Hartley Family - Ourfolk

Dr. William Watson, the father of Dr. William Hartley Watson, and grandfather of the late Dr. William Watson, was born in the Kishacoquillahs valley, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, in 1778. Dr. John Anderson was his fellow pupil while reading medicine in Carlisle. After graduating, Dr. Watson married his first wife in Carlisle and there practiced his profession for a few years. But in 1805 (his wife having died) he removed to Bedford, where he soon attained distinction and a large practice. Among the visitors at the then recently discovered mineral springs he was also extremely popular.

In 1811 he married as a second wife Miss Eliza Hartley, of Mount Dallas, who survived him some thirty years. He died in July, 1835, in the fifty-eighth year of his age. He was of gigantic size, being six feet three inches in height and weighing three hundred and thirty pounds. Indeed all of his male descendants were men of extraordinary size. Of his three Sons and fourteen grandsons who grew to manhood, the average height was over six feet, and the average weight considerably more than two hundred pounds.

Dr. William Watson was born in Mifflin county in 1778. He located in Bedford in 1805. He attained an eminent distinction as a physician and had a very extensive practice. His son, William H. Watson, was also an excellent physician and enjoyed a fine practice. His grandson-son of William H. Watson-was a physican and surgeon and held the rank of major in the 105th Reg. Pa. Vols. in the late Civil war. In that position he earned an exalted reputation as a most skillful surgeon. 'With the close of his life terminated the professional career of father, son and grandson, as extraordinary as it was illustrious.' All three held medical diplomas from the University of Pennsylvania.

The entire family connection embraced eleven physicans. With above named three there were and are eight others-Drs. Samuel Smith, William Van Lear, Ross Anderson, Joseph Rogers, Simm Rogers, Clark Rogers, Gilbert T. Smith and William McCulloch.

Source: Bedford Gazette (Bedford, Pennsylvania) May 18, 1906, page 1.

Reminiscences of Days Agone by Hon. William P. Schell.