Charles Watson

CHARLES WATSON. This gentleman is one of the successful farmers of Mound Valley township, Labette county, Kansas. He is a native of Pike county, Illinois, and was born July 24, 1850. He is a son of J. C. and Serena Watson.

J. C. Watson moved to Montgomery county, Illinois, in 1852, and lived there until 1867, when he located in Kansas. He was a prominent farmer and stock raiser, and his death occurred in Labette county. He and his wife reared six boys and three girls. Three children are now living in Labette county, two, in California, and one, in Colorado.

Charles Watson, the subject of this sketch, was reared and schooled in his native county. In June, 1867, he moved to Labette county, and took a claim in Richland township, - the southwest quarter of section 29, township 34, range 21. In 1872 he removed to Hackberry township, where he bought 80 acres of land in section 31, township 34, range 20. There he lived for twenty years. He made extensive improvements on the place and then sold it and moved to Richland township, where he lived for four years. In 1896 Mr. Watson bought his present home farm in Mound Valley township, the southeast quarter of section 23, township 32, range 18, from the Deming Investment Company, of Oswego. Many of the improvements were made on the farm when Mr. Watson bought it, but he has set out a young orchard. Mr. Watson has a brother in Richland township, whose name is D. U. Watson. Charles Watson is a thrifty and steady worker and has been very successful since coming to Kansas.

In January, 1874, Mr. Watson married Angeline Powers, who was born in Adair county, Missouri, in 1854. She is a daughter of Moses and Lucy A. (Cayon) Powers. Mr. Powers died in 1898, and his wife in 1895. When Mrs. Watson was six years old her parents moved to Cooke county, Texas, and in 1867 they came to Labette county, and settled near Labette Creek, in Richland township. They reared seven children, namely: Elizabeth; Sarah (Kinney) and George, of Coffeyville, Kansas; Mrs. Keith, who lives in Texas; Angeline, the wife of Mr. Watson; and John and William, who live in Texas.

The marriage of Mr. Watson and his wife has been blessed with eight children, namely: John A., who is a machinist in Colorado; Georgie May, the wife of Ed Mollenhour, of Richland township; Nellie, who is at home; William, deceased; Frank, who is home; Olive Minnie, deceased; and Leslie Estelle and Bessie, who are at home. Mr. Watson has always been a member of the Republican party. Religiously, he is a Presbyterian, although he was raised a Methodist.