John Dempsey WATTS

     John Dempsey WATTS, son of Daniel Henry WATTS and Dorothy Elizabeth WEAVER, was born on 1 November 1861 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.¹ John Dempsey WATTS also went by the name of Garner.

John Dempsey WATTS appeared on a state census, enumerated 1866, in the household of his father Daniel Henry WATTS in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. He was one of three males under age 10.²

John Dempsey WATTS appeared on a census, enumerated 10 July 1870, in the household of his parents Daniel Henry WATTS and Dorothy Elizabeth WEAVER in 15th Precinct, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. He was eight years old.³

Garner WATTS appeared on a census, enumerated 1 June 1880, in the household of his parents Daniel Henry WATTS and Dorothy Elizabeth WEAVER in Smallwoods, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. He was nineteen years old and his occupation was farm laborer.⁴

John married Jessie Eugenia Bankston on 6 June 1886 in Olmstead Station, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The license was applied for 4 June 1886. The ceremony was performed by C. B. Olmstead, justice of peace.⁵

John Dempsey WATTS and Jessie Eugenia Bankston appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 18 June 1900 in Kingdom Beat, Bibb County, Alabama. The household was listed as John D. Watts, a farmer, age 38, born September 1862 and his wife, Jessie, age 27, born September 1872. They had been married 14 years and Jessie was the mother of three children with two living. With them were their children Woodie O. Watts, age 11, born October 1888, and Daniel G[ay] Watts, age 9, born August 1890, both of whole were listed at school. Also living with them at the time was a niece, Lottie M. Wilson, age 16, born April 1884.⁶

John Dempsey WATTS and Jessie Bankston appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 23 April 1910 in Ward 4, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The household was listed as John D. Watts, a 45-year-old sawyer in a lumber mill, and his 39-year-old wife, Jessie E. Watts. This was the first marriage for both and they had been married 22 years. Jessie was the mother of two children, all living. They rented their home at 272 13th Street. Living with them were their sons, Woodie O., an 18-year-old carpenter, and Daniel G., a 16-year-old machinist and auto repairer. All of them could read and write. Also in the household were Jessie's mother, Amanda Bankston, a 76-year-old widow and mother of six with four living. Curtis Ray was a 21-year-old boarder who worked as a planner in a lumber mill. Everyone in the household was born in Alabama.⁷

In 1913John was employed as a machinist in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The city directory showed them living at 1453 15th Avenue.

As of 1916, John Dempsey WATTS and Jessie Eugenia Bankston were living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The City Directory showed him as a wood worker. They lived 2103 25th Avenue.⁸

John Dempsey WATTS appeared on a census, enumerated 21 January 1920, in the household of his son, Daniel Gaylord WATTS, in Cottondale, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.⁹

John Dempsey WATTS died on 28 November 1949 in Peterson, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, at age 88.^10,11,12,13 He was buried in Big Hurricane Cemetery.¹⁰