Home > United States of America > Indiana > Hendricks County > Brownsburg > Greenlawn Cemetery > Virgil S. Watson

Virgil S. Watson

Birth	:	4 Nov 1869 Camden, Preble County, Ohio, USA
Death	:	1 Aug 1936 Brownsburg, Hendricks County, Indiana, USA
Burial	:	Greenlawn Cemetery, Brownsburg, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.8521156, -86.3953476
Description	:	from The History of Hendricks County (Indianapolis: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1914)--pages 471-472: VIRGIL S. WATSON There is no more important factor in the history of a town than the newspapers, and it is often true that it is the newspapers of a town which are largely responsible for its prosperity. The influence of a good newspaper cannot be over estimated. In it the people read from week to week not only of the happenings of their own county and state, but news from all over our country and the world as well. Every weekly newspaper in every town of Indiana gives... Read More	from The History of Hendricks County (Indianapolis: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1914)--pages 471-472: VIRGIL S. WATSON There is no more important factor in the history of a town than the newspapers, and it is often true that it is the newspapers of a town which are largely responsible for its prosperity. The influence of a good newspaper cannot be over estimated. In it the people read from week to week not only of the happenings of their own county and state, but news from all over our country and the world as well. Every weekly newspaper in every town of Indiana gives the main facts of the world's history from week to week. It places in the hands of the readers the most important events which happen any place in the world. No great invention is made which is not exploited in the newspapers. Every newspaper now which depends upon the rural districts for much of its support prints from week to week a special page for the farmer. Among the newspapers of Hendricks County which are doing their full share in advancing the interest of the state, there is no paper doing more brilliant work for the good of the county than the Brownsburg Record, which is now owned and edited by Virgil S. Watson. Mr. Watson, the son of Thomas J. and Amanda (Wright) Watson, was born November 4, 1869, in Camden, Preble County, Ohio. His parents were both natives of Hendricks County, Indiana. The parents of both families came directly from Kentucky and were among the earliest settlers of this county. Thomas J. Watson was a successful farmer in this county and was largely interested in the buying and selling of stock. He and his wife were the parents of three children, Virgil S. being the only one of the children now living. Virgil S. Watson was educated in the common school of Middle Township, in this county, and being a young man of intellectual ability it was natural that he should take up school teaching. He taught school in this county for three years and in the meantime he attended the Central Normal College, at Danville, in order to equip himself for more successful work in the school room. However, in compliance with the wishes of his parents, he abandoned the school room, and remained at home to assist in looking after the business of his father's farm, where he remained until he was forty years of age, when he went to Lebanon, Indiana, where he became engaged in newspaper work, for the Indianapolis News. A year later he bought the Brownsburg Record, assuming the management of the newspaper on June 10, 1912. In politics he is a Republican. He runs a modern job printing plant in connection with his newspaper, and adds not a little to his annual income by his job work. He is prepared to do all sorts of job printing on short notice, and the excellence of his work brings him a continually increasing amount of business. Mr. Watson was married, June 29, 1904, to Angie Belle Herring, daughter of Phillip B. and America (Walker) Herring, and they are the parents of two children, Hazel Bernice and one son who died in infancy. They are members of the Methodist Protestant Church and contribute liberally of their substance to its support. Mr. Watson is a man of high character and is giving the people of his community a paper which stands for the best interest of Brownsburg in every respect. He advocates all measures and movements which he feels will redound to the credit of his home town and be of benefit in any way to the citizens of the community. from the Republican for Aug. 6, 1936: Fatally Burned by High Tension Wires V. S. Watson was Former Brownsburg Editor Car Driven by Treasurer Claud B. Hollett Blows Tire and Crashes into Utility Pole Virgil S. Watson, age 66, former Brownsburg editor and postmaster, died from electrocution and third degree burns when the automobile in which he was riding crashed into a utility pole, breaking two high tension wires, Saturday afternoon, two and a half miles south of Brownsburg on the Avon road. The car was driven by Claud B. Hollett, county treasurer, who suffered cuts on the face, a deep cut on the leg and a slight concussion of the brain. He was taken to Brownsburg by Martha and Kate Tarpy, where his injuries were treated. He is expected to be confined to his home about a week. According to witnesses a tire blew out and Mr. Hollett lost control of the car. It crashed into a small culvert and then splintered a utility pole, breaking two high tension wires which set fire to the car. Mr. Hollett was able to crawl from the car but was unable to aid Watson. George Myers, who was working in a nearby field, and Mrs. Julia Redman, who lives near the scene, stated in the coroner's report that they opened the door of the car but were unable to find Watson because of the dense smoke and heat. Myers stated he later saw Watson fall from the car. The former publisher's body was burned beyond recognition and was lying at the side of the car which was completely burned. It was thought he was first electrocuted as his body was rigid. Coroner Rawleigh Baker in his report gave electrocution and third degree burns as the cause of death. Sheriff Albert H. Shane aided in the investigation and guarded the wreckage to prevent curiosity seekers from walking into the high tension wires until public utility employees removed them. Watson was an inmate of the county home, having been there since 1934. He had met Hollett at Danville and was riding to Brownsburg to visit friends over the weekend. Mr. Watson was well known throughout this county, where as a young man he taught in a number of schools, following which he was owner and publisher of The Brownsburg Record for almost twenty years. In August 1920, he was appointed postmaster at Brownsburg and at that time sold his paper to G. G. Campbell. He served as postmaster until June, 1923. At one time, Mr. Watson was comfortably fixed but illness and financial difficulties struck him and about 1928 he and his wife separated. He was a member of the Brownsburg Christian church. A daughter, Mrs. Bernice Pike, of Indianapolis, survives. Private funeral services were held at Brownsburg, Sunday evening, at 6 o'clock with interment in Green Lawn cemetery, there.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Virgil S. Watson's memorial?
Virgil S. Watson's memorial is located at: Greenlawn Cemetery, Brownsburg, Hendricks County, USA.
When did Virgil S. Watson death?
Virgil S. Watson death on 1 Aug 1936 in Brownsburg, Hendricks County, Indiana, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Virgil S. Watson's memorial?
Latitude: 39.8521156
Longitude: -86.3953476

