My Genealogy Hound

T. J. Watson, a retired and highly respected merchant of Jackson County, was born in Hickman County, Ky., on the 8th of December, 1845, and is a son of E. L. and Mary (James) Watson. Mr. Watson was but nine years old when he came to Jackson County, Ark., with his parents and received the greater portion of his education at the Forest Home Academy. Like many of the young men at that period, his Southern blood was aroused at the first intimation of war, and he joined the Confederate army in the early days of the rebellion, becoming a member of the Tenth Tennessee Cavalry, Company E. He took part in the fight at Parker’s Cross Roads, Thompson’s Station and a number of other engagements and skirmishes, and in February, 1864, he was captured at Fort Donelson and confined for about three months. At the end of that time he was paroled and returned home, where he embarked in business at Jacksonport, until February, 1883, when he moved to Newport and carried on his business quite extensively, but in 1889 he sold out and has been practically retired ever since. In 1874 he was elected by the county court to collect the revenue of Jackson County, but owing to some fault of the bond, which was $200,000, he was never qualified. Mr. Watson was married in 1869 to Miss Elizabeth Boyd, of Jackson County, by whom he has had five children: Kate M., Lucy, Elbert L., Bessie and Fannie. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and Hugh DePayne Commandery at Little Rock, as also the Hiram Council No. 18 and Blue Lodge, at Newport, holding the offices of Past Master of the Blue Lodge, and Past High Priest of Jackson Chapter, as well as positions in the Council; he is also an ex-member of the Knights of Pythias and Ancient Order of Odd Fellows. He is also Senior Warden of the lodge at Newport, and has been representative of the Masonic fraternity at the Grand Lodge. Mr. Watson is a full-fledged Mason, and takes a deep interest in all matters pertaining to the fraternity.