"COUNTIES OF MORGAN, MONROE & BROWN, INDIANA. HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL." CHARLES BLANCHARD,
EDITOR. CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS. 1884. F. A. BATTEY. F. W. TEPPLE 


MORGAN COUNTY, INDIANA
ADAMS TWP.

page 325

ANDREW J. WATSON, merchant, was born in Ashland Township, Morgan Co., Ind.,
February 23, 1845, and is the sixth child in a family of eleven children
born to Simon and Samirah (Bowman) Watson, the former of whom was a native
of North Carolina, and the latter of Kentucky. When but an infant one year
old, in 1813, Simon Watson's parents emigrated from North Carolina to
Washington County, Ind., where they remained only a few months. They then
removed to Jackson County, Ind., where young Simon passed his childhood and
youth, receiving only a very limited education at the rude log schoolhouses
of that frontier settlement. In about 1830, the family came to Adams
Township, Morgan Co., Ind., where his father entered land, and improved a
farm. Simon was married November 27,1836, and soon afterward entered 160
acres of land in Ashland Township, Morgan Co., Ind., to which he has since
added, now owning a well-improved farm of 200 acres. For more than
forty-five years, he and wife have been members of the Missionary Baptist
Church; he is also a member of the Eminence Lodge, No. 440, A., F. & A. M.;
and in politics is a Democrat. The father of Mrs. Samirah Watson, viz.,
John Bowman, was one of the companions of Daniel Boone in the early settling
of Kentucky. Andrew J. Watson, the subject of our sketch, received a good
common school education in youth, and was employed on the old homestead, in
Ashland Township, until he had attained his twenty-third year. He then
taught in this and Owen County during the fall and winter seasons for some
sixteen years, being employed at the painter's trade during the summer
months. In March, 1883, he engaged in merchandising at Eminence, Ind., in
company with Mr. Joseph C. Rhea, continuing in the trade one year. He is
not at present engaged in any active business. Mr. Watson was married, June
21, 1874, to Miss Lucretia A. Cummings, a native of Morgan County, Ind. Two
daughters have blessed their union. Both Mr. Watson and wife are members of
the Missionary Baptist Church. He is also member of Eminence Lodge, No.
440, A., F. & A. M., of which lodge he is a Past Master, and has represented
the same in the Grand Lodge of the State. In politics, he is a Democrat,
and is one of the prominent citizens of Morgan County.


Data Entry Volunteer:  Diana Flynn 

    Source: geocities.com/heartland/meadows/8056/bios

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