John William Watson Sr. (October 31, 1859 - February 8, 1942) was an American politician and businessman who served in a number of elected positions throughout Florida.[2]
John W. Watson Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Florida State Senator - 13th District | |
| In office 1925–1935 | |
| Florida House of Representatives- Dade | |
| In office 1907–1919 | |
| Preceded by | Graham W King |
| Succeeded by | Ben C Willard |
| 8th Mayor of Miami | |
| In office November, 1917 – November, 1919 | |
| Preceded by | P.A. Henderson |
| Succeeded by | W.P. Smith |
| 6th Mayor of Miami | |
| In office July 18, 1912 – November, 1915 | |
| Preceded by | Samuel Rodmond Smith |
| Succeeded by | P.A. Henderson |
| Florida's House of Representatives - Dade | |
| In office 1907–1912 | |
| Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives | |
| In office 1901–1901 | |
| Preceded by | Robert McNamee |
| Succeeded by | Cromwell Gibbons |
| Florida's House of Representatives - Osceola | |
| In office 1897–1905 [1] | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Oct 31, 1859 North Carolina, US |
| Died | Feb 8, 1942 Miami, Florida, US |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Emma Cora Chafer Watson |
| Children | J.W. Watson Jr., Janet Watson Carson, Robert Osborne Watson |
| Profession | Merchant |
Biography
editWatson was born in North Carolina. He studied at Raleigh Academy then traveled and worked various jobs. He eventually settled in Kissimmee, Florida where he established a hardware business and became active in local and state politics. He expanded the business to Miami and eventually moved there, building an edifice that would be known as the Watson Building, downtown.[3]
Watson was elected as state representative for the area that included Kissimmee and later Miami.[4] He was later elected Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and a member of the Florida Senate[5] and served as the City of Miami's 6th and 8th Mayor.[6] His first Miami election was a landslide.[7]
In between political victories, he owned a grocery store, hardware company and grapefruit grove among his multiple business endeavors.[8]
He built several buildings in Miami which became important to the city's growth and long-term development.[9] The Watson family is considered to be among Miami's first settlers as they arrived before the railroad to town was complete.[10]
Watson testified before the House of Representatives' Committee on Indian Services regarding his first-hand knowledge of Seminole Indian culture and his distaste for the plans to drain the Everglades.[11]
He ran for Florida Governor unsuccessfully in 1911–1912.
Watson Island is named after him. He is buried in the Miami City Cemetery.
Fraternal and civic affiliations
editFraternally he was connected with the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias, and the Elks.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- Notes
- ^ City Manager's Report to City. City of Miami. 1926. p. 6.
- ^ "PIONEERING FATHER, SON WERE LEADERS, 1ST IN KISSIMMEE, THEN IN MIAMI". Orlando Sentinel. 2003-08-03. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
- ^ "Watson Building in Downtown Miami". 21 December 2016.
- ^ Miami City Directory. R.L. Polk & Co. 1920. p. 62.
- ^ Oliva, Jose (2019). "People of Lawmaking" (PDF). Retrieved 16 Feb 2023.
- ^ Blackman, E.V. (1921). "Miami and Dade County Florida; Its settlement progress and achievement". Retrieved 16 Feb 2023.
- ^ "Watson Wins Mayoralty by a Large Vote". Miami Herald. July 17, 1912. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ Piket, Casey (2016). "Watson Building in Downtown Miami". Retrieved 19 Feb 2023.
- ^ Piket, Casey (2016). "Watson Building in Downtown Miami". Retrieved 19 Feb 2023.
- ^ Blackman, E.V. (1921). "Miami and Dade County Florida; Its settlement progress and achievement". Retrieved 16 Feb 2023.
- ^ "Conditions of the Florida Seminoles hearings before the Committee on Investigation of the Indian Service, House of Representatives". Digital Panther archives. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ Blackman, E.V. (1921). "Miami and Dade County Florida; Its settlement progress and achievement". Retrieved 16 Feb 2023.
- Bibliography
- Hon. John W. Watson. Miami Herald, vol. 2, no. 110, 19 Mar. 1912, p. Page Three.
- John W. Watson, Nominated Mayor I First Primary - Miami Herald, July 23, 1913, Page One.
External links
edit- [1] The Magic City Miami History
- Findagrave
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