Lewis County, West Virginia Biography of CHARLES W. WATSON This biography was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: The submitter does not have a connection to the subject of this sketch. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 457-458 CHARLES W. WATSON owns one of the good farms and is one of the progressive farmers of Lewis County in the Roanoke community, where he has 160 acres of land. Mr. Watson was born on Hackers Creek, West Virginia, November 9, 1846, son of William A. and Margaret A. (Wallace) Watson. His parents were both born in old Virginia, and the family has a notable record in connec- tion with Colonial and early national affairs. His great- grandfather, Zachariah Watson, was a soldier in the Revolu- tion. The grandfather, John P. Watson, was born April 10, 1789, and served as a soldier in the War of 1812. He died June 20, 1859. William A. Watson was born in Vir- ginia, April 30, 1818, and his wife was born June 2, 1819. After their marriage they moved to Lewis County, West Virginia, and settled on a farm on Hackers Creek, later moved to the vicinity of Roanoke, at the mouth of Sand Fork, and were quiet and industrious citizens in that com- munity the rest of their lives. The mother was a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. William A. Watson took an active interest in the affairs of the democratic party, and for a number of years served as a member of the County Court and as justice of the peace. The record of the names and dates of birth of the children of William A. and Margaret Watson is as follows: Mary E., August 19, 1843; John B., February 16, 1845; Charles W., November 9, 1846; Margaret S., April 12, 1848; Sarah A., July 30, 1849; Lucinda C., May 21, 1851; Harriett M., December 31, 1852; Permelia, April 24, 1854; T. A., April 17, 1856; Jacob J., December 26, 1859; and Joseph W., May 11, 1860. Charles W. Watson spent his early life on the old home- stead, and the well improved farm he owns is a portion of the place owned by his father. There were few schools in the locality during his youth, and his education largely came from private instruction. His father died March 13, 1883, and after that he remained at home with his step- mother. On March 1, 1893, he married Emma Wilson, who died with her only child. October 2, 1907, he married Martha Kelley, a native of Barbour County, West Virginia. They have a son, Wallace, born August 8, 1909. Mrs. Watson is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. He is affiliated with W. G. Bennett Lodge, A. F. and A. M., at Walkersville, with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Roanoke, of which he is a past noble grand, and he and his wife are Rebekahs. He has been an active worker in the democratic party, and has served as a member of the Board of Education.