Jesse Granville Watt (1914 - 2002)

Born 30 Sep 1914 in Edmonson County, Kentucky, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Pauline (Houchins) Watt — married 19 Jan 1934 in Clark County, Indiana, USA

Husband of Anna Jane Murphy — married 7 Oct 1982 in Sumner County, Tennessee, USA

Descendants

Died 30 Mar 2002 at age 87 in Oakland, Warren, Kentucky, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: L Adcox [send private message]

Biography

Jesse Granville Watt, son of Edward Vincent Watt and Verina Sturgeon

Jesse Granville Watt was raised on his parent's farm in Edmonson County, Kentucky, with an older brother, and a younger sister. The Watt's lived on Boiling Springs Road, with many Watt relatives living in the same area.

Jesse, at age 19, married Pauline Houchins. Pauline was the 6th born of 8 children, and was the twin of brother Paul. The Houchins family also owned a farm on Boiling Springs Road, the same as the Watt family. Many of Pauline's aunts and uncles lived nearby.

Jesse and Pauline just had their 1st wedding anniversary, when their child was born. Pauline was diagnosed with a ruptured appendix several days after giving birth, and sadly passed away at the young age of 17 years old. Jesse moved back home with his parents who helped care for his newborn. He lived with his parents for a few years before marrying Thelma Hunt. Jesse's daughter remained with her grandparents after Jesse remarried.

Thelma Hunt was about 16 years old when she married Jesse G. Watt. She was living with her parents in neighboring Warren County, on Salt River Road, close to many of Jesse's extended family members. She was the youngest of 8 children. Coincidentally, Thelma's brother Graden, and Jesse's sister Mildred, were married not long afterwards.

Jesse and Thelma had 8 children together over the next 25 years. Jesse was initially farming in Oakland, but later worked as a deputy sheriff for Warren County. At age 56, Jesse married for a 3rd time to Anna Jane Murphey. This was a 3rd marriage for Anna as well. She had several grown children from previous marriages, and one child with Jesse.

Jesse retired as a security guard for Firestone Textile Company. He lived to the age of 87, and is buried at Boiling Springs Church of Christ Cemetery. Jesse's 1st wife Pauline Houchins Watt, and 2nd wife Thelma Hunt Watt are also buried at Boiling Springs Church of Christ Cemetery.

Sources

BIRTH INDEX:

Ancestry.com. Kentucky, Birth Index, 1911-1999

Name: Jessie G Watt

Date of Birth: 30 Sep 1914

County: Edmonson

Mother's Name: Vera [Vernina Sturgeon]

Volume Number: 90

Certificate Number: 44504

Volume Year: 1914

SS DEATH INDEX:

U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-Current

Name: Jesse G. Watt

SSN: 400-14-5605

Last Residence: 42159 Oakland, Warren, Kentucky, USA

Born: 30 Sep 1914

Died: 30 Mar 2002

State (Year) SSN issued: Kentucky (Before 1951)

BURIAL:

Find A Grave Memorial# 98136069 (gravestone pictured)

Inscription: Jesse G Watt

Birth: Sep. 30, 1914

Death: Mar. 30, 2002

Burial: Boiling Springs Church of Christ Cemetery, Warren County Kentucky

Created by: Michelle

Record added: Oct 01, 2012

OBITUARY:

Source: Find A Grave Memorial# 98136069

Bowling Green Daily News - 1 Apr 2002:

Jesse Granville Watt, 87, of Oakland died at 5:35 p.m. March 30, 2002, at his home. The

Edmonson County native was a retired security guard for Firestone Textile Company, a former Warren County deputy sheriff and a member of Shady Land Church of Christ. He was a son of the late Edd Watt and Vernie Sturgeon Watt. He was preceded in death by two sons, Gillie Watt and Billy Meredith.

Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Hardy & Son Funeral Home, Bowling Green chapel,

with burial in Boiling Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and

9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Survivors include his wife, Anna Jane Murphy Watt; seven daughters, Evona Adcox of Pensacola, Fla., Marcella Hood of Smiths Grove, Janet Towery of Mountain City, Tenn., Martha Leroy of Clarksville, Tenn., and Margie Kirby, Joyce Bagby and Shelia Barlow, all of Bowling Green; six sons, Harold Watt of Oakland, Ronnie Watt of Smiths Grove, John Watt of Rockfield, Robert Settle of Bowling Green, Rick Settle of Charleston, S.C., and Donnie Meredith of Leitchfield; a sister, Mildred Houchens of Smiths Grove; 31 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and a

great-great-granddaughter.

