Ira Clarence Watson

Notes:

Died:
Coronary Thrombosis

Ira married Wanda Jacobs on 1 Jul 1937 in Charleston Illinois. Wanda was born about 1915; died in May 2000. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Robert Eugene Watson was born in PRIVATE.

Notes:

Source: Lula Frances,(Watson) Waltrip, Eula Ethel (Watson) Hutson, Malvia Joanne (Watson) Finney, John & Linda (Hendrix) Watson, Book 3 Page 152 Marriage Registers Coles Co. Birth Registers & Certificates, Coles Co. Charleston Illinois.
Compiler: Thomas C. Watson 2/28/81

James Thomas Watson, or Tom as he was known to everyone, was married twice. The first marriage was to Anna Frisby on February 27, 1900 in Morgan County Kentucky. Tom worked as a laborer in a tobacco factory in Kenton County, Kentucky. Tom divorced Anna on December 2, 1901. There were no known children by this marriage.
Tom's second marriage was to Addie Ellen Bryant November 23,1906 in Charleston, Coles County, Illinois.
Tom and Addie were the parents of eleven children. Their life together was hard and a tremendous struggle to raise such a large family. Tom and Addie both lived in Coles County prior to their meeting. Toms uncle, James Ratliff, lived in Coles County for many years. Tom and his brother Elsic set out for Coles County to be near friends and relatives. Tom and Addie were both working for George Van Horn, Addies brother-in-law, on his farm near the Oakland area. That was where they met and fell in love.
Tom moved his family from place to place wherever work was available. At various times they lived in Ashmore, Ashmore Township, Lerna, Seven Hickory Township and Pleasant Grove Township. Between 1908-11 they lived for a short time in Kansas City, Kansas where Ethel was born. Addie disliked Kansas very much the weather was extremely hot with occasional dust storms.
Around 1914 they lived in a tenant house on Clarence Popham's farm near Indian Creek in Pleasant Grove Township. Tom worked for Popham as a farm hand. This house caught fire and burned destroying all their possessions. The family had no insurance and the loss was devastating to them. The Popham and neighbors bought clothes and helped furnish another house for them. Tom was never able to get ahead after the fire. His brother Elsic helped them to make ends meet.
In 1917 a tornado struck Coles County and killed many residents of Mattoon and Charleston. The family lived north of Charleston. The tornado took down the garage, several sheds and trees. Several chickens were plucked clean of their feathers but otherwise unhurt. Tom went to town and used his wagon to haul dead to a temporary morgue.
Tom worked as a farm hand, raised hogs and always had a huge garden. During winter months he was the community butcher. He became known for his large truck gardens especially his watermelons. He is credited with developing two varieties of melons. he developed the Charleston Gray and the Tom Watson watermelons. Occasionally the seeds are still to be found in garden centers.
Tom died at the age of 60 from a strangulated hernia and is buried at the Ashmore Cemetery, Ashmore Illinois.

James married Addie Ellen Bryant on 23 Nov 1906 in Charleston, Coles County, Illinois. Addie (daughter of Joshua Bryant and Nancy Ann Rose) was born on 8 Aug 1890 in Morgan County, Kentucky; died on 10 Jan 1973 in Rardin, Coles County, Illinois; was buried on 12 Jan 1973 in Greasy Point (Union) Cemetery Coles County, Illinios. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Source: Thomas C. Watson, Coles County Courthouse Charleston, Illinois
Compiler: Thomas C. Watson 2/28/81

After Addie's first husband Toms death she stayed on in Ashmore. Toms brother Elsic passed away in 1934 and left all his possessions to Addie and the family. Addie went to work for Clive Keran, a tenant farmer in Ashmore Township, as a housekeeper. A relationship developed and they married. They lived in Ashmore for about five years. Clive purchased property in Radin, Illinois and built a home where they raised hogs and cattle. Clive died in 1960 as the result of a stroke.
Addie suffered from cancer in 1958 and almost died. Her lower bowel, part of her liver and part of her kidney were removed. She was in critical condition for more than a month with one hemorrhage after another. Marie Bull came to the family and offered to help before Addie blead to death. Marie went to Addie and shortly thereafter the hemorrhaging stopped and Addie recovered. It was never learned what Marie did to stop the bleeding.
Addie was baptized after Clives death by Rev. Jim Heath of the North Union Baptist Church.
Addie died January 10, 1973 at home in Radin, Illinois at the age of 82 from a Coronary Thrombosis. She was buried beside her second husband Clive Kern in Greasy Point (Union) Point Cemetery Coles County, Illinois

Joshua married Nancy Ann Rose on 4 Mar 1869. Nancy was born about 1846 in Breathitt County, Kentucky; died on 17 Apr 1898 in Illinois; was buried in Union Cemetery, Oakland, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alt. Birth: 1846; Alt. Birth

Hiram married Sarah Jane Mullins between 1839 and 1868. Sarah was born on 27 Sep 1824 in Morgan County, Kentucky; died on 4 Mar 1901 in Morgan County, Kentucky; was buried in Hill Facing Wendell Cole, Pikin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]