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William H. WattsWilliam H. Watts, farmer, Rison, Ark. Mr. Watts was originally from Union County, N. C., where his birth occurred in 1841, and is the son of Capt. Davis W. and Mary B. (Timmons) Watts, natives of North Carolina and South Carolina respectively. The parents resided in North Carolina for some time, and then moved to Chesterfield District, S. C., where the father died in 1858. The mother died about 1885, in fall communion with the Baptist Church. Mr. Watts was a well-to-do farmer, and was captain of the militia at an early day. His father, Isaac Watts, was a native of Ireland, and after marriage came to the United States, settled in North Carolina, and there died some time in the forties. He was a farmer. Our subject's great-grandfather's name was also Isaac Watts and he spent the latter part of his days in North Carolina. John Isaac Timmons, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was of Scotch-Irish parentage, and died in Chesterfield District, S. C. He was a farmer and merchant by occupation. William H. Watts, the subject of this sketch, was the second of eleven children born to his parents. He was reared to farm life, received a rather limited education in the common schools, and after the death of his father was obliged to assist in supporting the family. As his parents and grandparents were successful agriculturists, it was but natural perhaps that when starting out for himself he should select this as his calling in life. In 1861 he joined Company H, of Gen. Hindman's Legions of Infantry, and operated in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri. He was wounded at Shiloh, came home, but a few months later joined Company A, Nineteenth Arkansas Infantry, and operated in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. He participated in the fights at Jenkins' Ferry, Arkansas Post, etc. He held the rank of orderly sergeant for some time, and the last eighteen months was drum major of the brigade. He surrendered at Marshall, Tem., in May 1865, after which he returned to Arkansas, and was married in what is now Cleveland County, on March 26, 1866, to Miss Sarah L. Sinclair, daughter of Calvin and Sarah (McNeil) Sinclair, natives of North Carolina and South Carolina, respectively. Her parents were married in Mississippi, where Mrs. Watts was born, and in 1859, they came to what is now Cleveland County. There Mr. Sinclair died in 1875, and his widow in 1886. She was a member of the Methodist Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Watts were born eight children, two sons and five daughters living: Sallie I. (wife of Sidney Rogers), Mary J. (wife of Frank Kindall), Maggie F., Ada, Thomas, Nora (deceased), Olive and Joseph. The first year after marriage Mr. Watts lived in Jefferson County, but moved from there to Cleveland County in 1874, and settled on his present farm. He is the owner of 320 acres with about 100 acres under cultivation, all the result of his own efforts. In his political views he affiliates with the Democrat party, and his first presidential vote was cast for Horace Greeley in 18 72. He was justice of the peace for two years, and filled that position to the satisfaction of all concerned. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Culpepper Lodge No. 186 at Rison, is a member of the Wheel, and he and wife have been members of the Methodist Church for twenty or twenty-five years.
Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas |
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