76yrs 10mo.,20d.
"History of Dearborn and Ohio Counties, Indiana: from their earliest settlement: containing a history of the counties, their cities, townships, towns, villages, schools, and churches, reminiscences, extracts, etc., local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, preliminary chapters on the history of the Northwest Territory, the state of Indiana, and the Indians." (Chicago: F.E. Weakley & Co., 1885)
COL. JOHNSON WATTS, of Dearborn County, was born in Fayette County, Ky., July 7, 1794. His parents were Judge John and Fannie (Sebree) Watts. Judge Watts was one of the pioneers of Kentucky and Indiana Territory, as man of ability and of great usefulness as will be seen by the preceeding sketch. His wife was an orphan girl, whose father's life was sacrificed in the war of the Revolution. She was raised to womanhood by Col. Robert Johnson, the father of Col. R.M. Johnson. Our subject's boyhood was passed amid frontier life along the Kentucky side of the Ohio River below the now village of Petersburg, to which place his father removed about 1799, having for several years previously resided at Petersburg. His playmates were Indian boys, and he became well skilled in the use of the bow and arrow. His early years were passed in assisting his father clear up a farm. At the age of seventeen years, he enlisted in his country's service, in the second war with England, under Capt. Urial Sebree. He fought under Col. Lewis at Frenchtown, near the rapids of the Maumee, January 13, and in that vicinity on the 22nd, 1813, and on the latter day received a wound by a musket ball in one leg, by which he was disabled, and resulted in his return home in the spring of 1813. Young Watts suffered from hunger, exposure and want of attention during the marches of that winter made necessary from the surrounding circumstances. After his return to his father's farm in the spring of 1813, he received three or four months' schooling which, with the exception of very little instruction before entering the service, was the extent of his educational advantages. November 3, 1814, he was married to Miss Elizabeth McClain, whose father resided on an adjoining farm. His father had purchased land on Laughery Creek in Dearborn County, and a protion of which was given to the son, who in 1815 had built thereon a cabin to which he removed, and there began life for himself. His father erected a saw mill, and later establihed a tan yard, and in and about these in connection with farming, our subject was employed for some years, subsequently purchasing the same, and in addition operated a distillery. Soon after settling in Indiana, he was elected colonel of militia, which office he held for five years. About 1825 Col. Watts began flat-boating, having perhaps, made the first effort in starting boats from up Laughery Creek, which business he was engaged in for a number of years. In 1832 he moved to Hartford, and was there for a time engaged in merchandising, having gone to that place more for the purpose of schooling his children, then eight in all---three sonse and five daughters. Subsequently he purchased his father's farm on Laughery Creek, and moved upon it, and in connection with other business and his official duties, he was chiefly occupied during life. In 1825 Col. Watts served as a representative from Dearborn County in the State Legislature, and from 1838 to 1843, in the State Senate. At the time of this election to the Senate in 1837, the county was Democratic by from 300 to 400 majority, though Watts was a Henry Clay Whig. In 1850 Col. Watts, with William S. Holman and James D. Johnson, was chosen a member of the constitutional convention, and in the same year he was made the Whig candidate for Congress in the Fourth District, but was defeated by sixty-seven votes only. Col. Watts on the breaking out of the civil war, was a supporter of the Union and of President Lincoln's administration, and fired by the same patriotism as led him on to battle in 1813, when but a lad, he, although nearing man's alloted time on earth, offered his services to Gov. Morton, but which on account of advanced years were declined. Col. Watts was a man of considerable native ability, of good character and of unquestioned integrity. He close a useful life, May 27, 1871.
"A Biographical Directory of the Indiana General Assembly, 1816-1899"
WATTS, Johnson. HOUSE, 1826-27 (DEARBORN); SENATE, 1837-38, 1838-39, 1839-40, 1840-41, 1841-42, 1842-43 (DEARBORN). (Son of John Watts, brother of John Sebree Watts, qq.v.) Born July 7,1794, Bryant's Station, Fayette County, Kentucky. Attended common schools. Married Elizabeth McClain, 1814 (8 children)-died; married Mary Lewis, 1867 (2 children). War of 1812: Kentucky militia. Indiana militia: 3rd Regimen, lieutenant colonel, 1820. Moved to Dearborn County, Indiana, in 1816; and to Patriot, Switzerland County, ca. 1868. Farmer; tanner; distiller; storekeeper; flatboat trader. Whig; Repubilican. Justice of the peace in Dearborn County, 1817-20; member, Constitutional Convention, 1850-51. Lost for state senator, 1833; lost for U.S. House of Representatives, 1851. Freemason. Died May 27, 1871, Patriot, Switzerland County, Indiana.
