JOHN M. WATSON, a prominent farmer of North Strabane township, was born January 31, 1833, in Chartiers township, Washington Co., Penn. His father, David Watson, was also a native of Chartiers township, born in 1791, and passed his early life on the home farm. He received a good common-school education, and in early manhood was married to a Miss Craighead, who bore him children as follows: Martha (deceased), Amelia (deceased), Nancy (Mrs. Alexander Henderson), Rachel (wife of William Ross), Belle (deceased wife of John Chambers) and George. For his second wife Mr. Watson was united in marriage with Margaret Morrison, also born in Chartiers township, this county, daughter of James Morrison, and the children born to this marriage were John M., Mary (Mrs. Peter Martin), and George N. (who died in Washington county, aged fifty-three years). David Watson died at the age of fifty-two, Mrs. David Watson when aged eighty-four years. Mr. Watson had charge of the Washington turnpike for many years, and managed its affairs with marked success. He was a stanch member and active partisan of the Whig party, and was one of the most ardent supporters of the U. P. Church at Cross Roads, Chartiers township. John M. Watson passed his early years on the home farm in Chartiers township, and after the death of his father began life at a very early age. On August 18, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the war; he was mustered out June 5, 1865, near Alexandria, W. Va. On November 15, 1866, he was married to Sarah J., daughter of Andrew Borland, and one daughter, Ida, has been born to their union. Mr. Watson is a successful business man, and owns a large and productive farm in North Strabane township. He is a stanch Republican, and is always active in the interests of his party. He and his family are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Mt. Prospect, and he is a member of the Session.

Text taken from page 1181 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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