WATTS, Edmund F. - Putnam

Edmund Franklin Watts, son of George and Anna Watts was born near Reelsville, Indiana Dec 1 1860 and passed to his reward Dec 25, 1927 at the age of 58 years and 25 days.  He was a member of the old type of family, 8 in number and eldest of six boys and two girls, his brothers Hershal and Otto being the first to precede him to the Home Over There.  He was married to Mary K. Torr, March 14, 1899 and she too entered the eternal city only two weeks prior to his death. There were no children given them to bless their home but he was fond of children and made them welcome in his home and was a child again whenever in their presence. His sickness was of long duration and the shock of his companions, seemingly untimely death was too great for his weakened body and he heard the voice of the master say, “It is enough, come up hither!” Quite early in his life his parents moved to their farm between Putnamville and Cloverdale where he resided until his marriage and after a short residence of a few months in Clay City, Indiana he located on the old home farm of his wife where he lived the remainder of his life.  He was educated in the schools of Cloverdale, Indiana and when but a lad confessed his faith in God and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Putnamville.  He enjoyed a good service and upon his return from church was often near remark to the absent one, You should have been there, you missed a good sermon.  He was a devoted husband and dutiful son, carefully and willingly watching over his own mother and the mother of his companion all through the years, enjoying their comradeship and seeking their counsel, loyal and true to the end. He was industrious and ambitious, a good farmer and a good workman whatever he did, he did well and with great pride and the results of his labors were neat and attractive. In the language of his fellowmen he was classed as a “hustler” and a “success” and again we hear the words of the Master, “Thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many.  He leaves to tarry a while longer, three brothers, James of St. Louis, Mo; Earl of Dixon, Ill and Paul of Ben Davis, Ind and two sisters, Mrs. Edward Herbert of Reelsville, Ind and Mrs. Earl Stroube of Indianapolis, Ind together with a large relationship and many friends. “No night shall be in heaven. No darkened room, no bed of death, no silence of the tomb, But breezes ever fresh with love and truth, shall brace the frame with an immoral youth. No night shall be in heaven But night is here, the night of sorrow and a night of fear. I mourn the ills that now my steps attend And shrink from other that may yet impend, No night shall be in heaven Oh had I faith To rest in what the faithful witness saith, that faith should make these hideous phantoms flee, and leave no night henceforth on earth to me!”