Biography of Z L Watters, Fulton Co, AR

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Submitted by: Michael Brown <michael@grnco.net>
        Date: 26 Sep 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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page 307

Z. L. Watters, M. D., is of Scotch Irish birth and antecedents, and
his ancestors for four generations back have been prominently identified with
the interests of the State of Georgia, his father, Joseph Watters, having been
a prominent politician of that State in the days of his prime. The latter was
born in 1792 and was reared to manhood in his native State. During the Florida
War he served as captain under Gen. Nelson. He was a member of the legislature
from Floyd County, and was also a United States Senator from his senatorial
district, comprising three counties. His death occurred in 1866. His wife was
born in Oglethorpe County in 1799, and became the mother of thirteen children,
ten sons and three daughters, all of whom grew to maturity. All the former
served in the Confederate army with the exception of two brothers. One brother
was killed at Sharpsburg while serving in Lee's army, and another at Atlanta.
Dr. Z. L. Watters, our subject, was captain of a company from Gordon County,
Ga., and for gallant service was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel,
and served until Lee's surrender. He received his literary education at Rome,
Ga., and being now prepared to carry out a long cherished desire he entered
upon a course of medical study, entering the medical college of his native
State, from which he graduated in 1852. He had practiced until the opening of
the war at Calhoun, Ga., and also at other places in that State, and after the
war he again located in Calhoun, residing there until he came to Arkansas in
December, 1869. From that time until quite recently he was engaged in
practicing his profession at Salem, and acquired a superior reputation as an
able physician and surgeon. A short time since he retired from practice and is
now conducting a drug store, for which he is thoroughly qualified. He was for
many years the only physician in the place, and owing to his remarkably
successful career as such he has become the owner of 820 acres of land in three
different farms. He was married in 1866 to Miss M. A. Humphreys, but he was
called upon to mourn her loss by death in 1874. She left two children: Frank
and Nora. He subsequently wedded his present wife, whose maiden name was
Samantha Jeffrey. The following are the children which have been given them:
Zula Lee, Nettie Medora, Lamar, Lella and Ethel. Dr. Watters is a Democrat, and
has shown his brotherly spirit by becoming a Mason.