WATSON, John F., M. D., Wilcox County, AL., then Morehouse Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller

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Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged
in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 679-680.  Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914,
by Century Historical Association.

Watson, John Ferme, M. D., of Bastrop, son of Theodore H. and Sarah Elenor (Pritchett) Watson
was born at Clifton, Wilcox county, Ala., March 24, 1863.  Theodore H. was born in New York
city in the early 30's and remained there until 22 years of age when he came south and located in
Wilcox county where he married.  He was a merchant and planter and also engaged in the
wholesale grocery and commission trade in Mobile for many years as a member of the firms of
Watson & Oliver in the grocery, and of Watson, Ervin & Co., in the commission business.  He
died December 11, 1876, in Clifton, Ala., aged 44 years.  Four children grew to manhood: 
George Ferme,  John Ferme, M. D.,  Alexander,  Francis Collingwood.  Dr. John F. Watson was
reared in Alabama, attended Barton academy in Mobile, and later the Medical college of Alabama,
which afterward became the medical department of the State university located at Mobile.  Dr.
Watson graduated March 22, 1885 with the degree of M. D. and at once began the practice of
medicine in Sunny South, Ala., where he remained for 6 years.  In 1891 he moved to Archibald,
Richland parish, La., and May 14, 1898, he came to Bastrop where he has since followed his
profession with great success.  In 1907 he established the drug business in Bastrop known as the
Watson Drug Co., of which he has been president and financial head since its organization.  Dr.
Watson owns a plantation on Bayou Bartholomew and manages this himself.  He is a member of
the Morehouse parish and the Louisiana State Medical societies and is public health officer and
school inspector of the parish, is also member of Missouri Pacific Railway Surgeon's society of
Louisiana and local surgeon for that company at Bastrop.  He is a member of the Episcopal
church.  He takes a deep interest in Masonry and is past master of Mt. Gerizim Lodge, No. 54 F.
& A. M., High Priest of Livingston Chapter No. 16 R. A. M., is a Knight Templar and is also a
Noble of the Mystic Shrine.  He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows. He was mayor of Bastrop from 1904 to 1908, was aide de camp on Gov.
J. V. Sanders staff during his entire administration with the rank of lieutenant-colonel and was one
of the governor's political advisers for this section of Louisiana.  He was also a member of the
democratic state executive committee for 12 years.  In 1887 Dr. Watson married Leona Southall
of Lower Peachtree, Ala.  She is a daughter of Henry and Caroline and granddaughter of Capt.
Jack Southall a pioneer of Ala.  Dr. Watson's grandfather was Alexander Watson, a lawyer and
British consul, stationed at New York City, and was always a British subject.  Six months after
reaching New York his son, Theodore H., the father of Dr. Watson, was born.  Alexander
Watson's wife was Marguerite Ferme, first cousin of Lord Charles Collingwood, second in
command at the battle of Trafalgar.  Dr. Watson's youngest brother was named for Sir Francis
Collingwood, a younger brother of Lord Charles. The ancestors of Dr. Watson's mother were
refugees of the Stuart and Hanover war or of Charles the Pretender, and she is directly descended
from the McPhersons of the Scotch clan.  She was also the granddaughter of Gen. Nettles of
South Carolina.