William Lewis WATTS

     William Lewis WATTS was born on 2 April 1870 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. He and his sister, Bethania, were twins. William Lewis WATTS was known to most folks as Lewis.

William Lewis 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. "Louis" and his twin sister, Bethania, were three months old.¹

William Lewis 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 recorded incorrected as Lina, a female, age 11. I believe this was actually Lewis. The age would be right. The information on the three youngest children was incorrect and jumbled.²

William married first Minnie Lee GILLILAND, daughter of Hugh McClure GILLILAND and Nancy Catherine Fulmer, on 26 March 1893 in Bibb County, Alabama. The ceremony took place at the home of the bride's father.^3,4

Lewis WATTS and Minnie Lee GILLILAND appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 15 April 1910 in Parsons Precinct 12, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The household was listed as Lewis Watts, a 38-year-old coal miner and his 33-year-old wife, Minnie. They had been married 17 years and Minnie was the mother of seven children, six still living. They owned their home. Their children were Cratha, age 16 and working dumping coal in the mines; Early, 12; Lester, 10; May, 7; Cleon, 4; and Bertha, 2. Everyone was born in Alabama.⁵

William Lewis WATTS appeared in the household of his son-in-law, Dock Beavers, on a census enumerated 8 January 1920 in Parson Precinct, Tuscaloosa County. The household was listed as Doc Beavers, a 22 year-old laborer in a coal mine; his wife, Dorothy Beavers, age 16; their daughter, Mary Beavers, age one month; father-in-law, Lewis Watts, a 48 year-old coal miner and his wife, Minnie Watts, age 39; along with their children, Lester Watts, an 18 year-old coal miner; Cleon Watts, age 13; Bertha Watts, age 11; and Katie Watts, age 7.⁶

William Lewis WATTS filed for divorce from Minnie Lee GILLILAND circa 1922. The story is that Lewis accused his wife of cheating on him and divorced her. His children went with their mother and did not come around much after that according to Phyllis Stovall.⁷

Lewis married second Fannie THOMPSON, daughter of Martin THOMPSON and Mary Ann Steele, on 25 December 1924 in the bride's family home, Bibb County, Alabama. The nuptials were performed by justice of the peace Wood Stewart. The couple never had children.⁸

According to Randall Watts, Lewis traded some land as a dowry for Fannie Thompson. "Everyone that I know that knew him said that he was a very kind old man. My mother really like him and respected him very much. That says a lot considering she did not like many Watts. She also said that Fannie was the finest Christian woman she had ever known." This opinion was confirmed by Wynell Burt Welsh, who visited William and Fannie with her parents, Irby and Birdie Watts Burt. Nell recalled William as very kind and having a wonderful sense of humor, and that Fannie was a very attractive and intelligent woman.^7,9

William Lewis WATTS and Fannie THOMPSON appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 4 April 1930 in Eoline, Bibb County, Alabama. The household was listed as William L. Watts, a 60-year-old farmer and Fannie, his 42-year-old wife. This was a first marriage for Fannie at age 37. This was William's second marriage, he had first married at 24. They owned their farm and living next door was Fannie's parents, Martin and Mary Thompson. Eoline is located about five miles west of Centreville on Hwy. 82.¹⁰

William Lewis WATTS died on 2 July 1958 in Scottsville, Bibb County, Alabama, at age 88.^11,12 He was buried in West Scottsville Cemetery.