Joshua Bradford WATTS

     Joshua Bradford WATTS, son of Daniel Henry WATTS and Dorothy Elizabeth WEAVER, was born on 14 October 1865 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.¹ Joshua Bradford WATTS also went by the name of Brad. He was a school teacher in Andrews Chapel Church.²

Joshua Bradford 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 10.³

Joshua Bradford 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 four years old.⁴

Brad 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 lised as thirteen years old. The data on the three youngest children seems to have been jumbled. Brad was actually 15, the age given for his younger sister, Thansy.⁵

Joshua Bradford WATTS married Martha Rebecca Skinner on 2 April 1885 in at the residence of George Weaver, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. J. B. Watts and Martha A. Woodell applied for the license 31 Mar 1885, with the bond posted by Joshua and his father, Daniel H. Watts. The ceremony was performed by C. B. Olmstead, justice of peace.⁶

Brad WATTS and Martha Rebecca WATTS adopted Lydda Luella WOODELL circa 1886 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.

Brad WATTS and Martha Rebecca Skinner appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 6 June 1900 in Keoppels Beat, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The household was listed as Joshua B. Watts, a laborer, age 34, born October 1865, and his wife, Martha A. Watts, 41, born May 1859 in Texas. They had been married 15 years and Martha was the mother of five children, only three still living. The daughter included their daughers, Mindie E. Watts, age 11, born November 1888, and Mary E. Watts, 9, born September 1890. Joshua's mother, Dorothy E. Watts, 63, born August in Alabama, also lived with them. She was a widow and the mother of eight chidren with six living. Her parents were born in South Carolina. Lastly, the household included Martha's daughter from her first marriage, Lydia L. Herren, age 20, born November 1879, and her son, Drury L. Herren, age 1, born March 1899. Lydia had been married two years and was the mother of one child. Living next door was the family of Rufus and Sarah Herren.⁷

Joshua Bradford WATTS and Martha Rebecca Skinner appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 25 April 1910 in Vance, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The household was listed as Brad Watts, a 45-year-old sawyer in a saw mill, and his 49-year-old wife, Martha. This was his first marriage and Martha's second. She was the mother of four with three living. Her parents were born in Texas. They rented their home on the Huntsville Road. Their children were Minda, 20, and Esther, 18. There was also Martha's daughter from her first marriage, Lydia, a 28-year-old widow and her children, Dewey Herring, 11, and Nora Herring, 2. Everyone but the two youngest children could read and write.⁸

As of 1916, Joshua Bradford WATTS and Martha Rebecca Skinner were living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The City Directory shows Mrs. Lydia Herren boarding with them. Brad was working as a laborer.

Brad WATTS and Martha Rebecca Skinner appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 8 January 1920 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The household was listed as Lydda [Lydia] Herrin along with her parents, Joshua B. Watts, 54, and Martha S. Watts, 54.⁹

Joshua Bradford WATTS died on 14 October 1955 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, at age 90.¹⁰

His obituary appeared circa 16 October 1955 in the Tuscaloosa News, published in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It read: J. B. Watts Dies at Age 90-- J. B. (Uncle Brad) Watts, 90-year-old retired sawmill operator died early Saturday morning at the residence of a grandson, E. C. Crocker, 2215 Jemison Avenue, with whom he had made his home for the last 14 years.

Funeral services will be held at 4 PM today from the Andrews Chapel Methodist Church, with the Rev. M. Meahand and the Rev. James Allred officiating. Burial will be in Snyder Cemetery, Jones and Spigener directing.

Mr. Watts was born in Tuscaloosa County Sept. 14, 1865, and had spent his entire life here. He was a member of Trinity Methodist Church.

Survivors include two daugthers, Mrs. Minda Arnhart of Tuscaloosa and Mrs. Lege Martin of Vance; a step-daughter, Mrs. Lydda Crocker of Tuscaloosa, 16 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, and a brother, Lewis Watts of Centreville. He was buried in Old Snider Cemetery.