John Watts

WATTS, NICHOLS

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 1/15/2011 at 07:44:36

Watts, John, farmer, p o Willow Creek. Was born in Westchester county, N. Y., in 1835, and where he received an education in the common schools. During the year 1857 he came to Iowa and settled in Delaware county, and engaged in farming until the spring of 1862, when he enlisted in the Twenty-first Iowa volunteer infantry, and served three years in defense of his country. After being mustered out at Clinton in 1865 he at once set out for Clay county, coming as far as Fort Dodge by rail, and from that point to this county, carrying his musket, haversack, knapsack and other accoutrements, which he had become accustomed to in his three years’ service in the army. (Mr. Watts still preserves these as mementoes of his soldier life.) Upon his arrival here he lived a few years at Sioux Rapids, and then homesteaded the place on which he lives, which is a good location and very fertile piece of land. Mr. Watts is an old settler, and his recollection and narration of events of the past twenty-four years are extremely interesting. He and Joseph Crozier got out the material for the saw mill that once stood at Peterson, and supplied the people far and near with lumber. He has held the position of postmaster of Willow Creek for the past seventeen years was Justice of the Peace of Douglas, is steward in the M. E. church, and an active, energetic and liberal citizen. He was married in 1866 to Mary J. Nichols, of Farley, Dubuque county. Three children were born to them, Lewis A., Ella and Blanche V.

Source: The History of Clay County, Iowa, W. C. Gilbreath, 1889, Clay Township, page 266.