Bio: Marion Ivie Watson, Caddo Parish La Source: Chronicles of Shreveport and Caddo Parish, Maude Hearn O'Pry, 1928, Submitted by: Kay Thompson Brown ********************************************************** ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ************ MARION IVIE WATSON MARION IVIE WATSON was born in Holmes County, Mississippi, Nov, 11th, 1871. When about seven years of age he moved to Shreveport, coming here on the Steamboat "Maria Louise" from Vicksburg and up Red Riser. The site of Mr. Watson's present home was then a large grove of magnolia trees in the midst of which was located the old Sanitarium. The well is still there and the cistern is still in Mrs. Snyder's yard, which is next door. The well was walled up with brick and, being near the old fortifications, was used during the war. When a boy, Mr. Watson often played with other boys on the old fortifications and often fished in the old pond which was a part of the fortifications after the war. In those days it was not uncommon to hear the rumbling of cattle coming from Texas and the boys were sometimes forced to climb fences and trees in order to escape the stampedes which often occurred. The cattle were loaded at Arsenal Hill on boats for New Orleans and other ports. Mr, Watson's first job after coming to Shreveport was driving a Mule Car owned by Captain Peter Youree. He drove the car to the first State Fair ever held in Louisiana which was in Park Place, corner of Pierre avenue and Jordan street. He was among the first to drive the Electric Cars when they were put in operation in Shreveport. His day's work began at 5:20 in the morning and lasted until 10:20 at night. and often, after running his car all day, he worked on the cars into the night, occasionally working all night without extra pay, his daily wage being only $1.50. After two years, he was made Master Mechanic of the shop, from which position he was soon, after only eighteen months, made Superintendent of the road under the ownership of S. B. MeCutchen, John R. Jones and others. From the Street Car Company Mr. Watson went with the Union Oil Company, remaining there only about a year and then returning to the Street Car Company, where he stayed for the next two years. At the end of that time the Electric Company under W. F. Hamilton secured his services for about one year. The street cars then were in bad condition and he went back to them for a second time, staying about a year and a half, after which time he went to work for the Electric Light and Gas Company. He remained with this company two years and then went into the electrical business for himself, locating in the 500 block of Market street near where the Masonic Hall now stands. Among his first contracts were the Simon Building, the J. P. Scott residence and the old Phoenix Hotel. He recalls when the first street light was turned on. For a number of years the Street Car Company furnished lights to the town which were 500 volts Direct Current. This was very dangerous and they later changed to Alternating Current at 110 volts. Mr. Watson sold the first electric fans and electric motors in Shreveport. He wired the First Methodist Church and the First Baptist Church of that city. He specialized in industrial motor installations, installing the largest plants in Shreveport for electric power, among which are The W. K. Henderson Iron Works and Supply Company, with about 600 horse power; The Shreveport Mill and Elevator Company. with 250 horse power; The Victoria Lumber Company, with over 400 horse power now, and plans to add practically 400 horse power in the near future. He has installed about 800 horse power in tile rural districts on Cotton Gins since the South. western Gas and Electric Company have built their high lines from Shreveport to Texarkana. Mr. Watson was among the first to install a Radio in his home and has sold a large number of them in Shreveport where they were put on the market. He was the first to own and operate a Western Electric Public Address System in thee state and is the only person at the present time having this system for rent nearer than New Orleans. In January 1927 Mr Watson incorporated his business with a capital stock of $50,000, and made Messrs. W. A. Brobst and P. A. Shipp, who had been in his employ for a number of years, members of the firm. The officers at the present tine are Ivie Watson, president ; W. A. Brobst, vice president and P. A. Shipp, secretary treasurer.