FIRST MARRIAGE:

Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959

Name: Jesse Granvill Watt

Marriage Date: 19 Jan 1934

Marriage Place: , Clark, Indiana

Registration Place: , Clark, Indiana, United States

Residence Place:RR#1 Bowling Green, Warren, Kentucky

Occupation: Farmer

Birth Date: 30 Sep 1912

Birthplace: Warren Co, Kentucky

Father: Edward Watt, born Edmonson Co, KY

Mother: Mattie Sturgen, born Warren Co, KY

Spouse's Name: Pauline Houchins

Spouse's Residence Place: Bowling Green, Warren, Kentucky

Spouse's Birth Date: 17 Mar 1915

Spouse's Birthplace: Warren Co, Kentucky

Spouce's Residence: Bowling Green, Warren, Kentucky

Spouse's Father: H Houchins, born Warren Co, KY

Spouse's Mother: Cillier French, born Warren Co, KY

Officiator's Name: Benson R Veasey, JP

Page: 513, GS Film number: 002312253

Digital Folder Number: 004476626, Image Number: 00295

(Note: appears as if both Jesse and Pauline entered their age as being 2 years older than actual)

SECOND MARRIAGE:

Married Thelma Hunt, 01 Sep 1937 (date per unsourced record)

Note: Jesse and Thelma were separated, but never divorced.

Per Tommy Hunt (nephew of Thelma Hunt Watt), he said Thelma's kids advised her against giving Jesse a divorce so she would be assured of being able to stay in the house. Thelma lived in that house until she died.

Note: Jesse started a family with Anna Jane Murphey during the separation, but Jesse and Anna did not marry until after the death of Thelma.

THIRD MARRIAGE:

Ancestry.com. Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002

Name: Jesse G Watt

Age: 68

Residence: PO Box 134, Oakland, KY

Spouse: Anna Jane Watt

Spouse Age: 45

Spouse Residence: PO Box 134, Oakland, KY

Officiant: Ernest Pellegrin, Judge

Marriage Date: 7 Oct 1982

Marriage Place: Sumner Co, TN

CENSUS / TIMELINE

1914: Birth of Jesse Granville Watt; 30 Sep 1914 (per birth record)

1917: Birth of Pauline Houchins; 17 May 1917 (per birth record)

1920 Census: Sulphur, Edmonson, Kentucky, family#98

Edd B Watt ........ 32 ... KY,KY,KY ... farmer

Vernie Watt ....... 28 ... KY,KY,KY

Wilkins E Watt .... 6 ... KY,KY,KY ... attends school

Jesse G Watt ....... 5 ... KY,KY,KY

Mildred Watt ... 7m ... KY,KY,KY

1920 Census Notes:

Rent or Own: Own free of mortgage

Living next to Edd's cousin: John T Cowles, age 60 (son of Albert K Cowles)

Living next to Edd's cousin: Henry V Cowles, age 46 (son of Fidella N Cowles)

1930 Census: Sulphur, Edmonson, Kentucky, family#191

Edd Watt .......... 42 ... KY,KY,KY ... age at first marriage: 24, farmer

Vernie Watt ..... 38 ... KY,KY,KY ... age at first marriage: ?20

Wilkins Watt .... 16 ... KY,KY,KY ... attends school, farm laborer

Jessie Watt ....... 15 ... KY,KY,KY ... attends school, farm laborer

Mildred Watt ... 10 ... KY,KY,KY ... attends school

1930 Census Notes:

Street: Boiling Springs Road

Farm: Yes

Rent or Own: Own

Living next to: Edd's brother: Fred Watt age 37, Stella age 31

Living next to: Edd's mother: Lizzie Watt age 73 widowed

1934: Married 1st wife: Pauline Houchins, 19 Jan 1934, Clark, Indiana, USA

Prior to marriage Pauline Houchins was on 1930 census, living on farm with parents, 6 siblings, in Sulphur, Edmonson, KY. The Houchins are family#207 living on same street as WATT; Red Boiling Springs Road

See Houchins family for more detail.

1934-1935: Jesse and Pauline lived in Oakland, KY during marriage

1935: Birth of child, Evona Dean Watt.

