My Genealogy Hound

Thomas R. Watson, farmer, Corinth, Ark. Of that sturdy and independent class, the farmers of Arkansas, none are possessed of more genuine merit and a stronger character than he whose name stands at the head of this article. Mr. Watson is a native of Tennessee, born in Bedford County, November 20, 1843, but was principally reared in Pike County, Ark., where he has become well and favorably known. He received a limited education in this State on account of the breaking out of the war, and in 1862 he enlisted as a private in the Confederate Army, Company C, Nineteenth Arkansas Regiment, under Capt. Watson, and was in the battles of Chickamauga, New Hope Church, and others. He was wounded at Chickamauga, and this kept him from the field for two months. After recovering, he was in the Georgia campaign, was at the battle of Arkansas Post, at which he was captured, and taken to Camp Douglas, Chicago, where he was retained for three months. In 1863 he was exchanged. After cessation of hostilities, he returned to his home in Arkansas, followed the carpenter’s trade for some time, but at present is engaged in cultivating the soil. He is the owner of 200 acres of land, and has 150 acres under cultivation, which yield about twenty bushels of corn or one-third of a bale of cotton to the acre. Mr. Watson was married, in 1868, to Miss Nancy F. Bacon, a native of Arkansas, and the daughter of W. T. and Elizabeth (Melvin) Bacon, both natives of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Bacon settled in this county when it was in its infancy, and raised a large family. Mr. Bacon died in 1871, at the age of fifty-four years, but the mother is still living, and is seventy-five years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Watson have been born nine children, all living: James T., David M., John H., Charles R., Margaret J., Walter S., Susan M., Thomas W. and Julia F. Mr. Watson has on his farm a cotton gin, on which he does public work, and gins three bales per day. He is a liberal supporter of all public enterprises of a laudable character, but he takes no interest in politics. He and wife and most of the children are members of the Church of Christ. He was the sixth of seven children born to Walter and Margaret (Jones) Watson, natives of South Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. The parents resided in the last-named State until the father’s death, which occurred in 1846, at the age of thirty six years. The mother then moved with the family to Arkansas.