From "History of North Washington" Published 1904

Transcribed by: Candy Grubb (candyg@theofficenet.com)
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JOHN J. WATSON
	John J. Watson resides about two miles south from Curlew
where he does general farming and stock raising.  He was born in
Bloomfield, Iowa, on August 25, 1851, being the son of G.W. and
Hannah G. (Waddell) Watson, natives of Vermont and Indiana, respectively.
The parents settled in Iowa in 1847 and in Wayne county in that state
in 1858.  At the beginning of the Civil War, the father enlisted in
Company M, Seventh Missouri Cavalry and fought for three years for
the union.  He was wounded in the right hip at Fort Smith and never 
recovered the use of his limb, fully.  He died in Mount Ayr, in 1891,
where the mother now lives.  They were the parents of seven children,
Lewis, John J., Olivia Walker, Travetta Depew, Arizona Arvado, Emma S.
Ellis, and Hallie J., who died in 1881.  From the public school, Mr.
Watson received his education and until he was twenty-one, remained
with his father.  At that age he commenced railroading and followed the
same for eleven years.  After this he continued his education on the 
farm and in 1879, came to Kansas, which was his home for three years.
Thence he moved to Nebraska, where he resided six years.  After that
came the journey across the plains to the Pacific coast with mule 
teams, five months being consumed on the road.  He landed in Seattle
on September 14, and there did teaming and draying for a year or so.
Later we find him in the coal business in Tacoma and in 1892, he took 
a logging contract for Allan C. mason.  Following that he came to 
North Yakima, taking up the coal and wood business, which occupied
him until 1897.  In that year he came to Eureka, now Republic, being
one of the first settlers in that town.  He operated an express there
until 1901, then took one hundred and sixty acres near Curlew, which he 
improved and sold April 11, 1903.  Mr. Watson then settled on his farm
where he now resides, about fifty acres of which he has under cultivation.
In addition to general farming, he does stock raising and has quite a
band.
	On August 29, 1877, Mr. Watson married Miss Sarah Knott, whose 
parents James A. and Ellen T. (Shellhouse) Knott, were natives of 
Pennsylvania and early pioneers to Hancock county, Illinois.  The 
father died in 1875, then the mother came to Iowa and later moved to
Missouri, where she died in 1900.  Eight children were born in this 
family, Clara E. Newingham, Mary Hanks, deceased, Bell Fowler,
Jane Arnold, Cyrus, Marius, Horace, and James A.  To Mr. and Mrs.
Watson, four children have been born: Cora B.,married to F.R. Burdette,
a farmer residing near Curlew; Ethel, married to F.H. Stevenson, in
Curlew; Elbie E., and Emory R.	
	Mr. Watson is a Republican and always takes an active interest
in political matters.  He is a member of the school board and has been
deputy sheriff and United States marshal at Yakima.  He has also held
various other offices.
	Fraternally Mr. Watson is affiliated with the I.O.O.F., the 
W.W., the S. of V., and the F.P.P.  Mrs. Watson is a member of the 
Adventist church.  Mr. Watson was recently appointed crop reporter
for this section of the country, by the Spokane agency.  He is a man of
good standing and has shown valuable knowledge and interest in his labors
in Ferry county.
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