Children: Sarah Ann Watts (1815-1832), Newton Watts (1817-?), Lucinda Watts (1819-1841), America Watts (1822-1841), Indiana Watts (1824-?), John Watts (1826-1881), Sabra Watts (1831-1904), Thomas Watts (1849-1927).
NOTE: In Dillon Dorrell's book, "Ohio County Cemeteries" (1976), his transcription of Colonel Johnson Watts' headstone shows he died 5-7-1871. This date differs from the May 27, 1871 date of death that appears on Col. Watts' headstone and the documents posted on this memorial page for him.
"History of Dearborn and Ohio Counties, Indiana: from their earliest settlement: containing a history of the counties, their cities, townships, towns, villages, schools, and churches, reminiscences, extracts, etc., local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, preliminary chapters on the history of the Northwest Territory, the state of Indiana, and the Indians." (Chicago: F.E. Weakley & Co., 1885)
COL. JOHNSON WATTS, of Dearborn County, was born in Fayette County, Ky., July 7, 1794. His parents were Judge John and Fannie (Sebree) Watts. Judge Watts was one of the pioneers of Kentucky and Indiana Territory, as man of ability and of great usefulness as will be seen by the preceeding sketch. His wife was an orphan girl, whose father's life was sacrificed in the war of the Revolution. She was raised to womanhood by Col. Robert Johnson, the father of Col. R.M. Johnson. Our subject's boyhood was passed amid frontier life along the Kentucky side of the Ohio River below the now village of Petersburg, to which place his father removed about 1799, having for several years previously resided at Petersburg. His playmates were Indian boys, and he became well skilled in the use of the bow and arrow. His early years were passed in assisting his father clear up a farm. At the age of seventeen years, he enlisted in his country's service, in the second war with England, under Capt. Urial Sebree. He fought under Col. Lewis at Frenchtown, near the rapids of the Maumee, January 13, and in that vicinity on the 22nd, 1813, and on the latter day received a wound by a musket ball in one leg, by which he was disabled, and resulted in his return home in the spring of 1813. Young Watts suffered from hunger, exposure and want of attention during the marches of that winter made necessary from the surrounding circumstances. After his return to his father's farm in the spring of 1813, he received three or four months' schooling which, with the exception of very little instruction before entering the service, was the extent of his educational advantages. November 3, 1814, he was married to Miss Elizabeth McClain, whose father resided on an adjoining farm. His father had purchased land on Laughery Creek in Dearborn County, and a protion of which was given to the son, who in 1815 had built thereon a cabin to which he removed, and there began life for himself. His father erected a saw mill, and later establihed a tan yard, and in and about these in connection with farming, our subject was employed for some years, subsequently purchasing the same, and in addition operated a distillery. Soon after settling in Indiana, he was elected colonel of militia, which office he held for five years. About 1825 Col. Watts began flat-boating, having perhaps, made the first effort in starting boats from up Laughery Creek, which business he was engaged in for a number of years. In 1832 he moved to Hartford, and was there for a time engaged in merchandising, having gone to that place more for the purpose of schooling his children, then eight in all---three sonse and five daughters. Subsequently he purchased his father's farm on Laughery Creek, and moved upon it, and in connection with other business and his official duties, he was chiefly occupied during life. In 1825 Col. Watts served as a representative from Dearborn County in the State Legislature, and from 1838 to 1843, in the State Senate. At the time of this election to the Senate in 1837, the county was Democratic by from 300 to 400 majority, though Watts was a Henry Clay Whig. In 1850 Col. Watts, with William S. Holman and James D. Johnson, was chosen a member of the constitutional convention, and in the same year he was made the Whig candidate for Congress in the Fourth District, but was defeated by sixty-seven votes only. Col. Watts on the breaking out of the civil war, was a supporter of the Union and of President Lincoln's administration, and fired by the same patriotism as led him on to battle in 1813, when but a lad, he, although nearing man's alloted time on earth, offered his services to Gov. Morton, but which on account of advanced years were declined. Col. Watts was a man of considerable native ability, of good character and of unquestioned integrity. He close a useful life, May 27, 1871.
