Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1897 — Death of Frank Watson. [ARTICLE]

Death of Frank Watson.

James F. Watson died Friday i evening September 10, 1897. at his home on River Street, about 7:30 o’clock. He had been confined to his bed since last February, with a -complication of diseases, but which began with a severe attack of plpurisy. While he has been a very sick man during this entire period, and has been a constant sufferer,, yet until within the last few days his condition has never been such as to preclude the hope of ultimate recovery. On Wednesday of this week he began to grow worse, the very hot weather seeming to greatly aggravate his trouble. Friday forenoon he had several hours of terrible suffering but in the afternoon this pain passed away, and to most of those about him he talked and joked >with his usual ready I flow of cheerfulness and good i humor, and assumed not to feel | the danger of death. To his wife, however, and his life long friend, R. B. Porter, he said that he knew his end was near, and that he had no dread of death and was ready ''l - f |to go. About five o'clock he pass-

ed into a quiet sleep, from which about two hours later, he passed, peacefully and painlessly into the sleep of death, at the age of 53 years, 2 months and 21 days. James F. Watson, known universally by his middle name, as Frank Watson, was born in Carroll Co., June 23, 1844. His parents were Charles M. and Amanda (Babcock) Watson. He came to Jasper County with his parents when four years old, and has ever since made this his home. His father who was a man of substance and high character, located in Marion Tp., southeast of Rensselaer and became possessed of a large body of excellent land. On this land the subject of this .sketch lived until about two years ago, when he sold a portion of his farm and moved to Rensselaer, where he has since resided. He married in 1880 to Catherine Ritchey, daughter of Dr. James Ritchey, by whom he leaves four daughters. He also leaves one brother Henry Watson, and one sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Gwin. Mr. Watson served two terms as county commissioner, his incumbency of the office terminating in December 1892. His father before also filled the same office, and was also, at one time, clerk of the county. Personally Mr. Watson was a man of the highest character in all his dealings both public and private; and being also of the most amiable and genial disposition, he naturally possessed the element of popularity in an eminent degree. In fact it is safedo say that death has not taken recently nor could it easily find in this community a man more universally ike d, trusted and respected than James F. Watson. '