William Nelson Watson
William Nelson Watson was born July 1. 1849, on the Watson homestead four miles above Manchester on the Ohio River. His great-grandfather, Michael Watson, was born on the eastern shore of Maryland and went to Mason County. Kentucky, in 1700. His children were Aaron, Michael. Mrs. Simeon Strode, Mrs. Aaron Moore. Mrs. Solomon Shepherd. Mrs. McConaughy, another daughter, and Abraham, grandfather of our subject.
Abraham Watson was born in Maryland, October 25, 1773. In 1804, he removed to Adams County and purchased the present Watson homestead. In 1819, he purchased the brick house which is still standing and occupied by James D. Mott. Abraham Watson's wife was Mary Moore, daughter of Joseph Moore, one of the earliest and most prominent pioneers of Adams County. He was a native of New Jersey, born June 9, 1854. He emigrated to Virginia in 1780, and in 1790 to Kentucky. In 1800, he emigrated to Blue Creek in Adams County, where he organized a congregation among his old New Jersey neighbors and built Moore's Chapel, the first meeting house in Adams County, and it is claimed by old settlers to be the oldest in the State. He afterward bought the Elijah Kimball farm on the Ohio River, where he resided until his death in 1822. The children of Abraham and Mary (Moore) Watson were twelve in number, six daughters and six sons, the youngest of whom was Enoch Lawson Watson, father of our subject. Abraham Watson died November 7, 1847. His wife died February 10, 1864, at the age of eighty-four. Enoch Lawson Watson remained on the home farm until after his father's death, buying out the interest of the other heirs. He conducted the farm until 1892, when he removed to Manchester. On November 18, 1846, he married Miss Lucinda Boyles, daughter of Thomas and Anna (Bonner) Bovles. She was born May 22, 1824. Thomas Boyles resided where Nathan Ellis now resides, near Bentonville. The children of Enoch Lawson and Lucinda (Boyles) Watson are Anna Wiley, wife of the late Hon. John K. Pollard; William. Nelson, subject of this sketch; Mary, wife of Robert K. Moore, of Buena Vista, Ohio; Eliza Arabella, wife of W. A. Underwood, deceased; Alice Cora, wife of James D. Mott, and Emma Florence, wife of William McNaley, of Orlinda, Tennessee.
Enoch L. Watson was a man of great force of character. He was a lifelong advocate of the temperance cause and when the Prohibition party was organized, he gave it his support and influence, believing it the best means of bringing about a reform for good in the cause he upheld. He died on November 8, 1895. His widow survives.
William Nelson Watson conducted his father's farm for some time, and began teaching in 1873. He continued teaching for three years, and took a commercial course in the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, and on May 3, 1887, entered the Farmers' Bank in Manchester in the capacity of clerk. He was soon promoted to cashier, which position he still occupies. In 1893, he entered the firm of Ruggles, Shumate & Company, a leading dry goods house of Manchester, Ohio, and in 1897, Mr. Shumate retiring from the firm, he became an equal partner with Mr. Ruggles, under the name of Ruggles & Watson.
Mr. Watson was married February 9, 1898, to Hattie Mercer, daughter of James Mercer, of Youngstown, Ohio. They have one child, Eva Mercer, born April 13, 1899.
Mr. and Mrs. Watson are members of the Methodist Protestant Church at Manchester. Mr. Watson is a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge of Manchester. He was reared a Democrat, but cast his lot with the Prohibition party with his father, and at present prefers the platform of the Union Reform party. As a business man, his services in the bank have made that institution many friends, and as a banker, he enjoys the confidence of the entire community. Whilst kind and courteous to all, he has the manhood to do the right at all times regardless of the consequences. He is a gentleman of the highest type and a man who tries to square his life by the "Golden Rule."
From "History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time" - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900