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Willis S. Watson, a highly respected resident of Pike County, Ark., was
born in Dallas County, Ark., June 15, 1855. His father, Rev. Benjamin
Watson, was born in Nansemond County, Va., April 10, 1810, and is now one
of the oldest ministers in the State, and a man of high intellectual
endowments. At the age of eighteen he joined the Virginia Conference; from
thence, transferred to the North Carolina Conference. In 1835 he was married
to Miss Winifred T. Williams, the daughter of an eminent physician of
Halifax County. He wa transferred to the Tennessee Conference in 1837. In
1849 was appointed president of Soulesbury Institute, which place he well
filled until 1862. Then he took charge of the Tulip Female Seminary, that
gave to the State many education women. He now resides in Jefferson County,
still preaches with force, and is much beloved by many. The mother of Dr.
Watson was a beautiful woman, widely admired for her Christian integrity,
and sweetness of disposition. Dr. Watson received a good English education
in the common schools. He began the study of medicine in 1876; entered the
Missouri Medical College in 1879 and 1880; took a graduating course in 1881
and 1882, in the same school. He commenced practicing at his present place
in 1880, and is one of the leading physicians in the county. He owns
seventy-five acres of land, with thirty acres under cultivation. The Doctor
was married, in 1883, to Miss Mary E. Palmer, the accomplished daughter of
A.H. and M.E. (Phillips) Palmer, the father a native of George, the mother
of Alabama. Mr. Palmer settled in Columbia County in 1860, and now resides
at Rock Creek, Ark. Dr. Watson has three children: Mattie W., Annie E. and
Gussie D. Dr. Watson is a true Democrat, and takes an active part in
political affairs. He is a liberal support of all worthy enterprises. He and
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the good
people of his county esteem him highly as a hard-working man, true to his
country's interest, and deeply imbued with an honorable professional
courtesy.
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Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas, 1890, Pike County,
County, pages 344-345.
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