Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Morris Gilbert Watson, Sr.

© Kathy Duncan, 2015

Morris Gilbert Watson Sr., son of Enos Albert and Mary Etta (Kizer) Watson, was born 15 May 1903 in Cooper, Delta County, Texas. He died 13 November 1977 in LaMesa, Dawson County, Texas and is buried next to his wife Mae Montogomery in Belvieu Cemetery in Rotan, Fisher County, Texas.

9 Jan 1920, Roby, Fisher County, Texas:

71-74
Watson, E.A. Head M W 47 M b. TX fb. US mb. US lawyer
-----Etta Wife F W 41 M b. TX fb. TX mb. TN
-----Mamie Dau F W 19 S b.TX fb. TX mb. TX stenographer
-----Morris Son M W 16 S b. TX fb. TX mb. TX

Watson - Harvey

Morris Gilbert Watson certainly succeeded in giving  his Roby friends a surprise when he hied himself away to Hamlin Sunday and married one of that town's most beautiful and popular young ladies, in person of Miss Isa Nona Harwell, daughter of Mrs. T. R. Harwell.

Morris is the son of Mr. and Mrs. E.A. Watson of Roby.

The Star-Record wishes for these young people all of the joys anticipated in the contract.--Roby Star Record.
[Source: The Snyder Signal, Synder, Texas; Fri 3 June 1921]

A year later, Morris and Isa Noma Watson were evidently living in Dallas

Watson, Noma Mrs., sten E.A. Watson, rms 614 W 2d
[Source: Ft. Worth City Directory, 1922]

Morris Gilbert Jr., son of Morris G. and Noma (Harwell) Watson was born 28 Feb 1923.

Mrs. M.G. Watson and little son, Morris Jr. ...visiting Mrs. Watson's mother, Mrs. T.R. Harwell.
[Source: The Hamlin Herald; Hamlin, Texas; 1 June 1923]

Isa Noma and Morris G. Watson Jr. probably separated between 1923 and 1924. She lived in Dallas for several years before removing to Houston.

Morris G (Noma) mgr Andrews & Brand Radio Shop r 5403 Richard av
[Source: Dallas City  Directory, 1924]

Mrs. Noma I Watson public sten Bell & Collier r 1621 Bennett av
[Source: Dallas City Directory, 1927]

Watson, Noma 01 Marvin bldg stenographer
[Source: Dallas City Directory, 1928]

Noma Watson, 1101 Eleventh Floor, Marvin Building, 109 North Akard
[Source: Dallas City Directory, 1929]

Watson, Noma sten Shell Pet Corp., r4824 Reiger av
[Source: Dallas City Directory, 1930]

Watson, Noma Miss emp Shell Pet Corp r Ben Milam Hotel
[Source: Houston City Directory, 1932]

Morris G. Watson and Isa Noma evidently divorce, and he married Alma Stackbein 18 May 1928 in Crosby County, Texas. Isa Noma (Harwell) Watson married Paul Ritter of Houston.

Morris Watson To Be Married

It will be a surprise to his many friends to learn that Morris Watson left here yesterday for Rock Springs, where he is expected to be happily married to Miss Alma Stackbein. We did not learn the exact day the marriage will take place, but it is expected to be about Saturday.

The groom is a young attorney in Crosbyton and the son of Judge of Crosbyton and the son of Judge and Mrs. E.A. Watson. The bride is a teacher in the Rock Springs school.
[Source: The Crosbyton Review; Crosbyton, Crosby County, Texas; Fri 18 May 1928]

New Married Couple Return

Mr. and Mrs. Morris Watson arrived here Monday evening from San Antonio. They were married last Friday in San Antonio. Mrs. Watson was formerly Miss Alma Stackbein of Rock Spring where she has been a teacher in the Rock Spring school.

We are glad to welcome these young people as citizens of our town and wish  for them much happiness and prosperity in their wedded life.
[Source: The Crosbyton Review; Crosbyton, Crosby County, Texas; Fri 25 May 1928]

Mr. and Mrs. Morris Watson left Tuesday for a visit over the Christmas holidays with Mrs. Watson's parents in Rock Springs, Texas.
[Source: The Crosbyton Review; Crosbyton, Crosby County, Texas; Fri 28 Dec 1928]

Mr. M.G. Watson, of Los Angeles, Calif., was a visitor last week in the home of his father and mother, Judge and Mrs. E.A. Watson and little son, Morris, Jr. Mr. Watson is engaged by a title insurance company in Los Angeles. He had been to Dallas on business for his firm and took advantage of the opportunity to visit his home folks.
[Source: The Crosbyton Review; Crosbyton, Crosby County, Texas; Fri 15 Mar 1929]

10 April 1930 Evangelical College, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas:

3923 Swiss Ave
238-374 Lynnott, Jessie E. head M W 49 M 23 b. MS fb. MS mb. MS
Watson, Mayme lodger F W 29 S b. TX fb. mb. TX stenographer
-----Morris lodger M W 26 M 18 b. TX fb. TX mb. TX insurance adjustor

3 April 1930, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California:

967 ? Ave
264-495 
Watson  Alma lodger F W 27 M 26 b. TX fb. TX mb. Germany stenographer

This seems to have been a  temporary separation between Morris and Alama. Within a couple of weeks she left California for Texas:

Mrs. Morris Watson, of California is the weeks guest of Judge and Mrs. E.A. Watson enroute to Dallas to join her husband where they will make their home.
[Source: The Crosbyton Review; Crosbyton, Crosby County, Texas; Fri 25 April 1930]

Forms Law Partnership

Mr. and Mrs. Morris Watson arrived here Tuesday from Rock Springs, and will make their home in Crosbyton. Morris has formed a law partnership with his father, Judge E. A. Watson, and the law firm will be known as Watson & Watson. Mr. and Mrs. Watson will be at home in the Fullingim apartments on South Berkshire Street.
[Source: The Crosbyton Review; Crosbyton, Crosby County, Texas; Fri 12 Sept 1930]

Morris Watson Starts Law Office In Same Office Father Began

Morris Watson left last week for Rotan where he opened a law office. A letter to his father, Judge E.A. Watson, a few days later stated that he was very pleasantly located  in the same office that his father began his practice of law several years ago.

