Butler County AlArchives News.....MARKER  AT  THE  GRAVE OF JOHN H. WATTS UNVEILED November 11 1929
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Wade Watts Kuisel wadekuisel@comcast.net May 18, 2004, 9:36 pm

Surname File, Greenville Public Library
Father of Alabama's Wartime Governor Honored by Patriotic Society:

More than one hundred people assembled at the Watts family cemetery Sunday 
afternoon to witness the unveiling of a marker in honor of John Hughes Watts, 
a soldier of the War of 1812.

To the great disappointment of the crowd a downpour of rain drove everybody 
into the cars before the officers of the organization reached the cemetery. 
After a long wait most of the cars left, for the thunder and harder rain 
dampened the spirits of all present. At last the cars from Birmingham and 
Montgomery arrived, but no ceremony could be conducted at the grave. An effort 
was made to tell those present to stop at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Murphy, 
on the highway. Mr. Murphy is a great grandson of John Hughes Watts. His 
little daughters, Peggy and Jean, are great-great-grand children of this 
soldier of the War of 1812, so it was fitting that the ceremony should take 
place there, though a disappointment that it could not be seen at the cemetery.

The party from Birmingham inculded Mrs. Robert Woodrow, State President of the 
Daughters of 1812; Mrs. D.T. Smith, Vice President; Mrs. B.B. Comer, Miss 
Adele Shaw, officers, and others. From Montgomery a number of lineal 
descendants. The entire trip was made in the rain which was stormy at one 
time, hence the delay, and the consequent change of plans.

Patriotic organizations do valuable service in preserving history and honoring 
the men who gave service to a worthy cause. One means employed is the marking 
of their graves. The burial place of the Watts family is on the right of the 
Brandon Highway, sixteen miles west of this city. Three shafts mark the graves 
of members of the Watts family, three others have slabs of marble on marble 
foundation, and several graves, unmarked, are known to have been there.

John Hughes Watts was a pioneer settler of Butler County, then a part of 
Conecuh, emigrating from Greene County, Ga. in 1815. His birthplace was 
Fauquier County, Va. He was born on April 2, 1781, and died on Oct. 20, 1841. 
He was the son of Thomas Watts and Hannah Rust Bogges of that county.

John Hughes Watts was married in Athens, Ga., April 27, 1815, to Prudence 
Hill, daughter of Thomas Hill and Elizabth Webb. These were the parents of 
Thomas Hill Watts, war governor of Alabama, and attorney general of the 
Confederacy. John Hughes Watts was a member of the Masonic fraternity.

Mr. Watts' descendants number many in the fourth and fifth generations. A 
number were present Sunday afternoon. In the crowd there were citizens of Pine 
Apple, Forest Home, Pine Flat, Greenville, Montgomery, Birmingham, and other 
communities. The Department of Archives and History was represented by Mrs. 
W.T. Shehan, of Montgomery.

Marking this soildier's grave after his death, 88 years ago, is of decided 
historic interest. To care for the living is a duty, to remember one's 
departed loved ones is a matter of pride. The Daughters of 1812 have conferred 
an honor on Butler County by honoring the name of Watts and marking this grave 
of a soldier of the War of 1812.

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