The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-08-23
: GArHERED 70 MS rArHrRs.
Death OF Judge watson, an Old and
Honored Citizen of Ernnnrfa.

Death Of Judge Watson, an Old and
Honored Citizen of Elnporfa. q
Judge Watson. whose Illness for some @
days past has been a source ,,t general !,
solIcitude in the community. departed /,
this life at The family residence on Me :
chanies street, at Q O'Clock Thursday .
evening, at the ripe age of eighty years /,
About two weeks ago he was prostrated ;
by an attack of dysenterY, which ,
seemed to so enfeeble the recupera-
tive powers of the sufferer that it be-
came quite apparent in the early stages
of the malady that all prospects of re-
storation to health were hopeless. The
difficulty of successful treatment was
further augmented by a,pronounced dis
inclination ON the part of the patient to
recover, it seemingly being his strong
desire 10 turn aside from the way in
which he had journeyed so long dis
lance, and seek the rest which he felt
awaited him beside the still waters.
The death of Judge Watson removes
from oar midst one of the most promi |
nent figures in the history OF our city |
Coming to Emporia at an early day, and |
identifying himself with its interests
with all o! the earnestness and energy of |
q nature and character fashioned Tor the |
assumption of command and leadership,
he made his influence feis IN all of the |
various concerns pertaining TO the ex-
pansion and DEVELOPMENT of the town,
which it was his privilege to
see grow from a rude hamlet
to prosperous and beautiful
city. He was, indeed, q patriarch,
whose wise counsel was never yainly
sought in times of need, and who has
left 70 those who shall be called upon to
take up the work that he laid down, the
inspiration of life fashioned by pure
purposes and crowned with honorable
achievements.
| Judge Watson was born in Bucks
county, Pennsylvania, ofQuaker parent
age, his ancestors having come to Amer
lea with William Penn. When he was
tWenty-one years of age he engaged in
the study of medicine and obtained
diploma from the University of Penn
sylvania He pursued his profession for
SIX years at Quakertown. Pennsylvania,
! where he married Miss Hannah Les
ter, lady whose rare graces of
| mind and heart are well re-
membered in this community where she
lived for so many years. In the spring
of 1888 the deceased removed TO War
rem county, Ohio, and continued the
practice of medicine until 1910, when he
turned his attention to law, and was ad-
mitted to the bar in 1874.
With that strength of conviction
which was one of his leading character
/, istics he identified himself heart and
soul with the anti-slavery movement at
its very inception and was pronounced
. Rbolitionist IN The days when such an
( aVowal of principles was test of true
) courage In 1850 he came to Emporia
J and cast his lot with the little hamlet
!. which was then just beginning to spring
t up on the virgin prairie. Here he es.
? tablished himself IN the practice of law,
r and soon became one of the
leading members of the Lyon
county bar. In 1862, the deceased
was nominated by the state central CON-
n mittee to fill the vacancy caused in the
Office of Chief Justice of the state by
Chief Justice Ewing going into the mil
itary service, but IN consequence oil
some technecality which arose he did
not serve. In 1854 he was elected Judge
of the Fifth Judicial district, in which
capacity he served eight years. with
honor to himself and his constituency
and then retired from active business.
. Judge Watson always manifested {
C hearty interest in all measures looking
TO the up-buildlng of the town, and hi:
y ripe Judgment and excellent sense o.
L discernment are recalled by many of ou
y citizens who have been identified will
- him In public affairs He was an in
. fluential factor in the promotion of thu
y NJ, z. & T. railway enterprise. and wa!
= the first president of the board of corpor
l. ators.
:" In all of his public and private
- relations the deceased manifested an In
!" tegrity of purpose and a singlenes
Va mOLlNC tA6b COApcIIcu liz
y respect of all who knew
~ him and inspired a genuine admiration
10 for the virtues which adorned his char
c acter. His declining years were tran
le gully passed with his family amid tn,
d beauties of home which were t. him
(, source of pride, and when the hour fn
~ his departure came he was soothed an
u sustained by an uniallering trust which
went with him into the valley of til
shadow, and upheld him in the drea
~ hour of dissolution. He believed, wit
L an appropriating faith, in a life rie
with cOmpensations for the dIsappoini
~ ments and sorrows OF thi
y lower pilgrimage, and obeye
>. with joy the summons which called hlr
= to the activities of better estate.
He leaves five children-John s.,
- c.. Mary Jane, Mrs. DR.. w. w. Hibben
- and Mrs. j. V. Randolph. They ar
:. alive to their great loss, but they do nc
:. sorrow as those who have no hops
Their father had fulfilled the measure G
:. his days, and was gathered home in tn
fullness of time, crowned with tn
honors of useful life.