MAHONING COUNTY OHIO - BIO: WATSON, Charles Gamble (1925)
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History of Ohio
The American Historical Society Inc., 1925
Volume IV, page 160

        CHARLES GAMBLE WATSON, secretary and treasurer of the Youngstown
Welding Company, is one of the successful men in this industry who has been
fitted for his work by technical training and practical experience. Having
worked for others, he knows the needs of his men, and is thus better able
to direct the policies of his company than can one whose knowledge is but
theoretical. He was born at Penfield, Monroe County, New York, December 16,
1891, a son of Abram M. and Martha (Gamble) Watson, natives of Penfield and
Groveland, New York, respectively. Since reaching manhood Abram Watson has
been a farmer, and he is now a substantial man of his community.
        Better educated than the majority of farmers' sons, Charles Gamble
Watson attended the district school, Webster High School, the Geneseo State
Normal School, the Rochester Mechanics Institute and Columbia University,
and left the latter in 1912. Coming then to Youngstown, he was engaged in
school teaching for three years in this city, and then entered the
Youngstown Sheet & Tube Company, and worked on a construction line for
eighteen months.
        War broke out in upon his plans, and like the majority of the young
men of the country he gave a military service during the World war. He
enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Engineering Corps of the Regular United States
Army, and was sent to France in the spring of 1918. After going abroad he
was detailed as draughtsman at general headquarters at Chaumont. In July,
1919, he was returned to the United States and honorably discharged.
        Coming back to Youngstown, he became field engineer for the
Youngstown Pressed Steel Company for four months, and then went with the W.
B. Pollock Company as assistant to the chief engineer. This association
continued for one year and eight months, when he assumed his present duties
with the Youngstown Welding Company, which was the first of its kind
established in Mahoning County. The founder of the business, Walter D.
McKay, now president of the Youngstown Welding Company, is a pioneer in the
industry. Soon after organization Martin Raush was taken into the business,
and the partners conducted a general repair shop until August 1, 1919, when
the present company was incorporated, with Mr. McKay, as above stated, as
president; Arthur Morgan as vice president and Martin Raush, treasurer. Mr.
Watson later succeeded Mr. Raush. The capitalization is for $50,000. Since
the company was incorporated the business has been developed into a general
manufacturing one, producing transformers, cases, truck tanks, open-hearth
hoods and miscellaneous light plate construction. The company owns its own
plant at 536 West Rayen Avenue, where the premises are 37 1/2 x 150 feet,
and 72 1/2 x 150 feet, and here employment is give to about twenty-five
men. Recently the company has acquired a tract of land at Wickliffe, where
the railroad facilities on a branch of the Erie are excellent. This
expansion was made necessary on account of the large increase in business,
and the new addition embraces four acres, which will afford ample space for
some time to come.
        On June 3, 1920, Mr. Watson was married at Youngstown, Ohio, to
Sally Leedy, daughter of William and Sallie (Miller) Leedy, natives of
Baltimore and Frederick County, Maryland, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Watson
have no children. He was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian Church. In
Masonry he has advanced through the York Rite and also belongs to the
Mystic Shrine. He is past master of Beuchner Council. In politics he is a
republican.






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