"A Biographical Directory of the Indiana General Assembly, 1816-1899"
WATTS, Johnson. HOUSE, 1826-27 (DEARBORN); SENATE, 1837-38, 1838-39, 1839-40, 1840-41, 1841-42, 1842-43 (DEARBORN). (Son of John Watts, brother of John Sebree Watts, qq.v.) Born July 7,1794, Bryant's Station, Fayette County, Kentucky. Attended common schools. Married Elizabeth McClain, 1814 (8 children)-died; married Mary Lewis, 1867 (2 children). War of 1812: Kentucky militia. Indiana militia: 3rd Regimen, lieutenant colonel, 1820. Moved to Dearborn County, Indiana, in 1816; and to Patriot, Switzerland County, ca. 1868. Farmer; tanner; distiller; storekeeper; flatboat trader. Whig; Repubilican. Justice of the peace in Dearborn County, 1817-20; member, Constitutional Convention, 1850-51. Lost for state senator, 1833; lost for U.S. House of Representatives, 1851. Freemason. Died May 27, 1871, Patriot, Switzerland County, Indiana.
Children: Sarah Ann Watts (1815-1832), Newton Watts (1817-?), Lucinda Watts (1819-1841), America Watts (1822-1841), Indiana Watts (1824-?), John Watts (1826-1881), Sabra Watts (1831-1904), Thomas Watts (1849-1927).
NOTE: In Dillon Dorrell's book, "Ohio County Cemeteries" (1976), his transcription of Colonel Johnson Watts' headstone shows he died 5-7-1871. This date differs from the May 27, 1871 date of death that appears on Col. Watts' headstone and the documents posted on this memorial page for him.
76yrs 10mo.,20d.
"History of Dearborn and Ohio Counties, Indiana: from their earliest settlement: containing a history of the counties, their cities, townships, towns, villages, schools, and churches, reminiscences, extracts, etc., local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, preliminary chapters on the history of the Northwest Territory, the state of Indiana, and the Indians." (Chicago: F.E. Weakley & Co., 1885)
COL. JOHNSON WATTS, of Dearborn County, was born in Fayette County, Ky., July 7, 1794. His parents were Judge John and Fannie (Sebree) Watts. Judge Watts was one of the pioneers of Kentucky and Indiana Territory, as man of ability and of great usefulness as will be seen by the preceeding sketch. His wife was an orphan girl, whose father's life was sacrificed in the war of the Revolution. She was raised to womanhood by Col. Robert Johnson, the father of Col. R.M. Johnson. Our subject's boyhood was passed amid frontier life along the Kentucky side of the Ohio River below the now village of Petersburg, to which place his father removed about 1799, having for several years previously resided at Petersburg. His playmates were Indian boys, and he became well skilled in the use of the bow and arrow. His early years were passed in assisting his father clear up a farm. At the age of seventeen years, he enlisted in his country's service, in the second war with England, under Capt. Urial Sebree. He fought under Col. Lewis at Frenchtown, near the rapids of the Maumee, January 13, and in that vicinity on the 22nd, 1813, and on the latter day received a wound by a musket ball in one leg, by which he was disabled, and resulted in his return home in the spring of 1813. Young Watts suffered from hunger, exposure and want of attention during the marches of that winter made necessary from the surrounding circumstances. After his return to his father's farm in the spring of 1813, he received three or four months' schooling which, with the exception of very little instruction before entering the service, was the extent of his educational advantages. November 3, 1814, he was married to Miss Elizabeth McClain, whose