Biographies: James R. Watts, 1932, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: July 15, 1932 Winn Parish Enterprise or Winnfield News-American

Passing In Review

This Week We Have James R. Watts

by R. W. Oglesby

In 1903 one of the most important stores in Winnfield was the M. M. Fisher Dry
Goods Co., Ltd.  One of the prominent personages of that institution was J. R.
Watts who looked after the grocery department.  Until he came to Winnfield
about 1900, Mr. Watts had been a very successful farmer in Claiborne, where
he was born, Bienville and Natchitoches from whence he came to Winnfield
to engage in the mercantile business.  This business grew and thrived and
was later changed to the name of the Grand Leader Dry Goods Co.  Mr. Watts
sold his stock in it and engaged in the drug business where the Winnfield Drug
Store is now located.  He sold that and went back into the grocery business in
which he was engaged when he passed away.

Mr. Watts was known far and wide for his pleasant disposition and fair
dealings.  He took an interest in civic welfare of the town and community and
gave liberally of his means for the promotion of all worthy enterprises.  For
a number of years before his passing he was the president of the local school
board in which he wielded a wide influence.  Good common sense was his
greatest asset.  He had no time for frills and, although he was neat in his
appearance, he refused to wear a necktie because it was useless as a part of
the apparel.  He was a regular attendant of the Methodist Church.  He lived
right at the church and was there every time the church bell rang.  He was a
great congregational singer. When the organist failed to show up he was
the one to "hist" the tune.  He did it gracefully without the aid of a tuning
fork or running the scale and invariably got the tune just right and never
let it lag.  For many years the Men's Bible Class met every Sunday in his
home.

He had a very interesting family consisting of four girls and four boys.  He
loved his children and they loved and respected him.  He palled with the boys
and frolicked with the girls, but when he said "no" they knew he meant it and
that was the last of it.  He kept his troubles to himself and for that reason
most people thought he didn't have any.  During the World War three of his
boys were in France.  Not a word of murmur or complaint ever escaped his lips.
His boys were no better than other boys and not one thing did he do to keep
them from going to the front.  That is where he would have been if he had been
of the right age.  His heart bled for them, but the outside world did not know
it.

At Sunday school I had a class of teen age boys.  Like all boys of that age
they were frolicsome and sometimes hilarious.  One Sunday Prentice and Curtis
Fick got too boisterous and I sent them home.  They never gave me any more
trouble after that.  I learned by the grapevine telephone that they both got a
good sound thrashing.  Not long ago, on one of his visits, Prentice told me
that was the last and hardest whipping his father ever gave him.

Mr. Watts was quiet and didn't do a great deal of talking but when he did
speak he meant what he said.  Although very religiously inclined he was not a
sissy by any means and did not try to force his way of thinking on anyone, but
in his daily walk he exerted a good influence upon his associates.  There was
nothing wishy-washy about him and you always knew where to place him on all
moral questions.  He took a stand and stood by it.  He took an active interest
in politics, but was careful not to offend others who didn't see things as he
did.

His only diversion from business was a fishing trip about once a year.  He
thoroughly enjoyed these outings and entered joyously into the sport of
pulling the goggle eyes out with a hook and line.  I doubt if he ever used
a rod and reel.  The old time way was good enough for him.  In fact, he had
no inclination to depart from the old order of things.

Winnfield has never had a more worthy citizen than J. R. Watts, and his sudden
passing was a staggering blow to the moral forces in whose ranks he was a
gallant soldier.  He was the soul of honor and integrity and his breast was
always bared in defense of truth and justice.