FLGenWeb Digital Library and Archives
Biographies
WATTS, Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin Watts was born 14 Aug 1859 in Hardin County,
Kentucky. He was the son of John M. Watts and Matilda Howell who were married
in Hardin County, 29 Mar 1847. B. F. died 29 Mar 1941, Houston, Harris County,
Texas.
Ben married Nellie Elizabeth Johnson, 15 Dec 1892, Lake County, Florida.
Nellie was born 8 Jan 1864 in Richmond, Indiana, daughter of Thatcher S. Johnson
and Mary King. She died 31 May 1950, also in Houston and was buried Glenwood
Cemetery.
They had one child, Benjamin Franklin Watts, born 6 Sep 1898, attended
Princeton and later was a railroad agent.
The family lived in Jacksonville in 1900 - B. F. a clerk at the freight
depot, in Leesburg in 1910 thru 1935.
B. F. came to Sumter County about 1884 with his parents. He was an agent
for Florida Railway & Navigation Co. Mayor of Leesburg 1909-1911, and owner
of Watts Hardware Co at 403 W Main by 1910. They owned a beautiful home at 100
East Main Street. In August 1936 they sold the property to George L Singeltary,
perhaps leaving for Texas at that time.
B.P.O.E. Lodge 1703 built their building on the Watts site, where currently
the new Leesburg Public Library sits.
Presented by Glorianne Fahs
This page created September 27, 2010
© 2010 Fran Smith