Andy and Ian and the Watts Family, 14 September 2019

                                Andy and Ian and the Watts Family, 14 September 2019

                                                                                               

What an amazing experience. The last three days were a culmination of my experiences with the Watts House in Scappoose, Oregon. Two of the descendants, Andy and her son Ian spent three days here discovering a place where her ancestors once lived.

The first day we went out to dinner and then spent about four hours on our computers. We worked on the family, DNA matches and GLO records for maps of the Watts' family DLC lands.

After living here for four years I was able to establish the boundaries for a drive by tour, which we did first thing the next morning. It is amazing trying to view a place where their ancestors lived and imagine how it looked when they first arrived in 1852. We drove Dike Road, which is the flat lands out close to the river, where the family had timber lands. As we came to the highway Andy mentioned the cemetery, so we stopped there for a few minutes. It really is in a lovely place overlooking lower Scappoose.

Next we spent a couple of hours at the Watts House where they had a tour of all three floors. Then we had a wonderful desert and visit with four of the members. It is amazing all that is contained in the house and the stories that it holds. After that I returned home and they went to Sauvie Island for a hike. It was perfect weather for seeing the wildlife and surroundings. When they returned we ate the delicious dinner provided by my husband, David.

Then yesterday after they had been for a hike on the Scappoose/Vernonia trail, we met at the Columbia County Courthouse in St. Helens, Oregon and spent about three hours at the County Museum. Tricia Oberndorf, who instigated and supported my work at the Watts House, spent most of the time with us looking at the museum's collection on the Watts family. Then we proceeded to the Plymouth Pub and had a nice, relaxing dinner.

When I landed back at home I was exhausted, but thrilled to have accomplished so much. My sincere thank you to Andy for all she has shared with us in the research on the Watts family. She is an earnest researcher and a delight to work with. Ian was very patient and such a gentleman. This journey with the Watts family is so beyond anything I even remotely considered when I began the work three years ago.

Review of 2017

Sixteen of my twenty-eight posts for 2017 focused on the Watts house and the collections created from the major organization project that started in August 2016. There are still a few things that require finishing touches, but for the most part the work on the collections is finished. We are currently having the pictures digitized by the Columbia County Museum volunteer staff. Their staff has been very supportive of this project, offering time doing the inventories and then sharing materials in their collections. Patricia Oberndorf, who I met originally at a local Association of Professional Genealogists meeting and works at the Columbia County Museum, got me involved with the Scappoose Historical Society. We encouraged joint meetings of all the Historical Societies of Columbia County and they now meet on a quarterly basis. These meetings are very productive and we share what is going on with each society and within the county. Some societies from neighboring counties have also joined us. Next month we are meeting in Clatskanie, Oregon with lunch and a talk by someone from the Oregon State Archives.

Watts House Collection - 31 Research Notebooks Available

 Watts House Collection - 31 Research Notebooks available at the Watts House

Watts Family

Watts, Nessly, Jacoby Family History

Blue notebook -

       Scappoose, Oregon Historical Sketches by J. G. Watts

       Watts/Price Store Ledger Book

       Cash Book, Ledger for Water Accounts July 1941-June 1942

       Journal Ledger for Water Accounts July 1942-June 1944

       SE Ledger for Water Accounts June 1945-February 1946

       Journal Record Taxes 1948-1949

Watts Family Encyclopedia by Van Watts

The Watts House copied from Columbia County Historical Society

Watts/Becker Scrapbook copied portions from Columbia County Historical Society

Watts (From Benjamin F. Watts) Overland Journal copied from Columbia County Historical Society

Francis H. Watts and his Family copied from Columbia County Historical Society

Dorris Watts and Scappoose History by Caroline Dorris copied from Columbia County Historical Society

Oregon Columbia County Records 1854-1958, Watts Deeds, Marriages, Records Index

Watts Land Records Government Land Office

William and Lena Burg Family History Research

J. P. West Family History Research

Scappoose, Oregon Information Notebook 1

Scappoose, Oregon Information Notebook 2

Columbia County, Oregon Information Notebook

U.S. Federal Census/State of Oregon/Columbia County

Oregon Centennial 1959 Governors, misc.

Oregon Centennial 1959 Recipes, etc.

Oregon Centennial 1959 Native Americans

Oregon Centennial 1959 Oregon Highlights

First Congregational Church of Scappoose, Oregon Books 1890-1984

Watts House Library Books Inventories: Scappoose Public Library, Watts House transferred books, Books at Watts house before transfer

Scappoose, Oregon Garden Club 1956-1972

Small Ledger Book probably from J. G. Watts, Level 1, Book 3, Cash Book

Scappoose, Oregon Important Documents (in tote)

Scappoose, Historical Society Board Information Notebook 1

Scappoose, Historical Society Board Information Notebook 2

Scappoose, Historical Society Board Information Notebook 3

Family Pictures and People in the Community (in tote)

Family Pictures and People in the Community (in tote)

Still to work on:

Four totes - 2 for Scappoose information, 1 for pictures and 1 for Scappoose Historical Society Board

Five flat totes - Pictures sorted and ready for scanning

Some of the notebooks are just printed copies while others contain items relevant to the topic.  