father resided on an adjoining farm. His father had purchased land on Laughery Creek in Dearborn County, and a protion of which was given to the son, who in 1815 had built thereon a cabin to which he removed, and there began life for himself. His father erected a saw mill, and later establihed a tan yard, and in and about these in connection with farming, our subject was employed for some years, subsequently purchasing the same, and in addition operated a distillery. Soon after settling in Indiana, he was elected colonel of militia, which office he held for five years. About 1825 Col. Watts began flat-boating, having perhaps, made the first effort in starting boats from up Laughery Creek, which business he was engaged in for a number of years. In 1832 he moved to Hartford, and was there for a time engaged in merchandising, having gone to that place more for the purpose of schooling his children, then eight in all---three sonse and five daughters. Subsequently he purchased his father's farm on Laughery Creek, and moved upon it, and in connection with other business and his official duties, he was chiefly occupied during life. In 1825 Col. Watts served as a representative from Dearborn County in the State Legislature, and from 1838 to 1843, in the State Senate. At the time of this election to the Senate in 1837, the county was Democratic by from 300 to 400 majority, though Watts was a Henry Clay Whig. In 1850 Col. Watts, with William S. Holman and James D. Johnson, was chosen a member of the constitutional convention, and in the same year he was made the Whig candidate for Congress in the Fourth District, but was defeated by sixty-seven votes only. Col. Watts on the breaking out of the civil war, was a supporter of the Union and of President Lincoln's administration, and fired by the same patriotism as led him on to battle in 1813, when but a lad, he, although nearing man's alloted time on earth, offered his services to Gov. Morton, but which on account of advanced years were declined. Col. Watts was a man of considerable native ability, of good character and of unquestioned integrity. He close a useful life, May 27, 1871.
"A Biographical Directory of the Indiana General Assembly, 1816-1899"
WATTS, Johnson. HOUSE, 1826-27 (DEARBORN); SENATE, 1837-38, 1838-39, 1839-40, 1840-41, 1841-42, 1842-43 (DEARBORN). (Son of John Watts, brother of John Sebree Watts, qq.v.) Born July 7,1794, Bryant's Station, Fayette County, Kentucky. Attended common schools. Married Elizabeth McClain, 1814 (8 children)-died; married Mary Lewis, 1867 (2 children). War of 1812: Kentucky militia. Indiana militia: 3rd Regimen, lieutenant colonel, 1820. Moved to Dearborn County, Indiana, in 1816; and to Patriot, Switzerland County, ca. 1868. Farmer; tanner; distiller; storekeeper; flatboat trader. Whig; Repubilican. Justice of the peace in Dearborn County, 1817-20; member, Constitutional Convention, 1850-51. Lost for state senator, 1833; lost for U.S. House of Representatives, 1851. Freemason. Died May 27, 1871, Patriot, Switzerland County, Indiana.
Children: Sarah Ann Watts (1815-1832), Newton Watts (1817-?), Lucinda Watts (1819-1841), America Watts (1822-1841), Indiana Watts (1824-?), John Watts (1826-1881), Sabra Watts (1831-1904), Thomas Watts (1849-1927).
NOTE: In Dillon Dorrell's book, "Ohio County Cemeteries" (1976), his transcription of Colonel Johnson Watts' headstone shows he died 5-7-1871. This date differs from the May 27, 1871 date of death that appears on Col. Watts' headstone and the documents posted on this memorial page for him.
