William Watson
William Watson who resides on section 26 Paw Paw township has been a resident of Dekalb county since 1851 a period of 48 years. He was born in Sussex England April 18, 1818 and is the son of William Watson Sr. also a native of Sussex England. who there married Elizabeth Jarrett a native of the same county and in 1828 emigrated with his family to the New World taking passage in a sailing vessel from London and being about one month on the ocean He settled in Albany New York where he found employment in a ship yard and there spent the remainder of his life. Our subject was but ten years of age when he accompanied his parents across the water and in Albany grew to manhood, In 1838 when but 20 he married Agnes Ferguson a native of Ireland, After his marriage he moved to Oswego, NY where he learned his trade carpenter and joiner employed his trade until 1851 he came to Dekalb coutry, ILL joining some old neighbors from NY, His first purchase was seventy acres of unimproved land built a small house improvement of the place , and later purchased 80 acres making him a valuable farm of 150 acres, 6 children were born One died in infancy and Elizabeth N. grew to womanhood died when about 28 of age, Robert T, a farmer of Victor township; William, married and residing in CA, where he is engaged in the apiary business; Edward M, married ANN HARE a native of Dekalb County by whom he has three living children, One died at the age of nine, The living children are JAMES; EZRA G; AND MAY. [The Biographical Record of De Kalb County Illinois, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago 1898.]
Submitted by Terry Todd
