The Watson Family
The “Watson” Family has roots extending far back into the history of Clearview Township - in fact, on old area maps, there is a place west of Clearview sideroad called “Watson Settlement”!The patriarch of the families, Thomas Watson, came to Canada from the Orkney Islands. Together with his wife, Jane (from Holland), they had a son, Joseph, born 1820, who married Margaret Schell October 22, 1840. They moved to Clearview November 2, 1864.
Joseph and Margaret had 16 children; Joseph’s second wife, Miss McTaggart bore him five more children and lived to be 100 years old. They moved to North Dakota from where they corresponded with Effie Spicher.
The 11th son of this large family, William, will be the subject of this story. Hopefully, at a later time, we will be able to profile other members of the Watson family.
William, (1845-1928) married Martha Grogan, 1846-1931. They farmed at Sunnidale Corners (the farm later owned by John Weel). He loved to hunt and fish, and spent time at Jack’s Lake (or the Klondike). He had a log house and a small barn. They retired to Stayner, living on Scott Street and Weir Street. They had seven children. The family all farmed in Sunnidale on adjacent farms.
Interestingly, most of these seven stayed in Stayner! And more interesting, many of them lived on Weir Street.
Jane, (1871-1937) married William Cauthers and had one son, Clarence. He was the druggist at the IDA store (now Nifty's), and with his wife, Bertha, and chosen daughter, Lorraine, lived above the store. Highly regarded as prominent citizens, they contributed much to Stayner, and were also well known for the Pickwick Inn at Wasaga. Following Clarence’s untimely death, Bertha remarried Bill Cody and later retired to Wasaga with Lorraine.
Agnes (b.1872), married Angus Buie. Their son, Albert, a bachelor, was Principal of Jarvis Collegiate in Toronto. Bert maintained a home near Stayner - a lovely field stone house just east of town. He was known for his love for cats and housed many of them. One of the daughters, Mary Catherine, married Clarence Wood - and that’s another Stayner story for the future. Sons John and Bob still reside in Stayner. Both Mary and Clarence (Pete) are recently deceased.
Benjamin, (1874-1920) a bachelor, made a name for himself in the fledgling automotive industry. He is reported to have brought the first automobile to Stayner - it was called the LeRoy and was steered by a handle. In 1913, he was a maker and agent for the “Overland” car.
Archie Watson, (1876-1945), married to Jennie McCague (1878-1942), lived initially on Weir Street and had a hardware (now Home Hardware). Of the five offspring, two sons, Frank and George, remained in Stayner. Mary, Margaret and Fredrick were the other members of the family. Frank took over the hardware and operated it with his sons Doug and Peter. (Fred, and twins, Jane and Judy, are the rest of his and Pauline’s family).
George, a dentist, with his wife, Edith, also lived for a time on Weir Street. Their family were Marny and Bobbie.
While Archie was building the new house at 311 Main St. E. in 1941, he and Jennie boarded with Hattie and Gov Plowright, (at that time on the north side of Main where later Clarence Martins’ lived). Three other familiar names in Stayner - Jack Hughes, Jim Cauthers and Jack Thompson - built the house for him.
Annie Watson,(1882-1956), married James Cauthers and lived beside her sister, Jane and Will Cauthers (Jim’s brother) on Weir Street.( It should have been called Watson Street!) They had a grocery store in Stayner.
Clinton and Marie, the Cauthers twins, were born in 1914. Clinton married Mary Partridge, whose sister, Cora, lives in Will’s house now!! Confused yet? William, Lloyd and Norman were James and Annie’s other children.
Marie’s son, Bill, and daughter, Kathy, and Clint’s family - Garry, Carolyn, and Connie still have close ties with Stayner. (Jackie died tragically several years ago).
John Watson (1885-1962) married Nellie Rogers(1884-1974). They farmed at Sunnidale Corners until Jack bought a car dealership in Stayner about 1925. They moved to - you guessed it? - Weir Street! Their two children, Roger and Irene, also remained close to Stayner - Roger throughout his life and Irene after retirement. Roger and Elsie also contributed greatly to the enrichment of Stayner and area - their two daughters, Bev and Laurel, continue to do so.
As do Irene and George McNabb’s two sons, Robert and Wayne, who follow their careers partly in Stayner.
The final member of William Watson’s family, Ella Victoria, (1892-1980) married John Hood (1885-1962) (another well-known Stayner name!) Two of their daughters, Adeline and Floreen, live in Stayner.{ed. note-both now deceased] Floreen raised her family of Robert, Glenn, John, Lynda, and Norman in Feversham. Adeline followed a teaching career before retiring to Stayner. Clara, the third daughter, is deceased.
Thanks to Adeline Verner, the Watson historian.
See Also: The Watson Family Part 2 by Jim Paul