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James WATERS, farmer, Moore's Prairie born 12 miles east of Lebanon, the county seat of Wilson Co., Tenn., Mar. 7, 1817, and was a son of Shelleah and Nancy (TURNER) WATERS, both natives of Maryland. He was next to the youngest of 13 children, and of that number our subject is the only one now living. After receiving a fair education, he assisted on the home farm until the age of 24, and then came to Jefferson Co., ILL. On July 15, 1839, he settled on his present farm, and there remained eight years, and then went back to Wilson Co., Tenn. There he remained until Aug. 27, 1860, and then returned to Illinois, and again settled on the farm in this county Sept 5 of the same year. He now owns 280 ac; 160 are in Sec 18, 80 in Sec 29, and 40 in Sec 33. Of this all is in cultivation except about 60 ac; there are also 4 ac in orchard. Mr WATERS was married, July 7, 1842, to Sarah Ann ESTES, a daughter of John and Dicia M. (JORDAN) ESTES; the father was one of the oldest settlers in Pendleton Township. To this lady were born 3 children, one of who is now living--John Thomas. Mr WATERS is a member of the United Baptist Church; he is a Republican in politics.
SOURCE: "The History of Jefferson County, Illinois" JAMES WATERS. Great honor is due the sturdy pioneers who left their homes in Tennessee and hewed out a path in the trackless forest, or, traveling across the seemingly limitless prairie, finally reached their destination in the uncultivated lands of Jefferson County. Here they located in their rude homes, deprived of the comforts of life and the companionship of friends. Gradually they evolved pleasant farms from the uninviting surroundings and by persevering labor met with a deserving reward. As a representative of this worthy class we are pleased to present the life history of this veteran of nearly eighty years. Our subject was born in Wilson County, Tenn., March 7, 1815, and is now residing on section 29, Moore's Prairie Township, where he has a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres. He is a son of Shelah and Nancy (Turner) Waters, natives of Maryland. The former located in Tennessee in 1811, where he was a farmer and spent his entire life, dying in Wilson County at the advance age of ninety-three years. His wife, who reared a large family of children, also died in that county. Their sons and daughters were: W. T., George, Annie, Nancy, Shelah, Polly, Betsey, Lucy, Julia, Thomas H., William, and James, of this sketch. The youngest member of the above family emigrated from Tennessee in 1839 and located in Jefferson County, on the farm where he is still living and which he has improved in a most thorough manner. The country was then little more than a wilderness and here Mr. Waters remained until 1847, when he returned to Wilson County in order to care for his father, with whom he remained until the Litter's decease, in 1860. Coming again to this section, he has since made it his home. Like the majority of self-made men he has met with marked success in all his undertakings of life, which is due in a great measure to his ambition and unfailing energy. James Waters and Miss Sarah A. Estes were united in marriage in 1841. The lady was born in Callaway County, Mo., whence she came to this section with her mother in 1829. Her father died in Missouri when she was only nine years of age. Her union with our subject has resulted in the birth of three children, of whom the eldest died in infancy. J. T. makes his home in Belle Rive, and William S. departed this life September 25, 1871, leaving a wife and two children, who survive him. Mr. and Mrs. Waters are members in good standing of the Baptist Church. In politics our subject is a thorough Republican and is glad to assist in any way in promoting the interests of his township, and has done valuable service as a member of the School Board. He is numbered among the most successful pioneers of Jefferson County and has many friends who recognize the nobility of his character and acknowledge that he deserves to be held in the highest possible esteem.
"Portrait and Biographical Record of Clinton,
Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois" |
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