Back Row: Frank, Edith, Mabel (Mickey*), Jennie, Charlie Bisbee.
Middle Row: Fred, Sarah, Lorena, Iva, Don, Lester R.
Children: Lester A., Lloyd with Bernice, Clarence and an unidentified friend in front.

(* This must be Lester's wife Mabel if his sister Mabel d. 1888.)

Frederick E. WATTS came to the U.S. from Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England when nineteen-years-old. He became a bridge builder on the Milwaukee and Prairie du Chien Railroad, and when the Civil War started, he enlisted as a private in the 31st Wisconsin Infantry, Company A, 1st Division, 3rd Brigade, 20th Army Corps, SHERMAN'S Army, serving under Lieut. Colonel MESSMORE, fighting throughout the South until General LEE'S surrender. At the end of the war, he was sent to New York on sick parole. He returned with his regiment to Madison, Wisconsin, where he was mustered out of service in 1865. He returned to work as a bridge builder and married Lorraine Betsey MORRELL in 1869. In May 1874, Fred moved his wife and two small children by covered wagon some 500 miles west to homestead 400 acres of land in Phillips and Smith counties, Kansas. There they had four more children, and in 1905, they sold the old homestead and moved to town, finally leaving there in 1908 to build their retirement home in Palacios, Matagorda, Texas. Lorraine died in 1909. Fred then married Sarah (GROVE) HEAVIN, pictured here with him. Fred died in 1924 at age 84. Besides Frank, Jennie, and Lester (pictured here), they also had Nellie and Oscar who were still living, but not present at this gathering, and Mabel who d. 1888.

Thomas WATTS, d. 22 Apr 1832 (Probable date of death; England Deaths and Burials 1538-1991)
    married Jemimah COOMBS on 06 Feb 1793, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England
                 b. 03 Sep 1769 (Gemimah COOME) dau. William & Mary COOME/COOMBS
    Children of Thomas and Jemimah (COOMBS) WATTS:
      1) Joseph WATTS, d. circa 29 Oct 1800, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England
      2) Thomas Watts
          b. 09 Dec 1794, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England; d. Sep 1873, Catcott Burtle, England
          married circa 1819 Elizabeth HOLBROOK (1801-1870)
      3) Jane WATTS, b. 25 Feb 1797, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England
      4) Benjamin WATTS, b. 05 May 1799, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England
      5) Mary WATTS, b. 25 Mar 1804, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England
      6) Arabella WATTS, b. 26 Nov 1805, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England
      7) William WATTS, b. 25 Dec 1808, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England
      8) John WATTS, b. 24 Mar 1811, Catcotte Burtle, Somerset, England

Thomas Watts
b. 09 Dec 1794, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England; d. Sep 1873, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England
    married Elizabeth HOLBROOK circa 1819, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England
                 b. circa 1801, Exeter, Devon, England
                 d. bet. 1862-1870, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England
    Children of Thomas and Elizabeth (HOLBROOK) WATTS:
      1) James WATTS, b. 1820, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England; d. ca. 1841 or later
      2) Elizabeth WATTS
          b. 03 Jun 1825, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England
          d. 22 Aug 1911, Havensville, Pottawattomie Co. KS
          married 1st William COOMBS (1821/24 - 1855) 25 Mar 1847, Banwell, Somerset, England
          arrival 12 Jun 1848, New York NY aboard ship Mercy
          married 2nd Henry RAWLINGS 1855
                              b. 19 Feb 1823, West Lydford, England; d. 03 Oct 1912, Havensville KS
          Children of Elizabeth (WATTS) and Henry RAWLINGS:
            1) Rosa Olivia Holbrook (RAWLINGS) PETTIJOHNS (1858-after 1930)
            2) Eva (RAWLINGS) COBLER (1860-1927)
            3) Hugh Watts RAWLINGS (1862-1928)
            4) Edgar Charles RAWLINGS (1863-1926)
            5) Herbert RAWLINGS (1866-before Nov 1928)
            6) Frederic Charles RAWLINGS (1872-1930)
      3) Thomas WATTS, b. ca. 1826, Sutton Mallett, Somerset, England; d. in England?
      4) Joseph Hiram WATTS
          b. 03 Jun 1832, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England
          d. 13 Dec 1914, Havensville, Pottawatomie Co. KS
          arrival 12 Jun 1848, New York NY aboard ship Mercy
          married Lucy D. SHOVE 25 Aug 1856, Waukegan, Lake Co. IL
                       b. 1835, Charlwood, Horley, Surrey, England
                       arrival in America in 1854
                       d. 02 Mar 1919, Havensville KS
                       dau. of Henry W. SHOVE (1803-1866) &                            Elizabeth (WOODMAN) (1808-1891) SHOVE
          Children of Joseph Hiram & Lucy D. (SHOVE) WATTS:
            1) Grace Lucy (WATTS) LAWTON (1867-1938)
            2) Paul Shove WATTS (1869-1945)
            3) Maud Mercy (WATTS) SMITH (1872-1940)
            4) Elizabeth "Bessie" (WATTS) LOUGHMILLER (1874-1959)
            5) Elsie (WATTS) KROTH (1877-1970)
            6) Frederick Eugene "Fred" WATTS (1882-1971)
      5) Ellen WATTS, b. circa 1833, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England; d. Illinois
          married William LOVELL (1832-?) 12 Aug 1855, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England
          arrival 2 Oct 1855 New York NY aboard ship Progress
      6) Frederick Ernest "Fred" WATTS, b. 1840; d. 1924
          married 1st Loraine Betsey MORRELL (1851-1909) 07 Feb 1869, Bloomington, Grant Co. IL
          married 2nd Sarah "Sadie" GROVE (1856-1930) after 1909, Palacois, Matagorda Co. TX
      7) Brigham WATTS, b. before 1841, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England; d. 1841
      8) Benjamin WATTS
          b. 17 Jan 1841, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England
          d. bet. 1892 - 1900, Stringston, Somerset, England
          married Maria SQUIRE (ca. 1840 - ca. 1935)
            Ch: Frederick "Fred" WATTS (ca. 1862 - ca. 1950)
      9) Arabella WATTS, b. Mar 1844, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England; d. in England before 1861?

