Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Watson, T. B. August 21, 1879 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com October 28, 2009, 6:07 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 153-154
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     For many years T. B. (Barney) Watson has been a conspicuous figure in 
ocean transportation circles on the Pacific coast, and is now vice president 
and general manager of the Oceanic Terminals at Portland, a position for which 
his previous wide experience had well qualified him and in which he is 
rendering able and effective service. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the 
21st day of August, 1879, he is a son of Alexander Wilson and Eliza J. (Bond) 
Watson, both now deceased. His father was long engaged in railroad service and 
was for thirty-five years with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. In 
1889 the family moved to Tacoma, Washington, subsequently to Bellingham, that 
state, and eventually to Seattle.

     T. B. Watson received a good public school education and his first 
regular work was as office boy for P. B. Cornwall, of Bellingham. Before 
twenty years of age, he was working as a locomotive fireman, and later was on 
the Great Western Railroad as fireman and engineer. His first connection with 
ocean transportation service was as a checker on the water front at Seattle, 
after which he entered the employ of the Alexander line as purser and freight 
clerk. In 1904 he went to Alaska as steamship agent, with headquarters first 
at Nome and later at Anchorage, at which points he acted as general agent for 
Schbach & Hamilton, later for the Western Alaska Steamship Company and finally 
for the Pacific Steamship Company. In 1913 Mr. Watson returned to Seattle and 
a short time afterwards went to San Francisco, where he was connected with the 
Pacific Coast Steamship Company until 1916. He then returned to Alaska as 
general agent for the Pacific-Alaska Navigation Company, which was absorbed by 
the Pacific Steamship Company in the following November, with which 
organization he remained in Alaska until November, 1918. He was then made 
general claim agent for the Pacific Steamship Company, with headquarters first 
at Tacoma, and later at Seattle, where he continued until December, 1919, when 
he was sent to Central South America to make a trade survey for the Pacific 
Steamship Company, this work engaging his attention until June, 1920. On his 
return to this country, he was promoted to the position of district freight 
agent at San Francisco, in charge of the California territory, and three 
months later was made assistant general freight agent. He held that position 
until October, 1921, when he was transferred to Seattle as intercoastal 
freight agent, in charge of intercoastal and European trade, and served in 
that capacity until July 31, 1922, when he came to Portland as manager of the 
Oregon district of the Pacific Steamship Company. On July 1, 1927, Mr. Watson 
severed his relations with that company and became vice president and general 
manager of the Oceanic Terminals, which dual position he is now holding. The 
Oceanic Terminals, of which George Powell is president and Commander R. C. 
Brennan, secretary and treasurer, has one of the best plants on the Pacific 
coast. It has three berths for ocean commerce; a large, refrigerated 
warehouse, with a capacity for three hundred and fifty thousand boxes of 
apples; three cargo sheds, with two hundred and eighteen thousand square feet 
of floor space; and railroad trackage for fifty-two cars.

     In 1910 Mr. Watson was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle Crane, of 
Tacoma, Washington, and they are the parents of five children, Mary Ellen, 
Dorothy Jane, Evalyn, Nancy Ethel and Bonnie Jean. Mr. Watson gives his 
political support to the republican party, and is a Mason, an Elk and a member 
of the Alderwood Country Club. A man of strong individuality and sterling 
character, he has very capably filled every position to which he has been 
called, and among those who know him and of the fine work which he has done he 
is held in the highest measure of esteem. 

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