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James Thomas Watson

James Thomas Watson

Male 1871 - 1931  (60 years)    Has no ancestors but 15 descendants in this family tree.

Personal Information    |    Sources    |    All

  • Name James Thomas Watson  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] 
    Birth 27 Feb 1871  Cannel City Morgan County, Kentucky Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 6] 
    Gender Male 
    Death 25 Jul 1931  Ashmore, Coles County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3] 
    Burial Ashmore Cemetery, Ashmore, Illinios Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3] 
    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.
    Person ID I3470  ktree
    Last Modified 4 Mar 2024 

    Family Addie Ellen Bryant,   b. 8 Aug 1890, Morgan County, Kentucky Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 10 Jan 1973, Rardin, Coles County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 82 years) 
    Other Partners: Clive S. Keran  m. 1956 
    Marriage 23 Nov 1906  Charleston, Coles County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Lula Francis Watson,   b. 20 Dec 1908   d. 20 Dec 1908 (Age 0 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     2. Ira Clarence Watson,   b. 1 Mar 1913, March 1, 1923 Find all individuals with events at this locationd. May 1985, Westfield Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 72 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
    ▻ Wanda Jacobs  m. 1 Jul 1937
     3. Asa Kenneth Watson,   b. 10 Mar 1915, Lerna, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 18 Sep 1984, Champagin Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 69 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     4. Sarah Zelma Watson,   b. 13 May 1917, Seven Hickory Twp. Coles Co. Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 11 Jan 1996, Charleston Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 78 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     5. Thomas Woodrow Watson,   b. 13 Jul 1919, Childer's Farm Coles Co. Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 24 Jun 1994, Mottoon, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 74 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     6. James Russel Watson,   b. 13 Apr 1922, Ashmore, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 20 Jul 1923, Ashmore, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 1 year)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     7. Martha Jane Watson,   b. 12 Jun 1924, Ashmore, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Between 1925 and 2003, Flordia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 0 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     8. Donald Eugene Watson,   b. 3 Jun 1927, Ashmore, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 25 Mar 1989, Hospital Danville Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 61 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     9. Eula Ethel Watson,   b. PRIVATE  [Father: private]  [Mother: private]
    Family ID F1286  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 4 Mar 2024 

  • Sources 
    1. [S100] Watson.FTW.
      Date of Import: Jul 5, 2001

    2. [S218] Genealogy.com, World Family Tree Volume 129, Tree 108, (Name: Name: http://www.genealogy.com/wftonline/v129/0101to0150/v129t0108.html;;).

    3. [S201] Leisure Guy, leisureguy@icloud.com, "KinshipTree - Historical Family Database", (Name: Name: http://kinshipcove.com Genealogy Research: Common Historical Roots In South Texas;;).

    4. [S41] angeline robertson.FBK.FBK.FTW.
      Date of Import: Nov 18, 2000

    5. [S5] angeline robertson1.FBK.FTW.
      Date of Import: Apr 4, 2001

    6. [S665] Coles County CourthouseThomas C. Watson.



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