Hon. Frederick Watts and Eliza Golde Cranston
Husband Hon. Frederick Watts 1 2 3 4 5
Born: 9 May 1801 - Carlisle, Cumberland Co, PA 1 2 3 Christened: Died: 17 Aug 1889 6 7 Buried: - Old Cemetery, Carlisle, Cumberland Co, PA
Father: David Watts (1764-1819) 1 2 8 Mother: Juliana Miller ( -1869) 2
Marriage: 6 Sep 1827 3
Other Spouse: Henrietta Ege ( -1890) 3 4 5 6 - 24 Mar 1835 3
Wife Eliza Golde Cranston 3 6
Born: Christened: Died: Nov 1832 6 Buried: - Old Cemetery, Carlisle, Cumberland Co, PA
Children
1 F Marcia Ross Watts 3 6
Born: Christened: Died: Bef 1889 Buried:
2 F Laura Golde Watts 3 6
Born: Christened: Died: Bef 1889 Buried:
3 F Eliza Cranston Watts 3 6
Born: Christened: Died: Bef 1889 Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Hon. Frederick Watts
That Judge Watts was the most prominent member of the community in which he lived for more than a quarter of a century is not questioned. As early as October, 1827, he practiced in the supreme court of Pennsylvania, and as late as the May term of 1869, and all through that period of forty-two years (except the three years he was on the bench), there is not a single volume of reports containing the cases from the middle district in which his name cannot be found; to which add the fact that for fifteen years he was reporter of the decisions of that court, and during that period, and before and after it, he was engaged in a large office business, and in the trial of nearly all the important cases in the courts below, in his own county, Cumberland, and the county of Perry. But this did not satisfy his love for labor. He was, during this period, president of the Cumberland Valley Railroad, and continued in that office for twenty-six years. To his professional duties, and those connected with the railroad, he added constant activity in agricultural pursuits, not only in managing his farms, but as president of the Cumberland County Agricultural Society, and an active projector of the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania, furthering the general agricultural interests of his county and State.
He entered Dickinson College, from which he was graduated in 1819. He passed the two subsequent years with his uncle, William Miles, in Erie County, where he cultivated his taste for agricultural pursuits. In 1821 he returned to Carlisle, and entered the office of Andrew Carothers, as a law student; was admitted to the bar in August, 1824, and soon acquired a lucrative practice. In 1845 he became president of the Cumberland Valley Railroad. When he took hold of it, it was in debt, out of repair, unproductive, and in a dilapidated condition, but through his energetic and economical management, was brought up to a high state of prosperity, paid all of its indebtedness and made to yield handsome returns. March 9, 1849, he was commissioned by Gov. Johnston president judge of the Ninth Judicial District, composed of the counties of Cumberland, Perry and Juniata. He retained the office until 1852. In 1854 he was elected president of the board of trustees of the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania. During the year 1854 he projected the erection of gas and water works for Carlisle, and, having formed a company, was elected its president. He was a man of great force of character and abiding self-confidence. Whatever he undertook he did with all his might, and whatever be his belief he believed implicitly. He never sat down at the counsel table to try a case that he did not impress the court and jury that he had perfect confidence that he would gain it. His temper was completely within his control; his equanimity was perfect, and he was ever ready to avail himself of any slip of his adversary. He had great powers of concentration, and always prepared his law points at the counsel table as soon as the evidence was closed. This he did with great facility, always directing them to the main points of the case. His power with the jury was very great. He was known by every man in the counties in which he practiced, and was regarded as a man of large intellect, sterling integrity, and unblemished honor. To these he added the impression of perfect belief in the justice of his cause, and this was effected by a manner that was always dignified, and in speech that was clear, strong, convincing, and never tedious. He despised quirks and quibbles; was a model of fairness in the trial of a cause, and always encouraged and treated kindly younger members of the bar that he saw struggling honorably for prominence, and when he closed his professional career he left the bar with the profound respect of all its members. In 1871 he was tendered the appointment of commissioner of agriculture, which he declined. The offer was renewed, and he finally accepted the appointment, and entered upon its duties August 1, 1871. An admirable system pervaded this department, and the three divisions were so arranged that the most detailed and accurate information could be obtained with the greatest facility. The country had not in its employ a more industrious, honest, faithful and large-hearted servant. He devoted himself assiduously to the practical development of the agricultural resources of the country. [HCC 1886, 399]
