Hannie & Lola Siebert Watson
Wedding Photograph
wed November 13, 1904

Hannie Watson was my grandfather.  He was the fourth of twelve children born to Greene Tom and Sinie Watson. Hannie came to Whitesboro, Texas in 1887 from Macon, Georgia, where he was born. 

Hannie married Lola Siebert of Sadler in 1904.  They had three children. 

• Van Watson b.1905   d.1999
• Leola Watson b.1910  d.1913; passed away from pneumonia less than two months before her fourth birthday
• Gene Watson b. 1914   d.1998

Leola Watson	L - R Gene Watson, Lola Watson, Hannie Watson, Van Watson

Hannie Watson and his prize rooster

Hannie was very active in the community.  He organized and directed the school band in the 1930s.  He also organized a community orchestra which played at community events. Hannie served as mayor of the City of Whitesboro for two terms in the late 1940s.

Hannie was also active in the First Christian Church, serving as Sunday School Superintendent for over twenty-five years.  He sang in and directed the church choir.

Hannie owned and operated a barber shop in Whitesboro until the early 1960s.  His barber shop was a very popular place to go and hear barber shop quartets and other music on Saturdays.

Hannie's Barber Shop
Whitesboro, Texas

Hannie is standing in the back, left corner of the shop.
I think the man standing in the back doorway is Van Watson, my uncle.
The young boy standing near Van is my father, Gene Watson.

Hannie's family were talented musicians and played a variety of instruments.  They formed musical groups and provided music for the dances which were held in the community. They also, played at musicals and other events.  One musical group consisted of Hannie playing the mandolin; Hannie's father playing the fiddle; three of Hannie's brothers: John Hart Watson playing clarinet, Samuel Newton Watson playing guitar, Tom Watson playing the fiddle; and Hannie's cousin, Andrew Scheid, playing the bass fiddle.

Back Row (L-R): Greene Tom Watson, Hannie Watson 
    Front Row (L-R): Tom Watson, John Hart Watson. Samuel Newton Watson 
    Standing: Andrew Scheid holding bass fiddle

Hannie passed away in 1964 and Lola passed away in 1968.  Their son, Van, and his wife Nina; their daughter, Leola; and grandson, Eddie Watson, are buried on the same lot with Hannie and Lola in Oakwood Cemetery in Whitesboro, Texas.  Gene is buried at the Basin Springs Cemetery near Sadler.

Whitesboro History

Biography Index