The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1905-09-06
Honor Paid a Noble Sire,

Fairview, in Laurens County, the
grand antebellum home of Col. James
Washington Watts, was the scene of a
delightful pleasure on the thirtieth of
August, when his family gathered
around him to celebrate his eighty-sixth
birthday. 1t was hard to realize SO
many winters had passed over his head,
when you saw the grand man las he
is) coming with his cordial hospitality
to welcome his guests. Col. Watts so
long identified with the best interest of
this State and Georgia, his home, two
years just preceding the war of the
sixties, where he was an ideal master
and planter has ever been at the head
of the agricultural interest, where he
has lived.
EARLY the vehicles began rolling in
with their freight of loving relatives.
until forty-seven noses were counted.
Georgia and Alabama contributed guests
to the occasion. Thirty-one direct de-
scendants to the third and fourth gen.
erations, eight widows and eight near
of kin made the dear old home ring
with merry clatter and laughter. 1t
was a wonderful gathering of all ages
and all SO happy that eve the babies
forgot to cry all day. And the grand
center was rendered the homage of q
King-for he has ruled his house we'll.
Seated in the center of the spacious
hall, with his sister, Mrs. Jas. Young,
of Cartersville, Georgia, herself sew
enty eight, both in the full possession
of every faculty, each beyond the use
of glasses, having their second sight,
illustrating the multitude of years well
spent is crowned by beautiful and use
full old age. The dainty tie, worn by
Mrs. Young, the work of her
hands, would take the premium for
skillful hand-run tucks and beautiful
hemstitching.
The daughters began to disappear in
the middle of the day and soon dinner
was announced, and what a spread it
was! The back yard with it's canopy of
oaks, that might be a century old, fur
nished the dining room. The seniors
were seated at a table that groaned
with the fat of the land, the younger
members of the family looking after
their comfort (for this was a picnic
dinner) each bringing their love offer
ing mon could be spared long enough
for hot dinner. Pleasant %oncours and
merry laughter made the time speed
rapidly. All were loath to break the
happy spell which seemed upon them.
No servants were in evidence, but the
old family darby, who still survives and
is a tenant on the place was not for
gotten. A sumptuous dinner was sent
"Uncle .Hamp." In this up-country
the old servant still loves to have "Old
Marster's" children and children's chill
dren call them Uncle and Auntie and
the children are still taught to respect
them.
All too soon the suns long shadows
reminded them they were miles from
home and soon the hustle of departure
began. What a string of ~equipages
there were and good byes were said and
all left with a prayer in their hearts
that yet many years the center of this
happy days pleasure might be spared
them. This beautiful tribute is paid
Col Watts annually. How proud he
was of these splendid specimens of man.
hood and womanhood. There was a note of
sadness when he referred to the twenty
of his descendants who were absent,
but would loved to have been there. -
Col. Watts has living fifty-two direct
descendants, which with the eleven in
laws, makes a family of sixty-three.
Clinton, S. c., Sept. End, '05.