JAMES M. WATSON
James M. Watson came in the fall of 1855, and bought a claim of George Reeves. This land is now owned by James Walker. Mr. Watson was born in Greene county, Ohio, in 1817. When he was nine years of age, his parents removed to Indiana, where they remained about eight years. They then went to Henry county, Iowa. After a residence of three years there, he went to Missouri, where he was married to Sarah Viney, in 1840. He then returned to Henry county, Iowa, and spent his time there and in Madison county until he came tois (to this) county. On coming here, he commenced to deal in Cass county lands, which business he carried on quite extensively. He had resided here two years when the accident occurred which caused his untimely end. He was chasing a wolf, one afternoon in January, 1856, and when near Spring creek, his horse threw him, fracturing his skull. This occurred about three o'clock in the afternoon, and when found, at 11 o'clock P.M., he was dead, whether having perished with cold or been killed by the fall, it was never known. His family still live in the county. He was a brother of W.M. Watson, who lives on section 31.
Transcribed by Gloria Goltiani from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pp. 625-626.
