Eli Arthur Watson (1883 - 1973)

A.F. Buechler and R.J. Barr Western Publishing and Engraving Company (1920)

Page 593-594 E. Arthur Watson, M.D. a specialist is surgery diagnosis, has been engaged in Medical Practice in Grand Island (Nebraska) since 1914, coming here from other points in the state in search of a wider professional field. Dr. Watson was born in Pierce County, Nebraska, August 1, 1883, the son of G. P. and Anna (McCarragher) Watson, the former of whom was born in Michigan and the latter in County Armagh, Ireland.

The father of Dr. Watson was eight years old when he accompanied his father to Sarpy County, Nebraska where the latter took up land near Bellevue. At a later date G.P. Watson homesteaded in Pierce County, his land at that time being fifty miles distant from a railroad. In the course of years he made the stock business profitable and now lives in comfortable retirement at Plainview. He has been a leading factor in politics in Pierce County and served in the state legislature in 1897 and 1899, elected on the Democratic ticket. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and both he and wife are members of the Presbyterian church. Of his three sons, Dr. Watson is the youngest, the others being Charles, a farmer and stockman in Pierce County and Ansel C., in the stock business and lives in Plainview. E. Arthur Watson completed his high school course at Plainview, Nebraska, and spent some time in the Normal college at the same place, after which he was associated with his father in the stock business for two years, in the meanwhile making plans for a medical career. These plans happily came to fruition and resulted in his graduation from Creighton Medical College, Omaha, in 1908, where he had for a year, been first assistant to the celebrated Dr. C.C. Allison. Subsequently for two years Dr. Watson was in active practice at Brunswick, Nebraska, and for two more at Kearney, coming from the latter place to Grand Island in August, 1914. He is connected with Saint Francis Hospital, where all his operations are performed, many of them in their completeness being marvels of science. Dr. Watson had the advantage of taking graduate work under the instruction of the late Dr. Murphy, of Chicago, whose eminence in surgery is universally acknowledged. Dr. Watson married in 1908, Miss May E. Mullin who was born in Parnell, Iowa, but was reared and educated in Omaha, Nebraska. They have had three sons: Gilbert Joseph, who died when aged four years eight months; Donald , a sturdy little schoolboy of eight years; and James Wendell, five years old. Dr. and Mrs. Watson are members of the Roman Catholic church. He has been very active in the Knights of Columbus organization and organized a council in Kearney and served as its first grand knight. He belongs to the Elks, but has never found time to be active in politics, which, however is no criterion of good citizenship. Dr. Watson has found in Grand Island, an appreciation of his scientific knowledge, as well as a congenial atmosphere for himself and his family.

St. James Council 1728 was Chartered on March 22, 1914 Original membership of 58 Knights. The First Chaplian of Council was Rt. Rev. James A. Duffy The First Grand Knight was Dr. Eli A.Watson.