He graduated at Dickinson College in 1819. Two years later he entered the office of Andrew Carothers, and was admitted to practice in August, 1824. He remained for a time in partnership with his preceptor and acquired a lucrative practice. During a period of forty-two years from the October term, 1827, to May term, 1869, in the Supreme Court, there is no volume of reports containing cases from the middle district (except for the three years when he was on the bench) in which his name is not found. For fifteen vears he was the reporter of the decisions of that court, from 1829; three volumes, "Watts & Penrose," ten volumes "Watts Reports," and nine "Watts & Sergeant." On March 9, 1849, he was commissioned by Gov. Johnston, president judge of the Ninth Judicial District, containing the counties of Cumberland, Perry and Juniata. He retired in 1852, when the judiciary became elective, and resumed his practice, from which after a long and honorable career, he gradually withdrew in about 1860-69. In August, 1871, he was appointed and served as commissioner of agriculture under Hayes. As a man he had great force of character, sterling integrity, and, as a lawyer, ability, dignity and confidence. He had great power with a jury from their implicit confidence in him. He was always firm, self-reliant, despised quirks and quibbles, and was a model of fairness in the trial of a cause. He was still living in retirement in Carlisle at an advanced age, and was the oldest surviving member of the bar.
Although engaged in the intricacies of the legal profession, he always had both time and inclination to advance the interests of the farming community. He was both a theoretical and a practical farmer, and to him more than to any other man in the Cumberland Valley may be attributed the improvements in agriculture in that region.
In June, 1839, Judge Watts was driving a carriage, containing himself and wife, from New York to Philadelphia, no railroad at that time connecting the two cities. Near Trenton, New Jersey, he was met on the road by Lieut. William Inman, of the United States Navy, and asked, "Watts, where are you going?" Being told, he took the Judge to his farm, on which was growing an excellent quality of wheat. It proved to be a Mediterranean variety, three bushels of which were brought by him a year or two previous from Italy, near Leghorn. He sent Judge Watts six barrels of the seed, which were sown on his farm near Carlisle. By these two men was introduced into the United States, and especially into the Cumberland Valley, this popular variety of wheat.
During the harvest of 1840 the first McCormick reaper ever used in Pennsylvania, was taken by Judge Watts into a twelve-acre field that would yield about thirty-five bushels of wheat per acre. It was a trial of the machine. There were present from 500 to 1,000 spectators to witness "Watts' folly," as it was called. The cutting of the wheat was rapid and perfect, but the general verdict was, that "one man could not rake off the grain with sufficient rapidity." A well-dressed stranger came up, and gave some suggestions which aided the raker somewhat; but even yet the team could not be driven more than ten or fifteen rods before a halt was called to ease up on the raker. Finally, the well-dressed gentleman stepped onto the machine, and raked off the wheat with perfect ease, compelling the spectators to reverse their somewhat hasty decision and say, "It can be done." The well-dressed man proved to be Cyrus H. McCormick, the inventor of the American reaper. This little episode marks the introduction of the reaper into the Cumberland Valley, and relieves "Watts' folly" from the odium which first attached to it.
General Notes: Wife - Eliza Golde Cranston
from New Castle Co, DE
1 Editor, History of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Warners, Beers & Co., 1886), Pg 168, 399.
2 Editor, Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905), Pg 193.
3 Editor, Biographical Annals of Franklin County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905), Pg 262.
4 William Henry Egle, M.D., M.A., Pennsylvania Genealogies; Chiefly Scotch-Irish and German (Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Publishing Co., 1896), Pg 276.
5 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley (Chambersburg, PA: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897), Pg 423.
6 Editor, Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905), Pg 194.
7 Editor, Biographical Annals of Franklin County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905), Pg 263.
8
Editor, Biographical Annals of Franklin County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905), Pg 261.
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