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Thomas R. Watson, farmer, Corinth, Ark. Of that sturdy and independent
class, the farmers of Arkansas, none are possessed of more genuine merit and
a stronger character than he whose name stands at the head of this article.
Mrs. Watson is a native of Tennessee, born in Bedford County, November 20,
1843, but was principally reared in Pike County, Ark., where he has become
well and favorably known. He received but a limited education in this State
on account of the breaking out of the war, and in 1862, he enlisted as a
private in the Confederate Army, Company C, Nineteenth Arkansas Regiment,
under Captain Watson, and was in the battles of Chickamauga, New Hope
Church, and others. He was wounded at Chickamauga, and this kept him from
the field for two months. After recovering, he was in the Georgia campaign,
was at the battle of Arkansas Post, at which he was captured, and taken to
Camp Douglas, Chicago, where he was retained for three months. In 1863 he
was exchanged. After cessation of hostilities, he returned to his home in
Arkansas, followed the carpenter's trade for some time, but at present is
engaged in cultivating the soil. He is the owner of 200 acres of land, and
has 150 acres under cultivation, which yield about twenty bushels of corn
or one-third of a bale of cotton to the acre. Mr. Watson was married, in
1868, to Miss Nancy F. Bacon, a native of Arkansas and the daughter of W.T.
and Elizabeth (Melvin) Bacon, both natives of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Bacon
settled in this county when it was in its infancy, and raised a large
family. Mr. Bacon died in 1871, at the age of fifty-four years, but the
mother is still living, and is seventy-five years of age. To Mr. and Mrs.
Watson have been born nine children, all living: James T., David M., John
H., Charles R., Margaret J., Walter S., Susan M., Thomas W. and Julia F. Mr.
Watson has on his farm a cotton gin, on which he does public work and gins
three bales per day. He is a liberal supporter of all public enterprises of
a laudable character, but he takes no interest in politics. He and wife and
most of the children are members of the Church of Christ. He was the sixth
of seven children born to Walter and Margaret (Jones) Watson, natives of
South Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. The parents resided in the last
named State until the father's death, which occurred in 1846, at the age of
thirty-six years. The mother then moved with the family to Arkansas.
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Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas, 1890, Pike County,
County, page 344.
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