COUNTY
TENNESSEE
A representative citizen of Huntingdon is Charles May Watson, cotton merchant. A native of Tennessee, his birth occurred near Jackson in Madison county in September, 1869, a son of Joseph A. and Emily (Hilliard) Watson, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of North Carolina. For many years the father engaged in farming and in teaching school. He was one of the prominent men of the community in which he resided. Upon the outbreak of the Civil war he volunteered in the Confederate army from Carroll county, this state. He was captured within six months after the beginning of the war and was held a prisoner for over a year at Madison, Wisconsin. His death occurred in 1907. Mrs. Watson died in 1889. To their union seven children were born, four of whom are living.
Shortly after his birth the parents of Charles May Watson removed to the northern part of Texas, near Greenville, and there he was reared and educated. When twenty-one years of age he left the parental roof and returned to Tennessee, locating in Huntingdon. He established himself in the cotton business, laying the foundation for the extensive business he enjoys today. He is one of the most successful cotton merchants in this section of the state and the high and honorable methods used in the conduct of his business have won for him the confidence and respect of all. At Huntingdon, in October, 1899, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Watson to Miss Lora Wells, a daughter of Jesse Lee and Susan (Stone) Wells, natives of Murray county, Kentucky. Mr. Wells was not active in the service of the Confederacy during the Civil war, being too young, but he had a brother, James Polk Wells, who served throughout the conflict and was neither captured nor wounded. His brother is living, at the age of eighty-three years. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Watson has been a strict adherent of the democratic party and the principles for which it stands. He is at present chairman of the Carroll county democratic committee and for one term he was mayor of Huntingdon, giving to this community a most businesslike and progressive administration. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church. He is not affiliated with any secret organizations.
Source: Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 4
