Notes for JOHN WATSON:

Son of William N and Ellen (Patrick) Watson.
Born: September 4, 1932 in Ross County, Ohio.
Died: March 18, 1911 in City, DeWitt County, Illinois.
Residence:
1865 - Heyworth, McLean County, Illinois.
1866 - Rutledge Township, DeWitt County, Illinois.
Married: (1) Mary Arbogast (b. About 1837 in DeWitt County, Illinois. d. November 25, 1865 in Santa Ana, DeWitt County, Illinois) Before 1895 in DeWitt County, Illinois.
(2) Lucinda "Lucy" Ready May 5, 1868 in Dewitt County, Illinois.

Biography for John Watson
John Watson is a practical farmer and stock-raiser of much prominence in DeWitt County, and his farm on section 18, Santa Anna Township, is among the best developed and finest improved in this section of the State. He was born in Ross County, Ohio, September 4, 1832, and is a son of William N. Watson, a native of County Tyrone, Ireland. The latter came of Irish parents who were of Scotch antecedents. He was only a child when his father died and he was reared in his native county by an uncle. After he attained to manhood he was married in County Tyrone to Miss Ellen Patrick, also a native of that county, who came of stock similar to himself.

After marriage, and the birth of two or three children, Mr. Watson left his family in the old country and came to America. After a time he returned to Ireland and with his wife and children re-crossed the Atlantic in 1829 and took up his permanent residence in this country. He located in Ohio, and subsequently purchased a farm in Ross County that he sold ten years later, and bought another in another part of the county in Springfield Township, where he had owned his first farm. There he and his wife rounded out a goodly life, and died at a ripe old age, he being eighty-seven years old when he died and she eighty-three years old. They were well known in Springfield Township and Ross County.

Our subject is the fourth child of seven sons and two daughters, and was the first one born to his parents after they came to this country. All the nine children lived to be men and women; four were married and five of the family are yet living. Our subject was reared to man's estate under the home roof-tree, remaining with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age. He then set forth in the world to try life for himself and made his way to Illinois in search of fortune's favors. He was here first married in DeWitt County to Miss Mary Arbogast, who was born and reared in this township and county and here lived and died, her death occurring in Santa Anna Township, November 25, 1865, when she was only twenty-eight years old. She was the daughter of old settlers of DeWitt County, who spent their last years here. Her marriage with our subject brought them five children of whom one is deceased. Those living are William H., a telegraph operator in Missouri; Charles D., who married Harriet E. Ijams and lives on a farm in Piatt County; Alvert who married Laura Renley, and lives on a farm in Champaign County.

Our subject's second marriage took place in this township and county, when he was wedded to Miss Lucy Ready, his present wife. She was born in Carroll County, Ohio, July 28, 1848, and is a daughter of John and Elsie (Morrison) Ready, natives of Virginia and Ohio respectively. They were reared, however, in Carroll County, Ohio, and after marriage settled on a farm, and all their children were born in that county. In 1865 the family came to Illinois and lived one year in Heyworth, McLean County. The following year they came to Rutledge Township, and have ever since lived there on a good farm which they improved. Mrs. Watson was the eldest of the eight children born to her parents, and she was nearly eighteen years old when she accompanied them to this State. She is the mother of eight children, namely: Dollie, Rosella and Callie (twins), Flora, John, Samuel, Anna, and Ettie, all of whom are at home with their parents. Mr. Watson is a hard-working man and with the able assistance of his wife has accumulated a fine property. After coming to this State in 1852 he lived for two years at Chaney's Grove, McLean County. He purchased his present place on section 18, Santa Anna Township in the spring of 1862, and since then has placed it in a highly improved condition, erecting fine and well-equipped farm buildings, and placing his land under the best of tillage. He owns four hundred and eighty acres of land, which under his able management yields him a handsome income. Mr. Watson is greatly esteemed in his community and is regarded as one of the most desirable citizens of the township in whose welfare he is greatly interested. He has held some of the local offices and his ability and excellent business habits have made him a fine civic official. In politics he is identified with the Democratic party.
(Source: http://dewitt.ilgenweb.net/biographical-album-wz.htm)