James Newell Watson Family
Researched by Shirley Watson and Marylee W. KnightJames Newell "Jim" Watson was born May 8, 1847 in Panola County. He was the son of William and Nancy (Lindsey) Watson and was named after his uncle James Newell Walton. On March 4, 1869 he married Susan Rebecca Browning who was born Oct. 12, 1851 in Tennessee. She was the daughter of Hosea Douglas and Elizabeth J. (?) Browning. Jim was a farmer, a storekeeper and a cotton gin operator. Susan died Dec. 24, 1911 in Marshall, Harrison County, and Jim died 31, 1914 and both are buried in Walton Cemetery, west of Carthage. They are the great-grandparents of John Moore Searcy of Beckville and Nell Thurman and Crawford D.Parker, Jr. of Carthage.
Their known children include the following:
William Douglas Watson who was born Oct. 15, 1870 in Panola County. He married first Emma Singletary, second Janie Robinson and third Johnnie York. He died in 1950 and is buried in Walton Cemetery.
Henry Owen Watson who was born in 1871, married Effie Pepper, and was last known to be living in Wichita Falls, TX.
Arthur Lee Watson was born Aug. 26, 1874 in Panola County. He married Nancy Eva Copeland. She was born Feb. 12, 1880 and died Aug. 26, 1961. He died Nov. 13, 1945 and both are buried in Walton Cemetery. Two of their children were Macie Watson who married Phillip Maines and Ovetra Lou Watson who married Audie Harris Wyatt, son of George Washington and Virginia Lee (Harris) Wyatt.
Elizabeth C. "Lizzie" Watson was born 1875 in Panola County. She married Samuel A. Ellis (1870-1957). Lizzie died in 1942 and both are buried in Walton Cemetery. Their children included Pearl Ellis who married Dallas Searcy and Euna B. Ellis who married Crawford Duane Parker, Sr. Both these families made their permanent homes in Beckville and raised their families there.
Ida H. Watson was born in 1877, bur died while very young. Probably buried in Walton Cemetery
Hosea D. "Hosie"Watson was born in 1879. He married Onie (?) . They made their home in Jefferson, TX. Hosea D. died in 1957 and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Jefferson, beside his infant daughter who was born and died in 1916.
Lura Watson (a twin) was born in 1884. She married Burtis Harley and is buried in Walton Cemetery.
Lera Watson (Lura's twin) was born in 1884. She married T.J. Strong in Panola County, but they soon moved on to Marshall and lived the balance of their lives there.
Edgar M. "Dock" Watson married Dora Hariet Clarke and moved on to Marshall and raised his family there. He and Dora are buried in Colonial Gardens Cemetery in Marshall.
C.B. "Barney" Watson (a twin) married Jessie (?). They also moved on to Marshall and lived the balance of their lives there.
Bessie Watson (a twin to Barney) is believed to have died while she was very young. Family members say she is buried in an unmarked grave in Walton Cemetery, near the rest of her family.
Beatrice Watson married B.B. "Bub" Gray. They moved to the Stewart Community west of Tatum in Rusk County and raised their family there. They are both buried in Stewart Cemetery in Rusk County. Their two sons Newell Gray and Jack Gray also made their homes in the Stewart Community.