September 18, 1935 - Columbus Republic

INJURIES FATAL TO WAR VETERAN

George D. Watson, 91, Dies at Home in Scipio After Long Illness

    George Dallas Watson, 91, veteran of the Civil war, died last night at 6:30 o'clock at the home of his daughter, Mrs. L. E. Bieger on the old Tom Brown farm on Road 7 near Scipio. He had been ailing for some time, and four weeks ago fell and sustained injuries which hastened his death.
    Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at the Presbyterian church in Scipio with the Rev. A. R. Miles in charge. Burial will be made in the Scipio cemetery.
    Mr. Watson was born in Clark county but located in Jennings county 55 years ago. He engaged in farming until a few years ago when he retired. During the Civil War he served with Company D. 4th Indiana Cavalry and was in the battle of Lookout Mountain in Tennessee and later with Sherman on his march from Atlanta. He had numerous escapes and one time his entire company was captured but he forced his horse to jump a deep ravine and in so doing was cut off from the rest of the army. He was lost for four days.
    Mr. Watson was a member of the Christian church and was well known in the vicinity of his home. His wife died several years ago. Surviving besides Mrs. Bieger, who is a teacher in the Scipio school, are three other children. Mrs. John Banks of Hayden, Miss Nora Watson at home and Miss Wilma Watson of Bloomington. There are also four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
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September 19, 1935 - North Vernon Sun

    Mr. George D. Watson, aged 91 years, passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Bessie Baker[sic], north of Scipio, Tuesday evening.
    Mr. Watson is the last Civil War veteran in Geneva township. He had been in ailing health for some time.
    Funeral services will be held this (Thursday) afternoon at two o'clock at the Presbyterian church in Scipio with Rev. Miles officiating, under the auspices of the American Legion Burial in the Scipio cemetery.
    He is survived by 3 daughters.
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September 26, 1935 - North Vernon Sun

Scipio Column
    Relatives from Columbus, Indianapolis, Seymour, Hartsville and Bloomington came to attend the funeral of Mr. George D. Watson, Civil War Veteran, aged 91 years, who died Sept. 17th. Mr. Watson was born in Clark county but located in this community 55 years ago. He was engaged in farming unti a few years ago when he retired. During the Civil War he served with Company D. 5th Indiana Cavalry. He was in the battle of Lookout Mountain, and later marched with Sherman from "Atlanta to the Sea." He had numerous escapes and one time his entire company was captured but he escaped by forcing his horse to jump a ravine and so doing was cut off from the rest of his company. He was lost for four days. Four weeks before his death he fell and sustained injuries which caused his death. For the past two years he had lived with his daughter, Mrs. Bessie Beigger [sic] on the old Tom Brown farm north of town on road 7. Besides Mrs. Beigger he is survived by three other daughters, Mrs. Lottie Banks near here, Miss Wilma of Bloomington, and Miss Nora, who was his constant nurse and companion, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services where held at the Presbyterian church here, conducted by Rev. A. R. Miles and under the auspices of the Spanish American War and the World War Veterans of North Vernon. Find A Grave Link

Left to right - Mother - Margaret (Clapp) Watson, Elenora "Nora", Wilma Frances "Billie", Mary Elizabeth "Bessie" - holding guitar, Father - George Watson.

George Dallas Watson married Mary Margaret Clapp on October 25, 1868 in Clark County, Indiana.

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November 9, 1950 - Columbus Republic

Miss Nora Watson, 80, Near Scipio, Stricken
    Funeral services for Miss Nora Watson, 80, Scipio, route 1, who died Saturday night, will be held at 2 p'clock Tuesday afternoon at the Scipio Presbyterian church.
    Burial will be made at Scipio. The body was taken to the Dowd Funeral home at North Vernon.
    Miss Watson made her home with Mrs. Bessie Beiger. Survivors include several sisters. (Nora never married) Find A Grave Link

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Lattie Adele (Watson) Banks

Lattie Watson married John Mathanial Banks

Banks family farm - Lattie holding their daughter Bessie, daughter Jessie and John M. Banks in barnyard.

December 7, 1950 - Plain Dealer & Republican
JOHN M. BANKS ANSWERS SUMMONS
    John M. Banks, 88 years old, died Saturday, December 2nd at his home in Scipio. The body was taken to the Jordan funeral home and funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Presbyterian Church in Scipio, conducted by the Rev. Albert L. Tull. Burial took place in Scipio Cemetery.
    He was a life-time resident of the County and engaged in farming during his active years. He moved from a farm to Scipio several months ago. He is survived by the widow, Mrs. Lettie Banks, three daughters, Mrs. Fred J. Haney, of North Vernon; Mrs. Elsie Cassady, of Bloomington; and Mrs. Herman Anger of Madison; also by ten grandchildren. Find A Grave Link

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Wilma Frances "Billie" Watson as a young woman

Wilma Watson when mature.

