1999 Heart and History

Watson Family

The Watson family came to the (sic) Leonia after the Civil War and played an important role in the development of the community and the county. Azariah Watson and his wife, Eugenia Theodora Scott Watson, homesteaded in the Leonia settlement near the end of the 1800s. Their land deed was issued in 1894 and bears the name of Grover Cleveland. After five generations, the land was still in the possession of the Watson family. Mr and Mrs Tollie Phillips were living on the homestead in the 1980s, and proved the information on the Watson family for this book.

The father of Azariah Watson was Joseph Watson. He married Pharaby Davis, May 5, 1835. Their children were:

1. Missouri A Watson, born 1846
2. Martha Green Watson, born 1849
3. James Wright Watson, born 1855
4. Joel P Watson, born 1857
5. Elizabeth Watson, born 1859;
6. Azariah Walton, born Sept 22, 1860, in Thomasville, GA.

Azariah Watson married Eugenia Schott, born July 31, 1858, in Coffee County, Ala. Eugenia was known as "Jennie". They were parents of:

1. George Watson
2. Laura Watson;
3. Melissa "Lit" Watson;
4. Matthew Watson;
5. Julia Leonia Watson (named Leonia for the same lady for whom the Leonia Church was named); and
6. Clarence Sawyers was reared as a foster son.

Mr and Mrs Watson were charter members of the Leonia Baptist Church. Mrs Watson died January, 1933, and Mr Watson died in July of the same year. They were buried in the Leonia cemetery. One of their granddaughters, Winnie Matson, married Frank James, a brother of the notorious outlaw during the 1930s, Jesse James.

Excerpts used with permission of publisher, Sue Cronkite, from Heart and History of Holmes County, by Anna Paget Wells. This 347-page book is full of info, stories, and pictures. It can be ordered from the Holmes County Advertiser, 112 E Virginia Avenue, Bonifay, FL 32425; phone 850-547-2270.