WATSON, John Samuel - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Early on, John decided to go to college and become a lawyer but Wabash even way back then was expensive, but he spent summers selling books, maps, tutoring while in school and even working as a faculty member at the college.  He spent one year upon graduation with one of Crawfordsville’s best lawyers, PS Kennedy and in May 1881, he was admitted to the bar, not long thereafter moving to Jamestown ND where he jumped into many aspects of the community, including a partnership with WF Ball, later adding a Mr. McClay and yet later, NC Young at the death of McClay.  

From 1883-1884, John was prosecuting attorney for Stutsman Co ND, then an excellent career plus was when he became the Northern Pacific Railroad attorney, continuing that for about a decade, but involved as representative in three or four other railroads.  He was extremely active with the First Church of Christ Scientists and was instrumental in them building a beautiful church on Ninth Street in Fargo.  An active member of the Knight Templar, he was also in the El Zagal Temple.  He and wife, Lizzie Wells  had no children of their own, but the parents of Constance Vig passed away when she was but a few months old.  Her brother, Bruce and sister Marie still quite young were raised by the Mattson family and Constance adopted by John and Lizzie and raised as their own.  Marie lived to be 101; Bruce, 92 and Constance 87.  Also, they helped raise John’s older brother, William’s daughter, and he was very close to both sets of children as their grandfather figure.  

He passed at his home after having visited the children, returning home at 595 8th Street South (beautiful home) in Fargo.  His chauffeur had come to get him to take him to the railroad station to go join his wife in Minnesota.  He talked to him, thinking he was just asleep. Then worried, called the next door neighbor who was a Dr., who pronounced him dead by about 20 minutes and noted that he did not suffer.  Yet, the town, his many business friends (involved in three or four banks; the railroads; his attorney group…) were in shock.  He was a director and the general counselor for many businesses, including the twelve Mills of Russell-Miller Milligan Company that were throughout the company. They closed, stopping all production for the hour of his burial in “honor of our beloved director!”  Six pall bearers (lawyers; president of the mill; officers of the Trust Company…) and six honorary pall bearers (railroad directors and a lumber company head).  Today, there is a $10,000 (I believe it is still available anyway - was for many years) scholarship in his name at Wabash College!  Rest in Peace JSW!!