BIO: James C. WATSON, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 189-190.
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  JAMES C. WATSON, McConnellstown, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in 
Walker township, July 24, 1823. He is a son of Samuel and Ophelia 
(Coleman) Watson. William Watson, his grandfather, was born in Ireland. 
When a young man he came to the United States and settled in Huntingdon 
county, where he was a coal miner and tar manufacturer. He married in 
Huntingdon county and had several children. Mr. Watson's politics are 
Democratic; he died at Shavers Creek. Samuel Watson, father of James 
Watson, was born at Shavers Creek, Huntingdon county, Pa., February, 
1796. He was educated in a subscription school and was fairly well-
read. In winter he thrashed grain for farmers, using the time-honored 
flail, in summer he worked as a farm laborer. He afterwards took charge 
of a distillery for John Patton, farmer and sheriff of the county. Mr. 
Wilson* belonged to the Democratic party. He was married at Shavers 
Creek, to Ophelia Coleman, who was born in Shavers Creek, Huntingdon 
county in 1793. Their living children are: James C.; and Willson B., 
judge at Huntingdon. Those dead are: Maria (Mrs. Joseph Heaton); Nancy 
(Mrs. Valentine Fink); Simpson; Mary Jane (Mrs. John Yocum); Samuel; 
and John. Mr. Watson belonged to the United Brethren church. He died in 
Walker township, September 2, 1857. His wife died Sunday, March 23, 
1852, near Huntingdon, aged fifty-eight years, five months and seven 
days.
  James C. Watson spent his school days in a log school house, with 
slab seats, rough pine benches and windows of oiled paper. He worked on 
his father's farm until he was twenty-five, when he rented the home 
farm of 133 acres, and raised fruit. In a few years he bought the farm, 
improved it, and lived there until 1894, when he retired, moved to 
McConnellstown, and bought a handsome dwelling for $1,000. He enlisted 
at McConnellstown, February 29, 1865, in Company K, Seventy-eighth 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Bonaffon, Capt. John Brewster. He 
served for three months doing guard duty, was in the hospital from 
fever and was honorably discharged in June, 1865. He is a member of 
George Simpson Post, No. 44, G. A. R., of Huntingdon. Mr. Watson 
belongs to the Democratic party. He is interested in the affairs of his 
township. He has been a member of the school board twenty years, and 
supervisor of roads for eight years.
  James C. Watson was married in Walker township, January 6, 1852, to 
Martha, daughter of Moses and Elizabeth (Householder) Hamer. Mr. Hamer 
was a farmer of Walker township, where Mrs. Watson was born, August 7, 
1828. Their children are: Mary E., born 1856, wife of John B. 
Shenefelt, a farmer of Juniata township, had six children; Lizzie, born 
1859; Jennie, born September 16, 1862, deceased; and Amanda, born 
September 1, 1866, school teacher. Mr. Watson is a member of the German 
Reformed church, and is greatly interested in church affairs.
*Should be Watson not Wilson.