The realty interests of any progressive, wide-awake community are very
valuable, and those engaged in the development and upbuilding of various
sections are not only advancing their own affairs, but are proving public
benefactors. One of the leading business men of Murphysboro who has for some
years interested himself in the real estate, insurance and loan business is
Andrew Watson, who during his residence here, a period of nearly forty
years, has built up a reputation for business integrity and moral probity
that has had a beneficial influence upon the community at large. Mr. Watson
was born in Lennoxshire. Scotland, July 8, 1857, and is a son of Thomas and
Elizabeth Watson, the former of whom was engaged in coal mining.
Andrew Watson was something over fourteen years of age when he came to the
United States, and in 1872 he settled in Murphysboro, Illinois, where for
the next ten years he worked in the coal mines. Possessing the thrifty
Scotch spirit, he was saving with his earnings, and after leaving the mines
was for four years engaged in farming, at the end of which time, under the
firm name of Watson Brothers, he and his brother Arch engaged in the grocery
business, which they continued for eleven years. Mr. Watson's next venture
was in the life insurance field, in which he was uniformly successful and
continued therein for nine years. In 1908 he established a real estate,
insurance and loan business, and in this line has become known as an
industrious and enterprising addition to Murphysboro's progressive
commercial element. He is now a director in the Southern Illinois Building &
Loan Association.
Mr. Watson has taken not a little interest in
public matters in Murphysboro, serving as alderman for one term and as
township assessor for a year. He is a member of the English Lutheran church,
financial secretary thereof, a member of the church council and teacher of
the men's Bible class in the Sunday-school. He was a president of the County
Sunday School Association for two years, and of the adult department for a
like period, and has been superintendent of the county missionary department
of the Sunday-school for one year and still holds that position. His
fraternal connections are with the Odd Fellows, in which he is a past noble
grand.
Mr. Watson was united in marriage with Miss Carrie Everts, a
native of Ohio, and she died in 1899. He is thoroughly convinced of the
truth of the teachings of the Bible, and earnestly and efficiently has set
forth the faith of that Book. He has the courage of his convictions, and not
only does he declare them in vigorous language that does not fail to
impress, but lives up to his beliefs and carries them out in every-day life.
He is an excellent business man and possessed of much civic pride, and any
movements having for their object the betterment of Murphysboro in any way
will find in him an earnest supporter and liberal contributor.
Extracted 11 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 A History of Southern Illinois, by George W. Smith, volume 3, page 1455.