MS – 191 Watson Family Papers

Introduction

The George Watson Papers were donated to the Wright State University Archives, which retains all property rights, by Mrs. David Klarer on October 21, 1981. At that time, Mrs. Klarer resided at 537 McIntire Ave., Fairborn, Ohio. All literary rights have been conveyed to the public. There are no restrictions. The collection consists of three series, nine files, and is contained in one box of .25 linear feet. Its processor was Stephen F. Kahn who completed processing on February 13, 1990.

Scope and Content

This collection is primarily an example of family correspondence as written from the middle of the nineteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth century. Files one to five appear to be the most interesting of the nine files since they show a considerable slice of life of that period. These five files are made up of advertisements, announcements, and an abstract of the Seventh United States Census, miscellaneous literature, and pamphlets. The abstract and various pamphlets seem to merit special attention. Among the pamphlets is one dated 1871 that deals with the national debt of that time. Another pamphlet that originated in Cleveland, Ohio, riles the evil of intemperance.

The legal papers in files six and seven may also be of some interest. They are dated from 1860 to 1882 and include George Watson’s appointment as secretary of subdivision 10, Xenia Township, Ohio; a petition for a township road; a real estate appraisal; subpoenas and a summons. Files eight and nine consist of family correspondence.

The papers reveal very little about the relationship of the letter writers to the main addressee, George and Margaret Watson. Curiously, the collection contains no return correspondence or, for that matter, any letters from George or Margaret Watson who lived in Xenia Township of Green County, Ohio, from approximately the middle to the end of the nineteenth century. At one time, he was secretary of sub-district 10 of Xenia Township. The Watson’s apparently had a child, J.W. Watson, and a niece by the name of Rebecca Bone or Rebecca Bouen. Margaret Watson also had a sister whose married name was Edith Trader.

In addition to the George Watson letters, the collection contains letters to Emily Watson whose relation to the George Watson family is not apparent. An envelope, which is part of file nine, shows that Emily Watson lived at 696 South Detroit Street, Xenia, Ohio, in 1925. Another correspondent was Edward Richardson who seemingly was a brother to a member of the Watson family.

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