Sioux City firm in overseeing the building of a large school building near Armour, S. P, and who has not been reached by telephone.

His parents arrived yesterday while his brother from Iowa City and Mrs. Watson's uncle, Judge Ralph Howell, arrived this morning. With the ccming of Mrs. Watson this afternoon, all the immediate relatives are here except the brother in Dakota.

During their icsidence in Waterloo, Mr. and Mrs. Watson have attended the First Methodist church, though they are members of the Christiac Church at Iowa City. The body may be taken to Iowa City for burial or interment may be here, the relatives being as yet undecided. Rev. Frank cole of the First M. E. Church will probably officiate assisted by Rev. Noah Garwick of the Chirstian Church.

Mr. Watson was initiated into the Elk's lodge just three weeks ago. He was a young man who made friends easily and all who have known him feel personal grief at his death.

Short funeral services were held at the home of A. T. Hukill on West Fourth Street this afternoon at 4 o'clock for the late J. N. Watson, conducted by Frank Cole of the First Methodist Church. The Waterloo B. P. O. E. will be at the train to show their respect to the dead and the body will be taken over the Rock Island at 4:40 to Iowa City where the funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon. Mrs. watson, te parents and brother from Iowa City and other relatives will accompany the remains. Mrs. Watson's train, which was due at 2:15, was late so that she reached home only an hour before the services. She is worn out by her long night of sorrowful waiting following the shocking news of her husband's death.