Santa Clara County Biographies


This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm



DANIEL W. WATSON 
 
owns one of the neatest  and most attractive residences to be found on Lincoln 
Avenue, in the Willow District. It stands near the eastern terminus of Pine 
Avenue. Mr. Watson was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, November 5, 1836. He is 
the son of John and Betsey (Gilman) Watson. The family history, on his father's 
side, takes one back to the arrival of the founders of the nation.
From the representative of the family who came over in the Mayflower, a long 
line of descendants, with pardonable pride, trace their genealogy. Daniel W. 
Watson, when old enough to care for himself, with a spirit of independence 
characteristic of the family, went to Boston, and became a decorative painter. 
For fifteen years he followed the business there. In January, 1867, he became a 
resident of San Francisco. Pursuing the same work, he became later, master of a 
business of his own. His establishment on Market Street supplied shades, 
hangings, lambrequins, and all that pertains to decorative furnishing. For 
several years he conducted this business successfully and profitably. In 1871, 
deciding on a trip for recreation and pleasure, he returned East, and, embarking 
at Boston, visited Europe. He was provided with many letters of introduction, 
among them one to General Schenck, United States Minister at London. He visited 
the Parliament buildings, the old home and tomb of Shakespeare, and many other 
points of interest. Spending some time in Ireland and Wales, he then visited 
France, being in Paris while it was still occupied by the German army. He 
returned to the United States in November of the same year, bringing with him 
many mementoes.
Early in 1884 Mr. Watson sold his interest in San Francisco, and on April 22 of 
that year took possession of his present home. His ten acres of land, then in 
pasture, are now one of the thrifty young orchards of the Willows, having 1000 
trees. He has made prunes the leading fruit.
Mr. Watson and Miss Fanny Ricker, daughter of Elijah Ricker, were married, on 
the thirtieth of September, 1876. Miss Ricker was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, 
July 3, 1850, of one of the old New England families. Mr. and Mrs. Watson have 
two children, Gilman and Gertrude. Mr. Watson's father died, only a few years 
since, at the old home, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. His eldest 
daughter, Elizabeth, and his son James still reside at the homestead. The other 
members of the family are as follows: Charles, a resident of Maynard, 
Massachusetts; Joel and George, building contractors of Boston; John, who died 
on the Fraser River, in the days of placer mining; Sarah Louise, now the wife of 
Hon. John J. Gosper, of Los Angeles; Mrs. Mary Wilson, of Lowell, Massachusetts; 
and Mrs. Almira Snow, of San Jose. The remaining member of the family, Dudley, a 
twin brother of Daniel W., is a resident of this county. A sketch of his life 
appears elsewhere in this volume.
Mr. Watson is one of the leading members of the fraternity, being a life-member 
of Boston Commandery, has received the Scottish rite, thirty-second degree, and 
is a member of the Boston Consistory. Politically, he is identified with the 
Republican party. Both he and his wife are attendants upon the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church.
 
Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, 
Illustrated. - Edited by H. S. Foote.- Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 
1888.
Pg. 421-422