 Denison  Section 3  James R. Watts 11 December 1855 - 17 January 1954 The Independent Record Helena, Montana Thursday, January 21, 1954 pg. 100 PIONEER DIES AT 98 Denison, Texas (AP) - James R. Watts, 98, a pioneer who saw Billy the Kid slain, was buried here Tuesday. Watts, who said he once cleaned out he Kid in a poker game and "lived to tell about it," was a member of Pat Garrett's posse when the youthful bad man was slain in New Mexico. The Denison Press Friday, January 22, 1954 pg. 6 JAMES R. WATTS Funeral services were held at Bratcher-Moore chapel Tuesday afternoon for James R. Watts, 98-year-old native Texan, formerly of San Antonio, who died in a nursing home at 1031 W. Munson Sunday. Rev. H.F. Crews, pastor of the Nazarene church, officiated and interment was in Oakwood Cemetery. Watts was born in Helna, Texas, December 11, 1855, son of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Watts. He was a rancher in the early days and was reported to have been in the posse that killed Billy the Kid, and he was a close friend of the famous Judge Roy Bean. It is said that he drove the first herd of cattle from Texas to South Dakota. He was a government scout during World War I. He had lived in Denison at 1504 S. Travis for the past 7 years. He is survived by one son, L.J. Watts, El Paso; 3 daughters, Mrs. Orbie Roper, Denison; Mrs. Lillian T. Laine, Chicago and Mrs. Hardy D. Van Deaman, Kermit, Texas; 14 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren.   OAKWOOD CEMETERY
Susan Hawkins
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