John Watson was born at West Point to Major Malbone F. Watson and his wife Mary Codwise. His father, a West Point graduate, fought at Gettysburg (where he lost a leg), and returned to West Point to teach French after the war.
Three sisters later joined John: Mary in 1867, Jennie in 1869 and Ella in 1880. The family can be found in the 1870 census living with Malbone’s mother in Catskill, New York and then with members of the Codwise family in Washington, DC in 1880.
Malbone died in 1891 and his obituary listed his son John as living in Pittsburgh. Little did I realize then what a short life story would unfold. I could not find John in the 1900 Pittsburgh census and with such a common name, was not sure where else to search.
The Vedder Library in Coxsackie, New York had some information on the Watson family that proved helpful during my visit there in 2011. I discovered that John had married Mary Knapp in Buffalo, New York in 1889. Their marriage certificate indicated that he worked for the railroad and resided in Baltimore.
By 1892 John and Mary were living in Pittsburgh where their only child, a daughter also named Mary, was born. Sadly, John died just a year later at the age of 28 of apoplexy and stroke. His death certificate listed him as railroad inspector.
His wife Mary remained in Pittsburgh until her early death in 1902 at age 34. Mary’s mother had been living with them in the 1900 census and remained in Pittsburgh until her death in 1909. Correspondence with descendants of daughter Mary (who married John S Charles) indicates that Mary went to boarding school and camps in New Jersey. Perhaps her paternal aunt, Ella Watson Gray, who lived in New Jersey became her guardian.
John W. Watson was buried at Homewood Cemetery in Pittsburgh. I went to visit with the plan to photograph his grave stone, but was surprised that he didn’t have one. The office staff, however, produced an interesting letter dated 1930 from Mary Charles referencing the possible removal of her father’s remains. It seems that there was some consideration of moving him to Buffalo where his wife was buried with her family. It did not happen.
After recounting two John Watsons who lived very short lives, next I’ll spotlight John Watson, leatherman, who lived to be 81.
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