Report of Materials at the Watts House and the Public Library in Scappoose, Oregon September 2017

After a year of sorting, organizing, reading, typing, putting into notebooks, making lists and taking lots of notes I am drawing to a close on the Watts House Collections Inventory for the Scappoose Historical Society. There are still a few odds and ends to finish now that the overall project is completed. There are several posts on my blog gophergenealogy.blogspot.com if you are interested in seeing what we found. Today I created two notebooks, one for the overall board information and the other for all of the collections. That is how I preserve the memories and compilations in a format that documents the many hours spent on this project. My thanks to Tricia Oberndorf, Karen Holmberg, Dorothy Gallagle, our board member Mardi's daughter, Mardi's high school students and anyone else I may have overlooked. It has been a great learning adventure which has enhanced my working skills immensely!

The Watts House Collections - Compiled Family Histories

These family histories were written by family members and others who wanted to preserve the stories of the Watts family. Three of them were written in 1976 as part of the Bi-Centennial Celebration of the United States. Van Watts, while not a descendant, contributed greatly to the story and promoted the family during this time period.

The Watts Family in Oregon, 1852-1934 by James Grant Watts (1940)

History of Scappoose by James Loring Watts, son of James Grant Watts, (1976) Printed by SHS

Genealogy of the Covered Wagon Wattses by Maude Watts Collier, half-sister of James Grant Watts,

Watts by Maude Watts Collier (1934) Loose papers clipped together

"Covered Wagon Watts" by Alice Mary Watts, cousin of James Grant Watts

My Columbia County Relatives by Ida Strong Seggel, aunt of James Grant Watts (1976)

"Foghorn" Diary by Dr. John William Watts, uncle of James Grant Watts

Ben Watts Trail Log by Benjamin Marion Watts, uncle of James Grant Watts (1948-1949) 2 copies

Watts Family Encyclopedia by Van Watts (1976)

Footsteps of Watts Women by Susie Lolita Watts Almond, daughter of Robert Deady Watts and granddaughter of Francis Harrison Tyler Watts (1974)

Francis Harrison Tyler Watts family booklet

The Watts House Collections - Old Ledger Books Downstairs

This was the first set of ledger books. A transcription was made of the first book due to the fragile nature of the book. It is done as close as possible to the original, but many pages are very hard to read. With the digitized copy and more time to verify some of the text a more complete and accurate transcription may be made. The second book for the Watts/Price store is easier to read and so only a list of names included was created.  The pages of the book are for various families who had accounts with the store, with extensive lists of the items being purchased. The last four books were used to create lists of people who lived in the area and paid water payments and other types of transactions with the city of Scappoose. 

1. Scappoose, Oregon Historical Sketches, Good History, 25 names: Book No 1, Pioneers, 

1824 – 1850; J. G. Watts, 1940; Lists of Names for 1830, 1840, 1850; Earliest Settlers 1845; Scappoose Sunday School - Ralph Watts Supt. 83 years old; J. G. Watts - City of Scappoose, 1852. Scanned by Columbia County Historical Museum 2017.

2. Watts/Price Store 1889/1890, Singed ledger book, lists of sales to Individuals. Scanned by Columbia County Historical Museum 2017.

3. Cash Book, Ledger of Water Payments and other City of Scappoose Financial Records,

January 1, 1941 to June 30, 1942, 131 pages.

4. Journal, Ledger of Water Payments and other City of Scappoose Financial Records July 1942 to June 1944, 201 pages. Expenses on Library 2nd Quarter 1944 Library $15.00.

5. S. E. Ledger, Water Payments and other City of Scappoose Financial Records

January 1945 to February 1946, 138 pages

6. Journal, Records for 1948-1949, Scappoose City Taxes for Commercial Accounts, 142 pages.

The Watts House Collections - Old Ledger Books Behind Counter

Watts House Collections - Old Books Behind Counter

May 25, 2017

This week we worked on cleaning out the counter in the store and found some great treasures. Dorothy and Karen assisted in this task. The books include:

1. Abstract of Warrants 1 – Town of Scappoose, Oregon, large ledger book, 1920- , expense accounting

2. Claim Register 1 – Town of Scappoose, Oregon, large ledger book, July 22, 1920 to April 4, 1921, 1923, Council Meeting, Claim Collections

3. Treasurer’s Cash Book 1 – Town of Scappoose, Oregon, large ledger book, 1921-1945, some water accounts, extra sheets July 1945- June 1947

