WATSON, Charles S., b. 1845: 1905 Bio, San Miguel County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/sanmiguel/bios/watsoncs.txt --------------------------------------- Donated June 2004 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Charles S. Watson Charles S. Watson, county superintendent of the public schools in San Miguel county, this state, and for nearly a quarter of a century active in the development and progress of the state, is a native of Canada, born on the soil of the dominion on April 21, 1845, and the son of Stephen and Hannah M. (Kinyon) Watson, the former a native of England and the latter of New York. The father came to the United States with his parents when he was but a year old, and after reaching years of maturity and getting married moved to Canada, and while he and his wife were living in that country, their son was born. When he was three years old they returned to New York and two years later moved to Michigan. There the son Charles grew to manhood and received his education, attending high and normal schools in that state, and afterward took a thorough college course at his home. In 1866 he went on the Mississippi river and learned the business of a pilot, at which he was employed two years, then returned home and engaged in farming in the summer seasons and in teaching school in the winters until 1881, when he came to Colorado and settled at Telluride. The town had just been started and for a time he turned his attention to mining, later building a hotel which he conducted for a number of years. In 1883 he was appointed clerk of the district court and for fifteen years in succession he was continued in this office. In 1887 he was also elected county clerk and to this office he was once re-elected, serving two terms in all. Attracted by the gold excitement of 1898 in Alaska, he made a trip to that country in that year, going two thousand miles into the interior. The next year he returned to this state, and in 1900 went to Prince of Wales Island. Coming back to Washington, he made another trip to Alaska, going to Cape Nome, and from there returned once more to Prince of Wales Island where he bought a small sailing vessel in which he came again to the Pacific and then made a prospecting trip over Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona and Mexico. He located a number of valuable properties in Arizona which he still owns. In 1902 he once more took up his residence at Telluride and was appointed county school superintendent, a position which he is still filling and in which he has won golden opinions for his capacity and the vigor of his administration. Mr. Watson's life has been a busy one, and he has employed his opportunities to good purpose. He owns considerable town property at Telluride and elsewhere, has mining claims of value, as has been stated, and has other possessions of extensive worth. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being a charter member of the lodge at Telluride, and in its welfare he takes an active and intelligent interest. In 1875, while living in Michigan, he was united in marriage with Miss Almira McClellan, a native of that state. They have two children, their son Charles Lee, the law partner of Congressman Hogg of this state, and a resident of Telluride; and their daughter Belle, the wife of Harry Turner, of Durango, and former superintendent of the schools in San Miguel county. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.