John Quincy Watson was born on 5 Oct 1842 in Mesopotamia, Trumbull Co., Ohio
G.
4,5,6 He appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Amherst Twp., Lorain Co., Ohio
G, in the household of his parents, James R. Watson and Margaret Jane.
13 He appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Elkhart Co., Indiana
G, in the household of his father and stepmother, Susan.
14 Service in the Civil War --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---
John enlisted as a Private in Company M, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Indiana, on 19 Nov 1861. According to family lore he was a drummer boy, though his age, and the record, suggest he was a private. His regiment was organized at Indianapolis in Sep 1861, being the first complete cavalry regiment raised in the state. It was mustered in 9 Dec and left the state on the 16th for Louisville, going from there to Camp Wickliffe. It fought at Gallatin, Tennessee on 16 Feb 1862. It moved with Buell's army to the Tennessee reaching the field at Shiloh after the battle. It was in a skirmish en route for Corinth, was engaged at Pea Ridge in Apr 1862, and participated in a reconnaissance in force a few days later, driving the enemy for 3 miles. It was actively engaged in the siege of Corinth, Mississippi (29 Apr - 30 May). After the evacuation it moved with Buell's army into northern Alabama. It was engaged at Tuscumbia, Mississippi on 31 May 1862. He was discharged on 10 Jun 1862.
15,16 John married
Lucy Florence Walker, daughter of Austin Hiram Walker and Julia Ann Dyer, on 7 Apr 1867 in White Pigeon, St. Joseph Co., Michigan
G.
7,8,9 John and Lucy appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Elkhart, Elkhart Co., Indiana
G, enumerated 8 Aug 1870, reporting that he had $100 in personal estate, and she owned real estate valued at $4300. Their children
Minnetta and Julia were listed as living with them, as well has his brother, DeWitt C. Watson, and Alice Roufe, a 19-year-old domestic servant.
17 Living in PeoriaG --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---
John and Lucy moved with their surviving daughter to Peoria, Illinois, before 1876, based on records showing their children born in 1876 and later were born there. He first appears in the Peoria City Directory in 1879, when they are listed as living at 1023 S. Adams
G with his father shown at the same address.
18 John and Lucy appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 207 Walnut St.
G, enumerated 7 Jun 1880. Their children Minnetta, Rilla, and Bessie were listed as living with them.
3 He is shown at that address in the 1880 and 1881 City Directories, and then at 605 Smith
G, in 1882 through 1889, then at 305 Smith in 1890. His father is shown living at the same addresses in 1882 until his death in 1885, after being shown as boarding elsewhere in 1880.
19,20 The family moved to 203 Pennsylvania Ave.
G by 1891, and apparently lived there until 1893. In 1894 through 1897 they are listed at 506 Fisher
G.
21 By 1898 the family had moved to 601 Seventh Ave.
G, where they lived until about 1905.
22 John and Lucy appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 601 Seventh Ave., enumerated 1 Jun 1900, reporting that the family rented its home. Their children Minnetta, Bessie,
Estella, Edith, and
Jessie were listed as living with them, as was Marion Nelson, a 28-year-old lodger.
23 In 1906 and 1907 the family is reported as living at 314 Sixth Ave.
G. They apparently then moved briefly to the Van Sant building.
24,25 About 1909 the family moved to 408 Chestnut
G which was apparently a two-family dwelling. They lived there until about 1912. Their daughter Estella with her husband and their new daughter lived with them for a short time after they returned from Missouri.
26 John and Lucy appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 408 Chestnut St., enumerated 15 Apr 1910.
27 About 1913 John and Lucy moved to to the home of their daughter Jessie and her husband
Joseph Frank Prenger, at 208 Goodwin
G.
28 About 1913 they all moved across the street to 219A Goodwin
G.
29 About 1916 they all moved to 602 5th Ave.
G.
30 After Jessie died in 1917 they moved to the home of their eldest daughter, Min, and her husband
Edwin Lehmann, at 1709 N Perry Ave.
G.
31 They appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois
G, in the household of their daughter Min and her husband, Edwin Lehmann.
32 John and Lucy apparently lived with the Lehmanns the remainder of their lives, with two brief exceptions. About 1918 they lived for a time with their daughter Estella and her husband. Then, in 1928 they are listed as living at 318 College
G, a four-family dwelling.
33,34,35 She died there on 9 Jul 1928.
36,37,38,39 John appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois
G, back in the household of Min and Edwin.
40 Becoming a Railroad Man --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

Union Depot, Peoria
Local History and Genealogy Collection, Peoria Public Library, Peoria, Illinois
John was a farm worker at age 17, presumably on his father's farm, as reported on the 1860 census. By 1870 he was a brakeman on a railroad, and continued in various railroad occupations the rest of his working life, until his retirement in 1928 at age 86.
41,42,43 The 1879 Peoria City Directory lists him as a yardmaster for the Pekin, Lincoln & Decatur Railway. That line was consolidated in Dec of that year with the Decatur, Mattoon and Southern Railroad to form the Peoria, Decatur and Evansville Railway.
44,45 It appears he lost his position in that consolidation as he is listed the following year as a brakeman with the Toledo, Peoria, and Western Railway. In 1881 he is listed as a baggageman, and in 1882 as a switchman, in both cases with his employer not identified.
46,47 He was listed as a switchman for Peoria and Pekin Union Railway from 1883 until 1892. That line was established in 1881 as a short line railroad providing interconnection to the many major lines terminating in the Peoria area. It remained in operation until 2004, when it leased it's plant to the Tazewell and Peoria Railroad.
48,49,50,51 Peoria's new Union Depot opened in 1882, and the next year John was listed in the City Directory as a gatekeeper there. He remained in that position until at least 1913. He is listed in 1917 and 1920 as a flagman for P. & P. U. Railway. After having no occupation shown for several years, in 1928 he is listed at a crossing watchman, the last time he is listed with an occupation, apparently retiring at that point.
52,53,54,55,56 John died on 9 Jul 1934 in Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois
G, at age 91.
10,11,12 He was buried on 11 Jul 1934 in Springdale Cemetery, Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois
G.
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