My Genealogy Hound

SILAS WATTERS, retired farmer and merchant, Le Roy; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born in Stafford Co., Va., Nov. 19, 1803. At 11 years of age, in 1814, he, with his parents and brothers and sisters, crossed the Alleghany Mountains in a two-wheeled cart drawn by one horse; the parents have since passed away, but the children, of whom there were nine, all are living, the youngest being 65 and the oldest 79 years of age. In 1830, the subject of this sketch located in what is now Empire Township, McLean Co., where he has lived for a period of nearly half a century; he first entered 180 acres of land, to which he afterward added until he was in possession of 640 acres, a portion of which he still owns. He has always followed farming and stock-raising, and for a period of ten years was also engaged in the mercantile business in Le Roy and neighboring towns. He has always taken a deep interest in the cause of religion and education, having been an active member of the M. E. Church since 1825, and filled every office in the Church which is given to a layman; he has had his full share of township and school offices, and held the office of Associate Judge of McLean Co. during the term of Judge McClum, in 1850-51. His marriage with Christiana Conaway was celebrated Feb. 12, 1824; she was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., June 9, 1799; she died Oct. 25, 1866, leaving four children, having lost two by death; the living are: Chalton D., born June 17, 1826; John T., born Aug. 22, 1827; America, born Nov. 9, 1828; Nancy, born Jan. 30, 1831. His marriage with Mary Jane (Baddeley) Barr was celebrated Dec. 21, 1868; she was born in Manchester, England, March 3, 1823; she emigrated with her parents in 1835.