Information for this page was provided by Anna Hutchinson who is a great, great granddaughter of James L. and Margaret Matilda Akin Watson

The James L. Watson, Jr. Family 

     James L. Watson was born November 1, 1846, the son of James Lemuel and Margaret “Peggy” Russell Watson of Hardin County, Tennessee.  He was one of ten children born to the couple who were devout Methodists.  James L. Watson, Jr. served in the Confederate Army during the civil war.

     He was married on September 12, 1969 to Margaret Matilda Akin, daughter of Samuel R. and Martha (Unknown) Akin and his second cousin once removed.  The newlyweds probably left Hardin County soon after their marriage and headed for Texas.  They settled in Stephenville, Erath County, Texas in 1869.  They made the trip partly by way of flatboat. 

     According to the obituary of James L. Watson, Jr. the couple lived in Titus County, Texas around 1870 and later lived in Chillicothe, Hardeman County, Texas when their children were growing up.  James L. owned a hotel business at that time.  Around 1911 the couple moved to Hamlin,  Jones County, Texas where James L., Jr. was also engaged in the hotel business. 

     The couple had three children.  John S. Watson was born on December 28, 1877 according to California death records.  John was married to Alma (last name unknown) and they had a son, Russell Rhodes Watson.  At the time of James L., Jr.’s death in 1918, John S. was listed as living in Globe, Arizona.  He later lived in a suburb of Los Angeles, California and it was there he died on June 9, 1941 at the age of 63 years old.

     Texas birth records indicate Sam J. Watson was married to Rose Bynum and the only record of children is an infant son born October 4, 1927 in Hardeman County, Texas.  At the time of James L., Jr.’s death, Sam J. Watson was listed as living in Chillicothe, Hardeman County, Texas.

     A daughter, Louise Maranda, was born around 1877.  She married William Henry Lee who was born August 5, 1857 in Indiana.  His occupation was hotel manager which suggests he was possibly a hotel manager for Louise’ father.

     A daughter, Marguerite Lee, was born at 1:15 AM on May 12, 1913 in Hamlin, Jones County, Texas.  The odds were stacked against her from birth. She was born 2 1/2 months premature with the doctor offering little hope for her to survive.  A shoebox served as her bassinet.   Marguerite’s diapers were three inches by 4 inches, and she was fed a mixture of whiskey, biscuits, and milk.

     Sometime after Marguerite’s birth, her mother found out that her father was married previously and had not divorced the other woman.  He was also ten years older than she believed him to be.  When Marguerite was about four years old, her father deserted his new family.  She would  not hear from her father again for nineteen years.

     One can only imagine the hardships suffered by Louise Maranda Watson Lee and her small daughter.  Louise Maranda remarried two or three times after William Henry left.  Some of Marguerite’s stepfathers mistreated her.  At the time of J. L.’s death, her mother was listed by the name of Louise Lee and was a resident of Hamlin, Texas.

     J. L. Watson, Jr. died on December 25, 1918 at the age of seventy two.  Margaret Matilda Akin Watson died on February 24, 1920.  Both deaths occurred in Hamlin, Jones County, Texas and the couple is buried in Pauducah, Texas.