Family Members:

Parent

Thomas Jefferson Watson

(1838 - 1904)

Amanda J. Wright Watson

(1842 - 1912)

Spouse

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Greenlawn Cemetery
Brownsburg, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8521156, -86.3953476

2. Saint Malachy East Cemetery
Brownsburg, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8512993, -86.3947296

3. Brownsburg Cemetery
Brownsburg, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8509254, -86.3923111

4. Ward Cemetery (Defunct)
Brownsburg, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8552920, -86.3939950

5. Harris Cemetery (Defunct)
Brownsburg, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8472220, -86.4049680

6. McDaniel Family Cemetery
Brownsburg, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8466988, -86.4060974

7. Lingeman Cemetery
Brownsburg, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8398666, -86.4022675

8. Sparks Cemetery
Pittsboro, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8725140, -86.4297730

9. Prebster Cemetery
Brownsburg, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8562889, -86.4396973

10. Walker Cemetery
Brownsburg, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8485489, -86.3501663

11. Bethesda Cemetery
Brownsburg, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8883320, -86.3915220

12. Ballard Cemetery
Brownsburg, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8641014, -86.3498306

13. Big White Lick Regular Baptist Cemetery
Pittsboro, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8563156, -86.4490662

14. Bell Cemetery
Brownsburg, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8120155, -86.4099655

15. Saint Malachy West Cemetery
Pittsboro, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8573220, -86.4497370

16. Weaver Cemetery
Pittsboro, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8806000, -86.4357986

17. Hoadley Cemetery
Brownsburg, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8100815, -86.4221649

18. Brown Cemetery
Brownsburg, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8163643, -86.3534622

19. Caywood Cemetery
Tilden, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8223839, -86.4487152

20. Roberts Cemetery
Tilden, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8131828, -86.4449692

21. Evans Cemetery
Brownsburg, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8718681, -86.3266296

22. White Lick Presbyterian Cemetery
Avon, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7988319, -86.4191971

23. Turpin Cemetery
Brownsburg, Hendricks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8058319, -86.3486481

24. Jones Chapel Cemetery
Indianapolis, Marion County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8522940, -86.3145700