Wharton Co., TX - Obits: WATTS, Amanda Melvina Armstrong Victor
***************************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/txfiles.htm
***************************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Kathleen Fazio kfaze1217@aol.com May 18, 2005, 3:01 pm

Wharton Spectator
From the Wharton Spectator newspaper after her death, October 23, 1924.

MRS A. M. WATTS IS CALLED BEYOND

After months of patient suffering, aged lady died Tuesday evening: Mrs Amanda
M. Watts passed away at the home of her daughter, Tuesday evening at
7:00 o'clock, death coming peacefully to her who through the years had
suffered patiently and who met Him unafraid.

The funeral was held from the First Baptist Church, the pastor, Rev George E
Stewart conducting the services and paying tribute in full measure to the
deceased, who largely in her lifetime, had contributed to the development of
the church here, giving of her substance and of her time in unstinted measure
that there might obtain a better spiritual life, and a more Christian feeling
here.

Mrs Watts was quite active until about eight years ago when she suffered a
fall that so seriously injured a hip that since that time when able to get
about at all it was with the aid of crutches.  She made her home with her
widowed daughter, Mrs Maggie Moore, until a few weeks ago, when her condition
became such that it was thought advisable to take her to Mrs Bolton's where
she might have constant attention, and it was here that the end came to her
Tuesday afternoon.

Amanda M Armstrong was born at Camden, Alabama, in 1846, and in that place
grew to womanhood. She was married to Octavius Victor, who when the war
between the States broke out, enlisted in the army of Virginia and marched
away to meet the foe. He was killed in battle, leaving his widow with a baby
son. After the war, about 1870, she was united in marriage to J C Watts, and
of this union four children were the issue. In 1879, Mrs Watts at the instance
of her brother, Rev J B Armstrong, who had come out to Texas, induced her
husband to come to move to the Lone Star State, and they came to Wharton,
where the brother then held the pastorate. They had not lived long here until
death claimed the second husband and Mrs Watts was left with the burden of the
support and care of her five children.

This burden she bore up under with that patient Christian fortitude which was
one of her strongest characteristics, and she applied foe and was elected to
teach the first public school ever opened in this City. After serving in this
capacity for several years, she was appointed postmaster, August 17, 1881, a
position she filled until March 17, 1887; and again July 10,1894 until
December 19, 1900. She always found time to attend church, of which she became
a member at the age of 12 years, regularly, and to teach a class of the Sunday
School. The children grew to maturity, enjoying the respect and confidence of
all who knew them, and Wednesday all five of them were here to mingle their
tears as the remains of their beloved mother were tenderly consigned to God's
Acre by the friends of a lifetime and the mound above her was banked with the
floral offerings that spoke mutely of the esteem in which she was held by all.

In addition to the children, namely, W O Victor of Uvalde, Mrs Maggie Moore of
Wharton, R P Watts of Wichita Falls, Mrs Jennie Bolton of Wharton and Calloway
Watts of Houston, Mrs Watts is survived by her brothers, Rev J B Armstrong of
Kyle and R A Armstrong of this city, 20 grandchildren and seven great-
grandchildren.

File at:
http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/wharton/obits/w/watts59gob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/txfiles/