4. Scappoose Garden Club 1928 Incorporation, Rose E. Watts note 3 Apr 1952

Pres. Asa Holaday

Vice Pres. Mrs. J. G. Watts

Sec/Trea. Mrs. George Frakes

Directors C. H. Keyes and Chas. Gerlach

5. Scappoose Garden Club 22 Apr. 1938-1942, Rose Watts Vice Pres., Library Rose Watts, Legislature Pearl Becker

6. Garden Club Small Ledger Book from 1956 to 1972, 144 pages, 17 pages of notes, lots of lists of names

7. Grange Organization meeting Jan. 18, 1936, mentions other local granges, Pearl Becker – 1941

8. City Ledger Book, General Accounts 1943-1944: General, Water, Road, State Tax Street Fund,

1946 Water Payments

Licenses, Fines, Taxes, Liquors, State Tax Street Fund, Misc.

Library Expenses, Auditing, Real Estate, Care of Prisoners, Salaries, Fire, Tree, S.I.A. Commissioner, Recorder – Salary/Supplies, Attorney Salary, Treasurer Salary, Rent, Library, Emergency, Bone Premiums, Lease, Telephone, Total Budget, Total Spent, Balance

9. City of Scappoose tall ledger book, 1942-1943, Water Collection 1939 – 1941, City of Scappoose

C. M. Dorris

Mary Ewing

Mrs. Daisy Hazen

J. G. Watts

James L. Watts

10. Small Ledger Book, probably of J. G. Watts, Level Book 3, Cash Book

11. Scappoose Cook Book, 1909, The Oregon Mist, St. Helens, 60 pages. A Book of Recipes by Columbia County Ladies

12. Scappoose Cook Book 1924, 95 pages.  A Book of Tested Recipes Collected by The Ladies’ Aid of Scappoose, Oregon

The Watts House Collections - Scrapbooks

There were thirty scrapbooks found at the Watts house. They cover a wide range of topics. Eight of them are articles written by the Roving Reporter with Social Notes published in the Columbia Herald from 1961 to 1980. Another is newspaper articles written by Karl Klooster, but there are no dates on the articles. I won’t go into detail on the other twenty-eight as they are explained some in the attached list. My favorite scrapbooks are numbers 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7. These will be further reviewed as time allows. So glad that we could get that finished.

The Watts House Collections - Newspapers

June 24, 2017

We finally got the newspapers brought upstairs so there was room to sort through them and inventory what we have. It took about fourteen hours of work, but it is done! Once the information is typed up we will share the newspapers in the collection. We did find a 1928 Scappoose Register and two 1931 Scappoose Independent papers. There is one tote of local Columbia County papers, one tote of the Bicentennial papers, three totes of Oregonians and one tote of Oregon Journals. While you can access some of them online the copies are not always easy to read. Most of these papers concern major national and world events. The motivation to finish this dirty and time consuming work are the last two collections to now process. We will be working on the scrap books and church collection in the coming month. Those will contain some of the heart of this community. I hope to close out the processing of the museum collections within the year of my first beginning the work. 

The Watts House Collections - Church Books

After a year of compiling information on the materials held at the Watts House by the Scappoose Historical Society it is time to post the results. To start with I am posting the list of church books that were organized by dates they cover and as a group for the Ladies Aid Society of the Congregational Church of Scappoose, Oregon. First I will give a short overview and then the list.

There were many hours dedicated to organizing the forty church books of all various types and sizes. The forty books have been read and copies of lists and information about the Watts family and friends are recorded in about 150 pages of notes. These are available in the basement in a notebook. There are two additional red notebooks that hold the loose papers from the church collection. In the front of one notebook is the membership certificate for Rose Ewing Watts. She held many positions in the church and ladies organizations. Serving as clerk for many years Rose recorded the history of the people from this community.

Scappoose Historical Society Spring Tea at the Watts' House

Took Anne and the girls to a tea luncheon at the Watts' house in Scappoose, OR. What a fun event. The girls, ages 6 and 9, were on their very best behavior as they had lunch with about 24 women from the area. Each group had their own table. They made only slight accommodations for the girls, like a few peanut butter and honey sandwiches. They did give us decaf teas to choose from and had punch as well. First came a dish of sorbet which they loved. Then came the three tier stand for the plates of food. Sandwiches, sweet breads and deserts. More than we could ever eat in one sitting so we brought a few home to Grandpa. Then each of the girls won a candle door prize. They wore their cutest dresses, sandals and just shined. Before leaving Hannah took them on a tour of the upstairs. Anne seemed to have a good time as well.

Just have to add to the picture and the post. This Tea is put on by the Scappoose Historical Society as an annual fund raiser. It is all volunteer labor, including the food prep, serving, set up, take down, and all else this involves. I am so impressed with the women and men who are members of this great Historical Society. There is much to be proud of in the little town of Scappoose. A great heritage is a priceless gift to all who share in the memories. Thank you so much for making the Tea possible.