Bio of Watson, James T. (b.1840) Wabasha Co., MN
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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1920.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab3.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Watson, James T. (page 637), a retired farmer residing in Lake City, was
born in Perthshire, Scotland, October 29, 1840, son of Thomas and Margaret
Watson. His parents, who lived and died in their native land, had a large
family of 15 children, namely: Jeanette, Thomas, David, James, Alexander,
George, William, Margaret, Helen, Elizabeth, James T., Grace, Isabella,
John and Elizabeth (second). Of these children four are now living: James
T., of Lake City, Minn.; John, who is in Scotland; Elizabeth in New
Zealand, and Isabella in Bellingham, Wash. James T. Watson in his boyhood
attended common school in his native land. His parents being poor, at an
early age he had to help support himself and when seven years old was
accustomed to herd cattle. In 1869 he emigrated to America with his sister
and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. George Penny, the party coming directly
to Lake City, Minn. Mr. Penny and wife soon moved to Redwood County, where
Mrs. Penny died; her husband is now living in California. During his first
year in Wabasha County James T. Watson worked as a farm hand for his
brother George at $20 a month. With a view to future independence he saved
his money and at the end of a year bought a horse team. He then rented 50
acres of Andrew Boss of Gillford Township, broke his land, put in his
crop, and then went to Redwood County, locating near Redwood Falls. In the
fall he returned to Wabasha County and harvested his crop on the Boss
farm, after which he went back to Redwood County. Two years later Mr.
Watson located on a homestead of 160 acres ten miles southeast of Redwood
Falls, where he remained until 1884, when grasshoppers and drought drove
him out and he returned to Wabasha County and settled on his Gillford
Township farm. Here he was more successful and remained until 1900. His
farm consisted of 160 acres in section 23, the land being good. When he
left he turned it over to his two sons, John W. and Arlo J., and moved to
a farm which he had bought in Belvidere Township, Goodhue County, which
also contained 160 acres of good land. In 1911 Mr. Watson found himself in
comfortable circumstances and accordingly retired and took up his
residence in Lake City, leaving his sons Earl and Walter to operate his
farm. He owns a comfortable home at the corner of Adams and N. Sixth
streets. Politically he has always been a Republican, though not a strong
party man. In Redwood County he served as chairman of Three Lakes
Township, also as town clerk and as assessor for different terms. Mr.
Watson was married May 18, 1874, to Mary, daughter of John and Elizabeth
McPhee, of New Avon Township, Redwood County, Minn., and both he and his
wife are still strong and in good health for people of their years. They
have had 11 children, as follows: Margaret, born February 25, 1876; John
W., April 26, 1877; Arlo J., January 4, 1879; Elizabeth, December 28,
1881; Minnie, April 24, 1883; Mabel, April 23, 1885; Cora, January 25,
1887; Grace, February 3, 1889; Irl, January 15, 18 ; Roy, July 22, 1893,
and Walter, January 27, 1897. Several of these children are now deceased.
Elizabeth died in her fifth year May 13, 1886, and Grace while still a
babe, on March 7, 1890. Mabel, who married Henry Cordes, resides in Hay
Creek Township, Goodhue County, Minn. Cora, who married Charles Cordes,
died December 20, 1915, leaving a son, Ray Watson Cordes, who since his
mother's death has been reared and cared for by his grandparents, Mr. and
Mrs. James T. Watson. Irl and Walter are living on their father's farm in
Belvidere township, Goodhue County. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are affiliated
religiously with the First congregational Church of Lake City and are
highly respected members of the community. They have been fortunate in
many things, but their life has not been all sunshine, and as devoted
parents they have felt sorrow at the affliction of their two children
Margaret A. and Arlo J., both of whom are deaf, and who graduated from the
Faribault School for the Deaf in 1896 after being there for ten years.