    Wilma never married. She was also a school teacher and lived her entire life in this area.

December 21, 1977 - Columbus Herald, Page 6
    SCIPIO - Wilma Frances Watson, 97, a resident of Scottsburg Nursing Home for several years, died Wednesday night at Scott County Memorial Hospital in Scottsburg.
    Miss Watson was born May 6, 1880, in Scipio to Mr. and Mrs. George Watson. She was a retired school teacher and a former Jennings County resident.
    Survivors include a sister, Bessie Bigger of Bloomington.
    Funeral arrangements were made by Charles Dove Funeral Home in North Vernon. Find A Grave Link

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Mary Elizabeth "Bessie" Watson

Died May 24, 1978

Bessie Beiger
    Bessie Beiger, 92, formerly of North Vernon, died at 3:40 p.m. Wednesday at the Hospitality House.     She was born Nov. 15, 1885, in Jennings County, the daughter of George D. and Margaret (Clapp) Watson. She had taught in Bloomington from 1918 to 1920 and in several other counties in Indiana. She owned Muscatatuck Gardens near North Vernon. She had taught music and art and had studied under several artists including T.C. Steele.
    Surviving are one foster son, Marcus Smith of Noblesville; three stepdaughters, Ann Holt of Deer Ring, Minn., Ida Martin of Tharr, Texas, and Mary Beiger of Michigan; two nieces including Bessie Cassidy of Bloomington.
    Her first husband Cleve Boyd, her second husband Lewis Beiger, one son, Victor Ellison Boyd and three sisters, preceded her in death.
    Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Presbyterian Church at Scipio, Indiana with the Rev. Elmer Riggs officiating. Burial will be at Scipio Cemetery. Friends may call at the Day Mortuary from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and at the church for one hour preceding the service.

May 25, 1978 - Columbus Republican

Former Scipio Teacher

Bessie Beiger Bloomington

    Bessie Beiger, 92, formerly of North Vernon, died at 3:40 p.m. Wednesday at Hospitality House Nursing Home in Bloomington where she made her home.     A retired music and art teacher, she last taught in Scipio and was owner of Muscatatuck Iris Gardens in North Vernon.     Funeral service will be conducted a 2 p.m. Saturday at Scipio Presbyterian Church by the Rev. Elmer Riggs. Persons my call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Day Mortuary in Bloomington and from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will be at Scipio Cemetery.
    Mrs. Beiger was born Nov. 15, 1885 in Jennings County to George D. and Margaret Clapp Watson. She was a member of Scipio Presbyterian Church.
    Survivors include a foster son, Marcus Smith of Noblesville; three stepdaughters, Ann Holt of Deer Ring, Minn., Ida Martin of Pharr, Texas, and Frances Anger of Madison; and one grandchild.
    She was preceded in death by her husbands, Cleve Boyd in 1917, and Lewis Beiger in 1959; a son Victor Boyd; and three sisters, Nora Watson, Lottie Banks and Wilma Watson. Find A Grave Link

Mary Elizabeth "Bessie" Watson - picture at her engagement to Cleve Boyd

Wedding Photo of Bessie Watson to Cleve Boyd, March 22, 1906

Bessie Boyd and her son Victor Ellison Boyd born October 30, 1911

Grover Cleveland Harrington "Cleve" Boyd September 6, 1884 - March 11, 1917

March 15, 1917 - The Indianapolis Star

    Columbus, Ind., March 14 - The body of Cleve H. Boyd, 33 years old, superintendent of the schools at Redkey, who died of measles at that place, was buried at Scipio, his former home, today. He was a son of John Boyd of North Vernon and for several years was principal of the high school at Scipio. Find A Grave Link

Bessie (Watson) Boyd taken while in mourning after the death of her husband Cleve in 1817

Victor Ellison Boyd son of Bessie (Watson) & Cleve Boyd October 30, 1911 - February 25, 1954.

February 26, 1854 - Seymour Tribune, Page 1
Victor E. Boyd, North Vernon R4, Dies Here
    Victor Ellison Boyd, 42, North Vernon R4, died late Thursday afternoon at Schneck Memorial Hospital, where he was admitted for medical treatment Thursday morning. He had been ill for some time.
    Funeral services will be conducted Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Scipio Presbyterian CHurch with the Rev. Albert L. Tull, the Presbyterian minister from Vernon, in charge. Burial in the Scipio Cemetery.
    Mr. Boyd was a schoolteacher by occupation. A host of friends and acquaintances join his many students in mourning his death. Find A Grave Link

Louis Edward Bieger, second husband of Bessie Watson, 1880 - 1956 Find A Grave Link

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