This gentleman, a member of the real-estate and  insurance firm of Cook & Watson, of San Jose, and also a member of the  County Board of Supervisors, was born near Springfield, Massachusetts, in  1834.  He attended school and worked on his father's farm until about  twenty years of age.  He then spent two years in New York, making, during  that time, a business trip to Charleston, South Carolina, for his brother, in  the general commission business.  After this he spent a year in business in  New Boston, Massachusetts, then returned home and remained about a year.   He started for California in May, 1859, and at Comanche, on the Mississippi  River, with a companion fitted out a party and came across the plains, leaving  the Mississippi River on the first day of May, 1859, and reaching Marysville,  California, in the following October.  He took a contract to build part of  the Marysville & Knight's Landing Railroad, about five miles below Yuba  City, at the completion of which contract he went to Oroville and engaged is  selling fruit for G. G. Briggs.  He spent several years at various  employments, railroad building, stock speculation, etc.  He removed to  Santa Clara Valley in 1864, where he has ever since been engaged in farming and  fruit-growing, with marked success.  He is one of the most successful  fruit-growers in California, and is considered an authority in all matters  pertaining to horticulture.  Some of the most profitable orchards and  small-fruit farms in the county were made by him.
 
In 1880 Mr. Watson was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors, but  esigned before taking office, his taste being more for private than public  life.  In 1882 he was re-elected and consented to serve his term.  He  brought to his public duties so much energy, intelligence, and business ability  that his constituents demanded his re-election in 1884, and again in 1886.   His present term will expire in 1890.  He has served his constituents with  zeal and fidelity, seeing that the people receivdistrict will convince the most casual observer of the intelligence  with which its affairs are managed.
 
In 1869 he was married to Miss M. L. Hicks, a native of Georgia, who came  to California with her mother and family in 1852, to join her father, a pioneer  of 1849.  They have one child living, Grace, a graduate of the Santa Clara  High School.
 
Mr. Watson is a member of Lodge No. 52, I. O. O. F., of Santa Clara, and  Protection Lodge, No. 16, A. O. U. W.  He has always supported the  Republican party, and believes in the fullest protection for American  industries.  Mr. Watson has always been an active man in each community  with which he has cast his fortunes, and his success has been  commensurate.

SOURCE:  Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated. - Edited by H.S. 
Foote.- Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888. page 531 Transcribed by Roena Wilson 


SANTA CLARA COUNTY PIONEER BIOGRAPHIES


SANTA CLARA COUNTY HISTORY The Valley of Heart's Delight