1935: Death of 1st wife: Pauline Houchins, 03 Feb 1935

Cause of death: "Appendicitis Ac. (ruptured)"

1935: Jesse and newborn Evona move in with Jesse's parents: Edd Watt and Vernie, from Evona 21-Nov-2013:

"I lived with my grandparents Ed and Vernie Watt from the time I was nine days old. Mildred was only sixteen when my Dad and I came to my grandparents…".

"...When my Dad married he thought he was going to take me with him to live, but I must have really protested because I never spent a night with him. He had children later. I have seen all of them at one time or another, but we have never been close..."

1937: Married Thelma Hunt, 01 Sep 1937 (source of date unknown)

Prior to marriage, Thelma Hunt was on 1930 census, living with parents, 2 brothers, Salt River Rd, Bristow, Warren, KY, living next to a WATT relative: Gentry T Watt (son of Jesse A Watt and Martha Cowles Watt).

See HUNT family for more detail.

1939: Birth of child, Jesse Harold Watt, 11 Mar 1939, Warren Co, KY

1940: Oakland, Warren, Kentucky, family#54

Jess Watt ......... 25 ... KY,KY,KY ... Highest grade completed: 8

Thelma Watt ... 18 ... KY ... Highest grade completed: 6

Jess Watt ........... 0 ... KY

1940 Census Notes:

Residence in 1935: same place

Farm: Yes

Rent or Own: Rent, $3

Occupation: Farm Laborer

Weeks worked in 1939: 52 weeks, Income: $500

Living on same property as owner, Johnny Hudson, age 42, and family

Living on same property as another renter, Rick Wade, age 28, and family

Living close to family#73: Uncle William E Watt, w/wife Hittie

Living close to family#22: parents: Edward Watt, and Vernina

1962-1973: Separated from Thelma Hunt, sometime between 1962-1973

1965: Jess is working for Sheriff's Department in Warren County.

Newspaper: The Park City Daily News, Bowling Green, KY

Date: Wednesday, December 22, 1965

Article Titled: New Sheriff Plans Night Patrol

Note: This article is about sheriff-elect Christy Watts, and further down in the article, it lists his 7-member staff, including Jess Watt of Oakland.

Excerpt from article:

"O. E. Neely, Browning, and O. B. Simmons, Old Russellville Road, both continuing as deputies; Charles Forshee. 2104 Cabell Drive, now a county jail deputy; Audie Montgomery, Matlock, constable of Hickory Flat district; Jess Watt, Oakland, and Raymond Stahl and Oren Simpson, both office and staff members."

1967: Jess Watt working as a Warren County Deputy Sheriff.

Newspaper: The Park City Daily News, Bowling Green, KY

Date: Monday, March 27, 1967

Article Titled: Police Riot Squad Called

Note: This article is about dairy farmers on strike about milk prices. The National Farmers Organization temporally shut down operations at the Pet Milk production plant, and organized about 300 picketers to block a milk shipment. There was a brief outbreak of violence. Hanes struck Capt. Brummit with a cane, and arrests were made.

Excerpt from article:

"Members of the picket line credited sheriff's deputies Audie Montgomery and Jess Watt with being instrumental in keeping down further violence after the Hanes incident. Both men, with Sheriff [Christy] Watts, are residents of rural Warren County and are acquainted with many of the demonstrating farmers.

1980: Death of 2nd wife, Thelma Hunt, 26 Sept 1980, Bowling Green KY

1982: Marriage to 3rd wife: Anna Jane Murphey, on 07 Oct 1982

Anna was previously married to ___ Meredith, and previously married to ___ Settle.

????: Jesse was security guard for Firestone Textile Company until retirement.

2002: Death of Jesse Granville Watt, 30 Mar 2002, Edmonson Co, KY

Living in Oakland KY at time of death (per his obituary)

2002: 3rd wife Anna, living in Oakland, Kentucky

Bowling Green Daily News; Posted: 1 Apr 2002:

Listed as survivor in her husband's obituary:

"…Survivors include his wife, Anna Jane Murphy Watt …."

2003: 3rd wife Anna, living in Oakland, Kentucky

Bowling Green Daily News; Posted: April 10, 2003:

Listed as survivor in her step-son's (Jessie H.Watt) obituary:

"…a stepmother, Anna Jane Watt of Oakland …."

2013: 3rd wife Anna, living in Bowling Green, Kentucky

Bowling Green Daily News; Posted: May 4, 2013:

Listed as survivor in step-daughter's (Marcella Watt Hood) obituary:

"…stepmother, Anna Watt of Bowling Green…"