932
HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
man was married Feb. 17, 1852, to Miss Anna White, of Blackberry Township.
JAMES S. WATSON, physician and surgeon, Aurora, Ill., was born at Beatyestown, N. J., Oct. 10, 1851; came with his parents to Kane County, Ill., in 1852, locating four miles northwest of Kaneville, in Kaneville Township; grew to maturity on a farm and obtained his early education in the public schools; later attended the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), graduating from the -medical department of that institution in 1881; spent the following year taking a post-graduate course in the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. In 1893-94 he took a second post-graduate course in the medical department of Columbia College. In 1883 he began practicing his profession at Elburn, Ill., remaining until 1889, and in the meantime established a large country practice. Locating at Aurora in the latter year, he has since been one of the leading practitioners of that city. As a Republican the Doctor has always taken an active interest in politics, but declined to accept public office. He married in 1884 Miss Eliza Stewart, daughter of Hon. John Stewart, mention of whom may be found elsewhere in this volume. Doctor and Mrs. Watson have four children: Helen, Stewart, Margaret and Dean Watson.
WILLIAM WATSON (deceased), born at Princeton, Mass., May 19, 1828, the son of John Watson, and descendant of an old New England family, was reared at home, receiving a good education and being trained to farm life. Coming west in 1853, he located near Bristol, Kendall County, Ill., turning his attention to farming. After two years spent in Kendall County, he bought wild land six miles south of DeKalb, where for many years he engaged in dealing in stock. His old homestead is still in the possession of the family. He and his wife were pioneers in building up the Advent church at Afton, and the church building there was mainly the result of their generous gifts. Subsequently they moved to Aurora, where Mr. Watson retired from active business dying there in 1885. Mr. Watson was married in 1853 to Miss Joanna M. Curtis, born in Douglas, Mass., of Puritan ancestry, her great-grandfather being an Englishman who purchased the land on which several generations of his descendants have since lived. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Watson has continued to make her home in Aurora. To Mr. and Mrs. Watson have been born the following named children: Mrs. Ella M. Davis, of Jackson County, Kan.; Mrs. Abbie L. Shatto, of Tustin City. Cal.; Lincoln J., DeKalb County, Ill., and William J., of Aurora.
CHARLES WEEKS (deceased), pioneer merchant, Aurora, Ill., born in England, at Dracott, near Cheddar, Oct. 14, 1829, where his early life was spent and his education acquired. When sixteen years of age he came to the United States, living first at Skeneateles, N. Y., where he learned the carpenter's trade, and where he married Miss Matilda H. Peacock in 1854. After his wedding he immediately came west, locating at Mendota, Ill., where he was long successfully engaged in business as a contractor and builder. Ten years later he removed to Kentland, where he was in the grain trade for about three years. Prom Kentland he went to Aurora, and for twenty years was there engaged in the same business and the hardware trade. About 1890 failing health compelled him to retire, and in 1895 he went to the Pacific Coast, where he traveled quite extensively, but finally died in Tacoma, Wash., in 1899. Mrs. Weeks survives her husband, and now lives in California. The only other surviving member of the family besides Mrs. Weeks, is Mrs. Herman N. Janes, of Aurora.
GEORGE WELCH, builder and contractor, St. Charles, Ill., born in County Wexford, Ireland, Oct. 7, 1845, son of James and Bridget (Fardy) Welch, when only two years old was brought to the Qnited States, his parents arriving in St. Charles in June, 1847, where his father died only two weeks after reaching the village. George Welch was reared a farmer, and was engaged in tilling the soil until he was twenty-three years old. In 1869 he learned the mason trade, which has since been his occupation. At the present time he is engaged upon large contracts in mason work and building. He has been connected with the construction of a number of noted buildings, including the Insane Asylum at Elgin, being engaged there three years; the Dunham House, the new Haines Block, and in 1903, was employed on the buildings of the new St. Charles Home for Delinquent Boys, and the Kane County Court House. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen
