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The Watsons

Francis “Frank” Eugene Watson married Mary “Jim” White on November 2, 1898. The Watsons were prominent farmers with land beneath the beautiful Peaks of Otter in Bedford County , Virginia. Frank’s father, Henry and mother Nancy , raised thoroughbred riding horses. They lived in a large two-story frame house overlooking their farm in full view of the Peaks. Henry was able to further Frank’s education and sent him to Jeter Institute in the town of Bedford, then known as Liberty. My Aunt Kathleen , Clara’s younger sister, believes that Jeter Institute was the men’s division of Randolph -Macon which is now located in Lynchburg. After their marriage Frank and Mary Jim lived with his parents in Bedford helping farm and tending the horses. Grandmother’s middle name was “Jim” given to her by her father since she was the first-born and he had hoped for a son. This stuck with her all her life and Kathleen ’s children called her “Momma Jim”. Mary’s parents, Thomas Scott and Elizabeth DeWitt White, were farmers in Bedford County . Mary’s maternal grandfather, Elisha DeWitt , was a Methodist minister. Thomas White was an officer in the Civil War and a photo taken late in his life revealed he was a tall, thin, white-haired gentleman with a mustache and in his uniform appeared quite distinguished.

My maternal grandmother, Mary Jim White Watson About the time of her marriage in 1898

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