The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-06
The DEATH OF
JOHN EDWIN WATT

One of Carbondale's Foremost Citi-
zens Answers Deaths Summons,
After a Few Weeks Illness.
Sketch of the Career of the De-
ceased. Who Had Wide Acquaint-
ance Throughout the Lackawanna
and Wyoming Valleys.
The summons of death was answered
by one of Carbondale's most promi-
nent citizens early yesterday morning.
when John Edwin Watt, president of
the First National bank passed away
a his home on Washington street
Mr. Watt had been in fral health
| for several months and two weeks ago
he sustained u stroke of paralysis. He
! never rallied from the attack and his
vitality gradually lessened until death
came about 1 o'clock Wednesday
| morning.
The passing of Mr.. Watt marks the
| going of another of the family that
has been prominent in the history of
| Carbondale since the early eighties.
and which is known and greatly es-
| teemed not only in this community.
| but throughout the Lackawanna and
| Wyoming valleys.
| Mir. Watt was born in Canaan on
April 6. 1895. and was therefore in his
| siNty-scventh year when he died. He
was the second son of the late John
Watt and Harriet Freeman who sur
wives, and who is now in her ninetieth
year. in the possession of all of her
| faculties and possessed of remarkable
| vigor.
The deceased came to Carhondalc in
| 1S42 and was first employed in the
store of +. II. Estabrook and also had
direction of the Estabrook mail and
passenger stage that ran between here
and Nicholson. Later Mr.. Watt was
| employed in the general store of r. p.
| Grow, and among the visiting interest :
| ing incidents of his service with Mr..
| Grow when the latter went to Provi-
dence and entered the milling busi-
| ness. were the trips made to Buffalo
to purchase grain, Mr.. Watt driving
the entire distance, and on his return
distributing grain throughout this
section of the state.
In 1862 Mr.. Watt became a member
of the firm of John Watt & Sons.
which comprised the senior Watt and
his two sons. w. w. Watt and the
deceased. The elder Watt and W. w.
| withdrew in 1854. but the deceased re-
mained in business for two years
thereafter. This store was located in
the building now occupied by the
| Israel Crane company.
Mr.. Watt showed a special aptitude
for financial and commercial pursuits.
| He displayed remarkably good juds-
ment and shrewdncss in his business
| dealings and he was quite successful
| in his Investments BY these means
! he amassed good fortune, which he
remained in posse sson of until the
time of his death.
Mr.. Watt was always regarded
among business men for his sound
| judgment and many Il person sought
his counsel and relied on his advice
| with profit to themselves and their
| ventures. a noted characteristic of
Mr.. Watt was his unwavering honesty
and his reputation for integrity in all
his relations was widespread.
Mr.. Watt was president of the First
| National bank and he was a charter
member of the Electric Light company
| which was absorbed by the Lacka :
wanna Valley Heat and Power Sup
ply company.
Mr.. Watt was devoted to his family
| and he lavished his attention on those
within his family circle. He was a
member of the Methodist church, tC
which he was liberal contributor.
Mr.. Watt welded in middle life, his
wife being Martha Wells, daughter of
the late Judge Wells, of Wilkes Barre
He is survived by his widow, his
aged mother and the following sons
and daughters:
Mary, wife of DR.. James jasper
| thompson; William, who is married
to Miss Caroline Enpis, of Wilkes
Barre; Miss Clara and Fred. G. Watt
all of this city. One grandchild. Mar
tha Watt, also survives. He Is
mourned also by two brothers, An
drew and W.. W. Watt, and two sis
ters. Frances Isabelle. wife of DAME
Scurry, and Sarah Elizabeth, wife OF
| Alfred Pascoe.
The funeral services will be con.
Quoted at the house on Washington
street Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock
| Rev. \. f. Chaffee, pastor of the First
NJ. L. church, will officiate. The SER.
vices at the house will be public, but
the burial, which will take place il
MaplcWood cemetery, will be private
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