Frederick Ernest "Fred" WATTS
b. 22 Jun 1840, Catcott Burtle, Somerset, England
arrival 02 Oct 1855 New York NY aboard ship Progress from Liverpool
d. 24 Aug 1924, Palacois, Matagorda TX
Enlisted as Private 14 Aug 1862, Co. A, 31st Wisconsin Infantry
mustered out of service 09 Jun 1865

married 1st Loraine Betsey MORRELL* 07 Feb 1869, Bloomington IL
                   b. 30 Jun 1851, Hurricane, Grant Co. WI
                   d. 08 Oct 1909, Palacis, Matagorda Co. TX
                   dau. of Ruel MORRELL (1809-1889) &
                        Elizabeth "Eliza" (COOLEY) (1816-1852) MORRELL
    Children of "Fred" & Loraine Betsey (MORRELL) WATTS:
      1) Nellie Maria WATTS
          b. 13 Nov 1871, Savanna, Carrol Co. IL
          d. 25 Feb 1923, South West, Barton Co. MO
          married 15 Jun 1890, Bloomington IL Peter Clark GRUVER (1876-1935)
      2) Jennie Eleanor WATTS
          b. 30 Nov 1872, Jackson Co. IL; d. 05 Jan 1944, Highland, Norton Co. KS
          married 04 Feb 1892, Kensington KS Charles Wesley BISBEE (1871-1941)
      3) Frank Allen WATTS, b. 1874; d. 1954
          married 24 Mar 1898, Lancaster, Grant Co. IL Edith May SHANLEY (1878-1966)
      4) Mable Loretta "Retta" WATTS
          b. 21 Feb 1877, Cedar Twp., Smith Co. KS; d. 24 Apr 1888, Plum, Phillips Co. KS
      5) Oscar Julius WATTS
          b. 05 Mar 1879, Cedar Twp., Smith Co. KS; d. 03 Jun 1965, Bethesda, Montgomery Co. MD
          married 24 Mar 1903, Kensington KS Harriet "Hattie" THAYER (1886-1975)
      6) Lester Ross WATTS
          b. 22 Jan 1888, Kensington, Smith Co. KS; d. 02 Dec 1977, Valrico, Hillsborough Co. FL
          married 24 Dec 1909, Ponca City NE Mabel Lorene MICKEY (1887-?)

Frederick Ernest "Fred" WATTS
    married 2nd Sarah "Sadie" GROVE HEAVIN after 1909, Palacois, Matagorda Co. TX
                         b. 1856, Indiana; d. after 1930

*NOTE: After the death of her mother, Elizabeth "Eliza" (COOLEY) MORRELL, Loraine was raised by her uncle, John B. COOLEY, and his wife Elizabeth. Loraine's father Ruel remarried in 1853, however, Loraine remained with her uncle until she married Fred WATTS.

Frank and Edith May (SHANLEY) WATTS were our children's 2nd great-grandparents. Their son Donald (2nd from left) was their great-grandfather. Not pictured are Bernice and Clarence who were born in 1908 and 1910.

Back Row: Frank, Edith (holding Lloyd), Minnie SHANLEY.
Front Row: Iva, Don, Lester, and Lorena.

Frank Allen WATTS
b. 28 Oct 1874, Kensington, Smith Co. KS; d. 15 Jan 1954, Mason City, Cerro Gordo Co. IA
married Edith May SHANLEY 24 Mar 1898, Lancaster, Grant Co. IL
             b. 10 Apr 1878, Lancaster, Grant Co. WI; d. Sep 1966, Mason City, Cerro Gordo Co. IA
             dau. John D. (1848-1902) & Isabelle "Belle" Vineth (TINDELL) (1856-1936)
NOTE: Apparently Frank and Edith divorced by 1939, years after their seven children were grown.
    Children of Frank Allen and Edith May (SHANLEY) WATTS:
      1) Lorena Bell WATTS
          b. 13 Jun 1899, Harrison, Grant Co. WI; d. 15 Mar 2000, Mason City , Cerro Gordo Co. IA
          married Samuel J. KARR 01 Sep 1929, Mason City IA
                        b. 19 Mar 1897, IN; d. Jul 1971, Gann Valley, Buffalo Co. SD
              Ch: Jerry Michael KARR (ca. 1938-before 2000)
      2) Donald Edward "Don" WATTS
          b. 26 Feb 1901, Ellenboro, Grant Co. WI; d. Mar 1975, Mason City, Cerro Gordo Co. IA
          married Hazel Irene NEEDHAM 03 Mar 1923, Mason City, Cerro Gordo Co. IA
                        b. 06 Jul 1901, Iowa Falls, Hardinn Co. IA
                        d. 07 Mar 1996, Mason City, Cerro Gordo Co. IA
                        dau. of Thomas Edward (1870-1962) & Bernhardine "Dena" (BEEK) (1875-1971)
          Children of Donald Edward "Don" and Hazel Irene (NEEDHAM) WATTS:
            1) Alice "Elaine" WATTS, b. 29 Mar 1924, Mason City IA; d. 24 Jan 1948, Mason City IA
                 married 18 Jun 1945 Allen Truman PITKIN (1923-2007)
                  Ch: Cheryl A. PITKIN, b. & d. 1947, Moline IL
            2) Robert Donald "Bob" WATTS
                b. 14 Aug 1928, Mason City IA; d. 08 Jul 2000, Coon Rapids, Anoka Co. MN
                married 10 Sep 1950, Gruver, IA Shirley HANSEN
            3) Roger Walter WATTS
                b. 12 Feb 1935, Mason City IA; d. 27 Apr 2006, Davenport, Scott Co. IA
                married 1955 Miss TENNANT
      3) Iva Pearl WATTS
          b. 17 Jun 1902, Ellenboro, Grant Co. WI; d. 19 Nov 1970, Oakland, Alameda Co. CA
          married 1st 03 Jun 1921, Mason City IA Arthur R. LeDUC (1897-?)
          married 2nd 1944 Clarence H. STEWART (1892-1971)
      4) Lester Allen WATTS
          b. 21 Mar 1904, Lancaster, Grant Co. WI; d. 06 Apr 1969, Mason City IA
          married 1st 1927, Ossian IA Rosa Ursuld "Rose" LANSING (1908-1964)
              Ch: Jacqueline Jean (WATTS) DiMARCO, b. 11 Nov 1932, Mason City; d. 1958, Mason City
          married 2nd 23 May 1944, Albert Lea MN Lyda Wilma SCRIMGER (1907-1996)
      5) Lloyd Ray WATTS
          b. 25 May 1906, Cerro Gordo Co. IA; d. 14 Jun 1991, St. Paul MN
          married 1st 15 Nov 1924, Alta Louise LINK (1894-1980)
          married 2nd 1949 Mary Virginia MUNSON (1913-1983)
      6) Bernice Minnie WATTS
          b. 19 Feb 1908, Mason City IA; d. 05 Sep 1998, Mason City IA
          married 10 Jul 1926, Mason City IA Albert Earl LESTER (1908-1982)
      7) Clarence Roy WATTS
          b. 18 Nov 1910, Cerro Gordo Co. IA; d. 24 Mar 1979, Imperial, Imperial Co. CA
          married 1st circa 1929, Mason City IA Manetta Alvina HALSOR (1907-1985)
          married 2nd circa 1935, Mason City IA? Grace Alice WHITE (1910-1984)
          married 3rd 01 Apr 1952, Las Vegas NV K. Geraldine (?); sep. 10 Sep 1955; div. Aug 1963
          married 4th Freeborn Co. MN Frieda Ricka HOODJER (1915-1964)

Lester, Lorena, Donald & Iva WATTS

Hazel and Don WATTS

Thomas NEEDHAM Family

Lucille, Bernhardine, Hazel, Thomas NEEDHAM	Donald "Don" WATTS	Hazel and Don WATTS	Anne, Clarence & Edith WATTS
Edith May (SHANLEY) WATTS	Lester, Edith & Lloyd WATTS	Elaine, Roger & Bob WATTS	Bernhardine & Tom NEEDHAM

~ ~ ~ ~

Watts Family Crest Courtesy of Julie Watts

Submission and photographs by Julie Watts, April of 2011