Robert E. Watts

WATTS, ASHCROFT, PIERCE, WELLS, BARTLETT, KELLOGG, GARLAND, OVERHOLT

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 12/30/2009 at 13:40:34

J. W. Ellis, History of Jackson County, Iowa, 1910

ROBERT E. WATTS.

Robert E. Watts has lived upon the same farm in Van Buren township for the past fifty-seven years and the success which he has gained from the careful conduct of his agricultural and stock-raising interests places him among the substantial and representative citizens of Jackson county. He was born on the place whereon he is now living June 9, 1853, a son of John and Hannah (Ashcroft) Watts. The former was born in England, August 18, 1810, his parents being James and Sarah (Pierce) Watts, who were also natives of the "merrie isle." At the age of ten he emigrated to Canada and after living for a short time in Ontario came into the States. For a time he traveled through the west in the employ of the Chouteau Company, of St. Louis, Missouri, and then returned to Canada, where he married Miss Hannah Ashcroft, who was born in England in 1818. In 1847, with his wife, he again crossed the boundary line and came to Iowa, making the journey from Chicago to Van Buren township by oxteam. In that township he took up a claim of government land, to which he added as he prospered in his labors until he owned three hundred and twenty acres on section 24. This homestead remained his place of residence until his death, January 15, 1893. His wife had passed away many years before, her demise having occurred in 1855. Six children were born to them, of whom Robert E. is the youngest. The others are: Parmelia, who became the wife of W. S. Kellogg and died in 1888; Melissa, who is the wife of Henry Garland, of Greene county, Iowa; Sarah, who married J. D. Overholt and passed away May, 1883; Sylvester, who is a resident of Mason City, Iowa; and a son who died in infancy.
Born and reared upon the home farm Robert E. Watts has lived thereon continuously since. He availed himself of the educational opportunities afforded by the district schools, and subsequently attended school in Sabula and later matriculated at Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, where his general education was completed. Thereafter he returned to the home farm, of which he came into full possession after the death of his father, for he secured by purchase the shares of the other heirs, and has since devoted his time to the further improvement and cultivation of the place. The land is now valuable and productive, the fields responding to his care in generous harvests which find a ready sale upon the market. In addition to growing the cereals most adapted to the soil and climate he is engaged extensively in the stock business, making a specialty of registered shorthorn cattle, Poland China hogs and Norman horses. He is widely known as a breeder of horses and the fine animals he has handled have won him general recognition among the stockmen of his section of the county. Energetic and persevering in his labors and progressive in his methods, conspicuous success has crowned his labors and has gained for him a prominent place among the substantial agriculturists of Van Buren township.
On the 28th of November, 1878, Mr. Watts wedded Miss Apama Wells, a daughter of Seymour Wells, of Jackson county. Two sons have been born to them: Ralph N., who is at home with his father, and Seymour A., who wedded Miss Catherine Bartlett and resides near his father. Formerly Mr. Watts was a democrat in his political sympathies but recently he has given allegiance to the republican party. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic lodge of Miles, of which he is a charter member, and with Lodge No. 572, I.O.O. F., also of Miles. He is a man whose sterling worth and capability have made him a valuable citizen, and he has the high regard of all who know him, being especially esteemed by those who have known him from boyhood.