Edward Watterson, farmer, was born at his present home July 25, 1824, the son of James and Sarah (Galbraith) Watterson, who lived their whole lives in Hawkins County, and were of Irish and English stock. The father, born about 1800, was a farmer, and in politics a Democrat. He died in 1853, while the mother was born about 1802, and died about in 1877. Both were members of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject, one of eight children, was educated in the common schools, and grew to be a farmer and settled since 1845 on his present farm – the old homestead. About 1838 his father moved to another place near by, where he still lives, and at the division of the land our subject drew his present home, to which he has since added until he now owns about 1,200 acres in Hawkins County. In 1846 he married Minerva E. Carmack. Of their four sons and six daughters, one of each sex are deceased. Our subject is a Democrat.

Transcribed by Betty Mize from Goodspeed’s History of Tennessee, 1886.