Full Context of Ritchie County, West Virginia History Arthur Watson and his wife, Mrs. Jane Hawker Watson, with their family came from Monongalia county to the Harrisville vicinity in 1844, and settled near two miles south of town on the farm that is now owned by Colfax Moats. Here Mr. Watson died in the early sixties, (?) and not long after he was laid in the Harrisville cemetery, the family went to Cherry Point, Illinois, where the following named members still survive: CHAPTER XXXIX Prominent Harrisville Families James R., Thomas D., Amos M., Asby L., and Mrs. Mary (Samuel) Clouse. Owen Hawker, also, lives in Illinois, but William has joined the throng on the other side. CHAPTER XXXIX Prominent Harrisville Families Thomas D. Watson married Miss Sarah Shore, sister of Mrs. Mary Ann McDonald, of Hazelgreen, but alter her death, a few years since, he married Miss Sarah Miller of Illinois. CHAPTER XXXIX Prominent Harrisville Families John Watson, another son of Arthur, was the progenitor of the family that remained in this county. CHAPTER XXXIX Prominent Harrisville Families He was born in Monongalia county on February 24, 1824, and with his parents came to this county at the age of twenty years. CHAPTER XXXIX Prominent Harrisville Families On April 11, 1845, he was married to Miss Eveline Smith, who was born in Marion county, on March 7, 1825, and, at the old home south of Harrisville he resided until his death, on December 17, 1853. CHAPTER XXXIX Prominent Harrisville Families Two sons were born of this union, James W., and Joseph A. Watson, but the latter died on October 13, 1857, at the age of seven years, and the former, in his young manhood. CHAPTER XXXIX Prominent Harrisville Families In 1867, Mrs. Watson traded the homestead for the corner m Harrisville which is now marked by the National Bank building, and in April of that year, became the owner and manager of the hotel that was for long years known as the "Watson House." In 1901, she, having retired to private life some years before, transferred this property to the First National Bank. She died at Harrisville during the summer of 1909, rich in the love and esteem of a multitude of friends that she had made during her long public service, and in the Harrisville cemetery by the side of her husband and sons she was laid at rest. CHAPTER XXXIX Prominent Harrisville Families James Willy Watson, her one son, who grew to manhood, was born on April 8, 1848, and was married to Miss Frances Starr, daughter of John and Eleanor Ayres Starr, on November 8, 1868; and they were the parents of two sons, John, the eldest, died in early childhood; and Dr. J. W. Watson is the other. CHAPTER XXXIX Prominent Harrisville Families Mr. Watson met a tragic death by a run-a-way accident on the Ellenboro hill on September 20, 1870, and his widow is now the wife of Frank Foster, of near Harrisville. So Dr. James Willy Watson, of Harrisville, who was born on March 12, 1871, a few months after the death of his father, is the only living descendant of the Watson family in this county. He was graduated from the Dental department of the Maryland University in the class of 1892, and was married to Miss Christine Mather, daughter of the late W. T. Mather, on September 26, 1895, and they have no children