WILLIAM M. WATSON
William M. Watson was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, on the site of General Harrison's famous battle-field, February 4, 1837. His father, Dr. Paschal Watson, rutned the first furrow on "Pretty Prairie," near the battle-field. His brother, Jesse Watson of Atlantic township, was the first child born in that vicinity. The date of his birth was 1828. In 1838, Dr. Pascbal Watson and his wife Eleanor (Jenkins) Watxon, removed with their family to Henry county, in this State. There Dr. Watson operated the first ferry on Skunk river, at that point. In 1841, they moved to Davis county, Missour, where in the spring of 1850, Dr. Watson died. His widow died in August 1868, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Abigail Bell, in this township. Of the nine children who came with them to Iowa, five are now living -- Jacob, in Kansas; Mrs. Abigail Bell, widow of E.B. Bell; Eli, living in Lewis, where he settled in 1855; Jesse, a resident of Atlantic township, and William M., the subject of this sketch, who, with his mother's family returned from Missouri to Madison county, Iowa. In 1856, he accompanied by his mother, his sister Abigail and her husband, E.B. Bell, came to Cass county, and settled in Washington township. His brother, James M. Watson, settled here in 1854, and January 31, 1856, was thrown from his horse and killed, while engaged in hunting wolves. The widow of James Watson now lives in Audubon county, with her son, Henry M. She has two other sons, Paschal and John, who are both residents of this county. William M. Watson bought his present farm, on section 31, Washington township, in February, 1866. It then contained eighty-seven acres, which he has since increased to one hundred and ten acres. Mrs. and Mrs. Watson have four children living -- Kittie E., Edward E., James C., and John M. Mr. Watson is a public spirited oitizen(sic), always taking an interest in whatever concerns the public welfare, and never since he became of legal age has he failed to cast his vote at any election where he was entitled to that privilege. Since his residence here has has been peculiarly unfortunate, having met with a continued series of accidents. June 13, 1856, he was severely cut in the right knee joint by an accidental blow of an axe, in the hands of Judge William Dickerson. In consequence of this injury he was confined to his bed till Febraury, 1857. In October of that year, he was attached with typhoid fever, and for one hundred and ninety-six days was unable to leave his bed. Since taking up his residence on the farm he has had two houses destroyed by fire, the first one in 1872, and the second one, which was built on the same foundation, in 1876. In March, 1873, he lost ninety six hogs by cholera, and has lost five horses in one season.
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. 626-627.
