BIO: James WATSON, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 792 & 793. _____________________________________________________________ JAMES WATSON,* a substantial and representative citizen of Bradford Township, for many years has resided on his well improved farm of 120 acres, which is favorably located six miles north of Woodland. Mr. Watson was born in Center County, Pa., in 1844, and is a son of William and Catherine (Griffin) Watson. William Watson was born also in Center County, where his father had settled when he came from Ireland. He was a shoemaker and followed his trade until his accidental death by drowning in the river, in 1857, in Bradford Township, Clearfield County. In 1843 he moved into Lawrence Township, this county, and five years later into Bradford Township, settling on the Thomas Holt property. His widow survived a long time, dying at the age of eighty-seven years. James Watson attended the district schools in his youth with as much regularity as did the average country boy and early made farming his choice of occupation. After marriage, in 1868, he settled on the farm on which he has lived and his carried on general farming and stock raising for some forty-two years. He follows methods of agriculture which he has proved suitable as to climate and soil and his stock has been remuneratively increased each season through proper feeding and attention. His activities have been those of an industrious, common sense, intelligent farmer and he has prospered accordingly. He has always taken an interest in public matters, especially those concerning his own county and township, and has served as a county commissioner, school director and township supervisor and road master. In 1868 Mr. Watson was married to Miss Amy Graham and six children were born to them, four of whom survive, namely: C. D., who married T. L. Livingston, of Bradford Township, and has four children; Arthur; Minnie, who married E. P. Echiley; and Lamrah. The first and second born children, William and Reed, died just one year apart, the former when three years old and the latter when but two years of age. Mr. Watson's surviving children have all been given public school advantages and are well informed men and women. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are members of the Methodist church.