Randolph  County,  Indiana

Joseph  Watts

The career of Joseph Watts, of Winchester, Randolph county, has been a varied and interesting one. Faithfulness to duty, public-spirit, and perseverance have been some of his most noted characteristics all his life. He was formerly engaged in agricultural pursuits, but for a period of over thirty years has been in the railway mail service. He is one of our honored veterans of the great Civil war and a man highly esteemed by his wide acquaintance. He first came to Winchester nearly half a century ago, and his conversation, relating to the many changes during that period, is very interesting. He was much impressed with the future possibilities of the place upon his first arrival and has been deeply interested in its general development ever since, although living away from here part of the time.              Mr. Watts was born November 18, 1843 in Richland county, Ohio. He is a son of Samuel and Martha Ann (Paxton) Watts, and a brother of Isaiah P. Watts, a sketch of whom appears in another part of this volume, in which an account of the family history will also be found. Suffice it to say here that this is a sterling old family of the Buckeye state.

             Joseph Watts was reared in Wells county and attended the public schools. He proved his patriotism and courage during the Civil war by enlisting on September 25, 1861 in Company A, Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, but after four months’ service was discharged for disability, and after recovering his health, he again enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry for one hundred days which he served, and on October 19, 1864 enlisted a third time, selecting Company E, Seventh Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, in which he served his term of enlistment of one year. He showed a most admirable desire and unflagging determination to serve his country in its greatest hour of need. He has testimonials relative to his faithful and gallant service from his commanding officers.
             After his career in the army, Mr. Watts returned to his home in Wells county, Indiana where he remained until 1867 when he came to Winchester, Randolph county and worked in a saw-mill, returning to Wells county two years later, where, on October 10, 1869 he married Matilda A. Irey, a daughter of  Jonah Irey, of Jay county, Indiana, and to this union five children were born, namely: Clyde M., of Cheyenne, Wyoming; Herbert I. lives in Winchester; Fred J. died July 31, 1904; Floy W. is now the wife of O.O. Fraze, of Union City. Indiana; Chester B. is in the Naval Observatory at Washington, D. C.
             After his marriage Mr. Watts settled at Fiat, Jay county, where he remained until 1871 when he moved to Winchester. In the spring of 1872 he went to Rice county, Kansas and entered a homestead, where he remained until 1877 when he returned to Winchester. In December of that year, he was appointed in the railway mail service, and with the exception of three years, has thus been continuously engaged to the present time, his long-continued service of over three decades being, it would seem, sufficient criterion of his high-grade service and fidelity to duty.
             Mr. Watts has always been loyal in his support of the Republican party. He is a member of the Nelson Trusler Post, No. 6o, Grand Army of the Republic.
             He has been twice married, first to Matilda A. Irey, whose death occurred on August 22, 1900. On September 4, 1901 he married Martha J. Hiatt, daughter of Alvin M. and Rebecca (Jackson) Owens, of Hartford, formerly of Winchester.
             Mr. Watts is a member of the Christian church and his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, and is active in church work, she being president of the Ladies' Aid Society.
Past and Present of Randolph County, Indiana, 1914.
Contributed by Gina Richardson