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James Cruickshank Watt (1903)

WATT

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 10/30/2009 at 10:25:08

Winterset Madisonian
Thursday, January 22, 1903
Page 1

Death of J. C. Watt

J. C. Watt, owner of the Watt stock farm in Madison township, died very suddenly at his home Tuesday night. The cause of his death had not been determined at this writing but it seems that he retired in the usual manner in the evening, and that his lifeless body was found by hired help early in the morning. Mrs. Watt was in Pittsburg at the time of her husband’s death. Mr. Watt was the owner of ------ 300 acres and made a living of breeding fine cattle and -----.

Madison County Coroner D. S. Martin employed a jury consisting of George ------, Jesse Gowin and I. W. Rinard and it was found that death occurred from pneumonia and heart failure, the deceased being afflicted with what is known as fatty degeneration of the heart.
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Transcribers note: This newspaper was pretty well torn on the left hand side where this obituary was found.
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Winterset Madisonian
Thursday, January 29, 1903

Last Wednesday morning the friends and neighbors were shocked to hear of the death of J. C. Watt at his home Tuesday night. He had gone to bed Tuesday evening complaining of a slight cold, and on being urged to have medical assistance had said, “I will be all right in the morning.” At one o’clock one of the young men employed by him being uneasy about him went to his room to see how he was and found him dead. The pastor of the M. E. church of Earlham and the Masons conducted a short funeral service at the home Thursday afternoon, after which his body was sent to Pittsburg, his old home, for burial.
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Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
January 1903

J. C. Watt died very suddenly at his home east of town on Tuesday night. He had been in his usual good health, with the exception of a cold, until noon of the fatal day. He was getting ready to put up ice and worked around the ice house in the forenoon. At noon he complained of feeling chilly and remained in the house by the stove all afternoon. His wife being away in the east, he and his hired men were taking their meals with a neighbor, J. P. Price. At supper time he did not feel like eating so he remained at home. However, Mr. Price brought him over a light lunch which Mr. Watt ate and seemed to relish. He seemed quite cheerful and remained up talking with the men until about 10 o’clock, when he retired. One of the boys went into his room about half past eleven to fix the fire and see if he wanted anything. Mr. Watt spoke to him and said he felt better and wanted nothing. The young man went back to the sitting room, fixed up the fire and sat down to toast himself before retiring. While thus engaged he fell asleep and slept for perhaps an hour. On awakening he went to the room occupied by Mr. Watt, and on approaching the bed discovered him lying on his face, dead. He aroused the household and telephoned for a doctor from DeSoto. When the doctor arrived and learned the circumstances surrounding his death he at once notified the coroner. Coroner D. S. Martin arrived there at noon and held an inquest. Assisted by a Des Moines physician he performed an autopsy and found the cause of his death to have been fatty degeneration of the heart, super-induced by a severe cold.

Mrs. Watt was at once notified by telegraph of her husband’s death and she gave instructions to have his body shipped to Pittsburg, Pa., their old home. The Masonic order, of which Mr. Watt was an honored member, at once took charge of his remains and will ship them east tonight (Thursday). They will be accompanied by J. P. Osborn as far as Chicago.

Mr. Watt had lived here about twelve years, and enjoyed the respect and friendship of the entire community.

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Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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