"History of Dearborn and Ohio Counties, Indiana: from their earliest settlement: containing a history of the counties, their cities, townships, towns, villages, schools, and churches, reminiscences, extracts, etc., local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, preliminary chapters on the history of the Northwest Territory, the state of Indiana, and the Indians." (Chicago: F.E. Weakley & Co., 1885)
COL. JOHNSON WATTS, of Dearborn County, was born in Fayette County, Ky., July 7, 1794. His parents were Judge John and Fannie (Sebree) Watts. Judge Watts was one of the pioneers of Kentucky and Indiana Territory, as man of ability and of great usefulness as will be seen by the preceeding sketch. His wife was an orphan girl, whose father's life was sacrificed in the war of the Revolution. She was raised to womanhood by Col. Robert Johnson, the father of Col. R.M. Johnson. Our subject's boyhood was passed amid frontier life along the Kentucky side of the Ohio River below the now village of Petersburg, to which place his father removed about 1799, having for several years previously resided at Petersburg. His playmates were Indian boys, and he became well skilled in the use of the bow and arrow. His early years were passed in assisting his father clear up a farm. At the age of seventeen years, he enlisted in his country's service, in the second war with England, under Capt. Urial Sebree. He fought under Col. Lewis at Frenchtown, near the rapids of the Maumee, January 13, and in that vicinity on the 22nd, 1813, and on the latter day received a wound by a musket ball in one leg, by which he was disabled, and resulted in his return home in the spring of 1813. Young Watts suffered from hunger, exposure and want of attention during the marches of that winter made necessary from the surrounding circumstances. After his return to his father's farm in the spring of 1813, he received three or four months' schooling which, with the exception of very little instruction before entering the service, was the extent of his educational advantages. November 3, 1814, he was married to Miss Elizabeth McClain, whose father resided on an adjoining farm. His father had purchased land on Laughery Creek in Dearborn County, and a protion of which was given to the son, who in 1815 had built thereon a cabin to which he removed, and there began life for himself. His father erected a saw mill, and later establihed a tan yard, and in and about these in connection with farming, our subject was employed for some years, subsequently purchasing the same, and in addition operated a distillery. Soon after settling in Indiana, he was elected colonel of militia, which office he held for five years. About 1825 Col. Watts began flat-boating, having perhaps, made the first effort in starting boats from up Laughery Creek, which business he was engaged in for a number of years. In 1832 he moved to Hartford, and was there for a time engaged in merchandising, having gone to that place more for the purpose of schooling his children, then eight in all---three sonse and five daughters. Subsequently he purchased his father's farm on Laughery Creek, and moved upon it, and in connection with other business and his official duties, he was chiefly occupied during life. In 1825 Col. Watts served as a representative from Dearborn County in the State Legislature, and from 1838 to 1843, in the State Senate. At the time of this election to the Senate in 1837, the county was Democratic by from 300 to 400 majority, though Watts was a Henry Clay Whig. In 1850 Col. Watts, with William S. Holman and James D. Johnson, was chosen a member of the constitutional convention, and in the same year he was made the Whig candidate for Congress in the Fourth District, but was defeated by sixty-seven votes only. Col. Watts on the breaking out of the civil war, was a supporter of the Union and of President Lincoln's administration, and fired by the same patriotism as led him on to battle in 1813, when but a lad, he, although nearing man's alloted time on earth, offered his services to Gov. Morton, but which on account of advanced years were declined. Col. Watts was a man of considerable native ability, of good character and of unquestioned integrity. He close a useful life, May 27, 1871.
"A Biographical Directory of the Indiana General Assembly, 1816-1899"
WATTS, Johnson. HOUSE, 1826-27 (DEARBORN); SENATE, 1837-38, 1838-39, 1839-40, 1840-41, 1841-42, 1842-43 (DEARBORN). (Son of John Watts, brother of John Sebree Watts, qq.v.) Born July 7,1794, Bryant's Station, Fayette County, Kentucky. Attended common schools. Married Elizabeth McClain, 1814 (8 children)-died; married Mary Lewis, 1867 (2 children). War of 1812: Kentucky militia. Indiana militia: 3rd Regimen, lieutenant colonel, 1820. Moved to Dearborn County, Indiana, in 1816; and to Patriot, Switzerland County, ca. 1868. Farmer; tanner; distiller; storekeeper; flatboat trader. Whig; Repubilican. Justice of the peace in Dearborn County, 1817-20; member, Constitutional Convention, 1850-51. Lost for state senator, 1833; lost for U.S. House of Representatives, 1851. Freemason. Died May 27, 1871, Patriot, Switzerland County, Indiana.
Children: Sarah Ann Watts (1815-1832), Newton Watts (1817-?), Lucinda Watts (1819-1841), America Watts (1822-1841), Indiana Watts (1824-?), John Watts (1826-1881), Sabra Watts (1831-1904), Thomas Watts (1849-1927).
NOTE: In Dillon Dorrell's book, "Ohio County Cemeteries" (1976), his transcription of Colonel Johnson Watts' headstone shows he died 5-7-1871. This date differs from the May 27, 1871 date of death that appears on Col. Watts' headstone and the documents posted on this memorial page for him.
Inscription
Col. JOHNSON WATTS
Died
May 27, 1871
Aged
76 Y'rs 10M 20D
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