WATTS-James - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

WATTS, James, farmer, Harveysburg, was b. Oct 18, 1824 in Scioto Co, Ohio and is the son of David and Sarah (BACKUS) Watts, both Pennsylvanians, who moved to Montgomery Co. about 1830, and settled two mi. E. of Waveland and 5 years afterward to Parke Co and in 1874 to Fulton Twp, Fountain Co where he d. in Nov 1876, having survived his wife about 4 weeks. He entered and cleared 80 acres in Parke Co. He was a warm democrat. He had 5 boys and 5 girls, 7 of whom are living, 3 in Fountain Co. James Watts lived at home till of age. He then worked out at $8 per month, and was marr. to Margaret A. SOWERS, who was born in NC Dec 24, 1826, and whose parents, when she was 11 years old, moved to Fountain Co, Ind. After marriage, Mr. Watts lived 2 years in Parke Co, and in 1850 moved to Fountain Co, where he bought 40 acres of land, thickly covered with woods, paying for it $100. The log house he first lived in here he now uses for a hog pen. He already owned 40 acres, which he had entered but not improved. This he sold for $60 before buying the above tract. He settled in the dense woods, and added till he owned 320 acres, a part of which he has deeded away. He has a good farm, well improved, the result of his continual labor and economy. He is a cooper by trade and has worked at this many a night till late hours. They have 3 children living and 3 dead: Melissa A (deceased); David A b. Jan 8, 1850 in Ft. Co and marr. to Mary E. EWBANK, daughter of Jacob and Eliz. Ewbank (she was b. in Parke Co IN Oct 30, 1858); Solomon V (deceased) ; Mary C (now Mrs. L. BOWSHER) and Susan V at home. Mr. Watts furnished a substitute for the civil war. He was a Whit (?) till 1856 and a democrat since. he and wife are Christians, and he and son David A. are Masons.