Biography of Samuel Watts, pages 593 / 594.  History of De Kalb County, Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Samuel Watts, framer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Township, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., March 30, 1821, a son of George and Rachel (Zimmerman) Watts, natives of Pennsylvania.  His grandfather Thomas Watts, was a native of Ireland and came to the United States prior to the war of the Revolution.  His maternal grandparents were natives of Germany.  When he was twelve years of age his parents moved to Holmes County, Ohio, where he lived with them till eighteen years of age, working in the meantime to assist in the maintenance of the family.  In 1849 he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought a wild tract of land in Fairfield Township.  Returning to Ohio he worked at the carpenter’s trade till he had paid for his land, and in 1859 came again to De Kalb County, and began to clear and improve his frontier farm.  He has by industry and economy been successful and now has 200 acres of valuable land under a good state of cultivation. He was married June 16, 1853, to Barbara Gardner, daughter of John and Barbara (Camp) Gardner.  To them have been born four children, two of whom are living---Josiah and William H.  John and Sarah are deceased.  In politics Mr. Watts is a Democrat.  He is one of the most enterprising and public-spirited men of the township, and is esteemed by all who know him.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com