On Oct 14, 2005 my husband and I made a road trip to the town of Watson, MO approximately 64 miles from New Market. I often wondered why John and James would go back and forth from New Market to Watson as it would have been a very long trek in the early 1900’s. After seeing the country I believe I know now why, as the land must have reminded them of their home in TN. Also the railroad tracks run right through the center of town making it easier to travel.

Watson sets on the west side of I 29 just south of Hamburg. Sign said population 121. I could see no sign of a main street ever being there. There were two churches and very few homes. It did have a small park with a monument in the middle dedicated to the people buried in a cemetery called Sonora. The names listed no Whiteheads and also the dates of all the deaths were in the 1800’s. On the plaque was information about Sonora the town and how the railroad missed it and basically the inhabitants moved to the railroad, forming the town of Watson. The Missouri river took what was left of Sonora.

High Creek Cemetery lay east of Watson on the east side of I29. We went over the Interstate and veered to the left on an oil road. Went around the bluffs till we seen the cemetery on the south side of the road. The cemetery lay on a steep hill and at the bottom of this hill sets an old Baptist church. It was a wonderful setting with old burr oaks and evergreens around this small High Creek Baptist Church. We found 3 Whitehead stones but no James or Thomas headstones.

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