Erby Crathon WATTS

M, b. 19 March 1894, d. 14 February 1947
Relationship
1st cousin 2 times removed of John Kennedy BROWN Jr.
Erby Crathon Watts
     Erby Crathon WATTS, son of William Lewis WATTS and Minnie Lee GILLILAND, was born on 19 March 1894 in Blocton Junction, Bibb County, Alabama.1

Erby Crathon WATTS appeared on a census, enumerated 15 April 1910, in the household of Lewis WATTS and Minnie Lee GILLILAND in Parsons Precinct 12, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.2

In 1913 Erby Crathon WATTS was living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He was employed as a driver according to the City Directory and lived in a boarding house at 1453 15th Avenue.

Erby married Pearl J. Oglesby on 2 July 1914 at the bride's home near Woodstock in Bibb County, Alabama. Rev. W. W. Cranmore performeded the service.3,4

Due to a need for men to serve during World War I, the United States instituted a draft. The first registration was for men between the ages of 21 and 31. As a result, this first registration included men born between June 5, 1886 and June 5, 1896. Erby Crathon WATTS filled out a draft card on 5 June 1917 in Bessemer, Jefferson County, Alabama. At the time, he was single and employed by the Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad Company (TCI) as a watchman in one of their ore mines in Wenonah. He asked for an exemption because he was the sole means of support for his father, mother, brother and three sisters. He was discribed as being of medium height and slender build, with gray eyes and red hair.1

Erby Crathon WATTS enlisted in the Battery E 13th Field Artillery of the 4th Division during World War I on 15 December 1917 in Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia. He served overseas 22 May 1918 to 31 Jul 1919. The 4th Division was engaged in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Offensives. He was discharged at demobilization 6 Aug 1919. He was living in Abernant at the time of his enlistment.

Erby married Josephine Lee Carroll on 9 October 1920 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama.5,6

Erby Crathon WATTS died on 14 February 1947 at Veteran's Hospital in Panama City, Bay County, Florida, at age 52.7,3,8 He was buried in Old Hepzibah Cemetery, Abernant, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.7,8

Erby's obituary was printed on 19 February 1947 in the Birmingham Herald newspaper, published in Birmingham, Alabama. It said that Erby Crathon Watts, age 52, of Parker, Florida, passed away Friday at Veteran's Hospital in Panama City, Florida. He was survived by his widow, Mrs. Cleo Watts; one son, Erby Claud Watts; one daughter, Mrs. Helen Travis; one sister, Mrs. Mae Beavers; two brothers, Cleon and Earl Watts; his mother, Mrs. Minnie Lee Logan; and his father W. L. Watts. Burial was in Hepzibah Cemetery.3
Last Edited=13 Jun 2019

Child of Erby Crathon WATTS and Josephine Lee Carroll

Citations

  1. [S166] WWI Draft Registration, online http://www.ancestry.com, Erby Crathan Watts, Roll 1509396, No. 1011.
  2. [S594] 1910 U. S. Census, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, Lewis Watts household No. 14, ED 148, pg. 1-B.
  3. [S175] ADAH Surnames Files;, Clipping from 19 Feb 1947 Birmingham Heralld.
  4. [S271] Bibb County Marriages: Crathen Watts to Miss Pearl Oglesby, Book M 1912-1919, pg. 205.
  5. [S696] Find A Grave (website), online http://www.findagrave.com, Josephine Lee Carroll Herring, Find A Grave Memorial# 60993062.
  6. [S939] "Alabama, Select Marriages, 1816-1957" , EC Watts and Josie Lee Carroll, FHL Film Number:1064443, page 457.
  7. [S62] Alton Lambert, Tuscaloosa Cemeteries, Vol. 4, pg. 11.
  8. [S696] Find A Grave (website), online http://www.findagrave.com, Erby Crathon Watts, Find A Grave Memorial# 23692065.

Information on this site has been gathered over many years from many sources. Although great care has been taken, inaccuracies may exist. Please contact [email protected] with corrections or questions..