BIO: Hiram Watts, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2011.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

                              CHAPTER LIX.

                         UPPER ALLEN TOWNSHIP.

572  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

  HIRAM WATTS, farmer, Shepherdstown, is the only one of his immediate 
relatives who came to this county, but his name is well known in this 
and adjacent counties.  He was born in York County, Penn., January 21, 
1824, and is second son of Andrew and Elizabeth Watts, who resided on a 
farm in Newberry Township, that county, and were the parents of two 
sons and seven daughters.  Our subject came to Upper Allen Township, 
this county, in 1846, engaging with George Nebenger to work on a farm.  
December 3, 1848, he was married to Sarah A., daughter of Charles and 
Susan (Keiper) Bingaman, formerly of Lancaster County, but who came as 
early as 1820 to Shepherdstown (then known as Jennystown).  Of the two 
sons and six daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Bingaman, Mrs. Eliza A. Morrett, 
Mrs. Catharine Kohler, Mrs. Rebecca Blosser and Mrs. Watts are still 
living. The year after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Watts commenced 
housekeeping near Shepherdstown, and afterward built themselves a 
cottage in the village.  For eleven years he worked at the carpenter's 
trade, earning the money which gave him a start in the business world, 
and in 1855 commenced farming.  He prospered, and, in 1876, purchased 
the nice farm on which he how resides, and there were born his 
children:  Lewis, Charles, Lizzie, Ira and Clara.  Lewis married Mary 
Miller, and resides at Dillsburg; he is engaged in the drug trade.  
Charles is employed in the office of the Cumberland Valley Railroad at 
the same place.  All the children are finely educated, and well fitted 
to attend to any business or grace any position in society.  The 
parents live on the farm, surrounded by their children, and enjoy the 
comforts which come to those who have lived long, useful lives.  When 
it is taken into consideration that Mr. Watts left the parental roof at 
the age of eight years, made a living, accumulated a fine property, 
and, besides, has maintained and educated a family that ranks second to 
none in the land, he certainly deserves great credit.  He was judge of 
elections in 1857, and for many years swerved in an official capacity 
on the school board.