Mr. Watson passed the bar examination a few years ago and since that time has been associated with his father here in the practice of his profession.

Mr. Watson has been active in all court procedure, practicing in all of the courts, and has won practically all cases he has handled.

At the time of his leaving he was a member of the Crosby County Bar Association.
[Source: The Crosbyton Review; Crosbyton, Crosby County, Texas; Fri 12 May 1933]

Between 1930 and 1933, the marriage between Morris and Alama ended. Either she died, or they divorced.
Morris G. Watson married Miss Mae Montgomery on 27 Oct 1933 in Fisher County, TX. They had two children.

Judge and Mrs. Morris Watson of Rotan are parents of a son born Wednesday morning. He weighted 11 1/2 pounds.
[Source: Sweetwater Reporter; Sweetwater, Texas; Thurs 9 Feb 1939]

23 April 1940; Raton, Fisher County, Texas:

253
Watson, Morris G Head M W 36 M grade: C-3 b. TX 1935 res: same place
-----May L Wife F W 36 M grade: C-3 b. TX 1935 res: same place
-----Reva Joe Dau F W 5 b. TX 1935 res: same place
-----Jim A. Son M W 1 S b. TX 1935 res: same place

Watson, Morris G r Hickman Hotel
[Source: Dallas City Directory, 1941]

Early in the United States entry in WWII, both Morris Sr. and Morris Jr. were serving as radio technicians.

Morris Watson Jr., Here
Morris Watson, Jr., spent several days furlough here last week with his grandparents, Judge and Mrs. E.A. Watson. Morris Jr. recently volunteered as a Radio Technician at Lubbock Army Flyers School. His father, Morris Watson, Sr., of Rotan is also a Radio Technician, but is in the U.S. Navy. "He picked the right job but the wrong end of the service," the son said, seemingly very proud of his army uniform.
[Source: The Crosbyton Review; Crosbyton, Crosby County, Texas; Fri 6 Nov 1942]

Judge and Mrs. E.A. Watson had as their guests for the weekend, their chilren and grandchildren, Mr. and Mrs. Morris Watson Sr. and children, Reva Jo and Jim of Rotan, Pvt. Morris Watson Jr. from South Plains Army Flying Field, and Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Bruce of Lubbock. Morris Watson Sr., who is in the Navy Reserve (G.T.) is being sent to Kerney, J.J., as a radio engineer with Western Electric Company.
[Source: The Crosbyton Review, Crosbyton, Crosby County, Texas; Fri 18 June 1943]

Mr. and Mrs. Morris Watson, Sr. and children, Reba Jo and Jim of Roby, visited their parents, Judge and Mrs. E.A. Watson and Morris Watson, Jr. last week in Crosbyton.
[Source: The Crosbyton Review; Crosbyton, Crosby County, Texas; Fri 30 Nov 1945]

Judge and Mrs. E.A. Watson and grandson Morris Watson visited over the weekend with son and father, Morris G. Watson and family at Roby.
[Source: The Crosbyton Review, Crosbyton, Crosby County Texas; Fri. 21 Dec 1945]

Mrs. E.A. Watson has purchased a home in Rotan, and she and her grandson, Morris Watson, jr., plan to move there in the near future. Her son and family, Mr. and Mrs. Morris Watson sr., and children, already live in Rotan.
[Source: The Crosbyton Review; Crosbyton, Crosby County, Texas; Fri 27 June 1947]

Mrs. E.A. Watson, of Rotan, was attending to business and visiting with friends in Crosbyton Monday. Morris Watson, jr., student at Texas Tech, had spent the week-end with his father and grandmother, and Mrs. Watson took him back to Lubbock.
[Source: The Crosbyton Review; Crosbyton, Crosby County, Texas; Fri 27 Feb 1948]

Mamie Bruce

Services for Mrs. Mamie W. Bruce, 77, of Lubbock will be at Franklin Bartley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. J. Walter Axtell, a Baptist minister, officiating. Burial will be in City of Lubbock Cemetery. A Lubbock County resident 30 years and a resident-patient at the University Convalescent Center the past year and a half, Mrs Bruce owned ABC Print and Mail of Lubbock. She died 1:45 p.m. Friday. Survivors include a brother Morris G. Watson of Rotan; a niece and two nephews.
[Source: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal; Lubbock, Lubbock County, Texas; Sun 15 Feb 1975]

Death Certificate of Morris Gilbert Watson,Sr..:

Morris Gilbert Watson b. 15 May 1903, Cooper Co., TX; d. 13 Nov 1977 Lamesa, Dawson Co., TX. Widowed. Occupation: attorney. Father: E.A. Watson. Mother: Mary Etta Kiser. Informant: Mrs. Elwood Freeman, daughter. Burial: Belvieu Cemetery, Rotan, Crosby Co., TX. 
[source: death certificate]







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