WATSON, Dr. E.J. [Elbert Jay]

WATSON, LONNECKER, HEADLEY, MINOR, JARVIS, TURNBULL, WISE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 10/11/2017 at 07:17:10

The Diagonal Reporter
Diagonal, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, November 10, 1960

OBITUARY ~ Dr. E. J. [ELBERT JAY] WATSON
August 20, 1876 ~ November 04, 1960

Diagonal's "Country Doctor" E. J. Watson
Died Friday After Long Life of Service
Death came Friday afternoon, November 4, at three o'clock to Dr. E. J. Watson, one of this community's most beloved citizens. He was a patient in Greater Community Hospital in Creston, where he had been ill for the past month.

After having practised (sic) medicine for 55 years, Dr. Watson made his retirement official in July, 1959, since making his home with his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Lonnecker, in Creston. Just prior to entering the hospital, he spent several weeks in Diagonal where he enjoyed meeting the many friends who welcomed his familiar presence on the local scene.

Country Doctor

No other person holds so distinct a place in a community as it's doctor, and Dr. Watson was not an exception. He was a true country doctor and family physician, his span of service extending to several generations in many families.

No one who knew Dr. Watson will forget his unique and colorful personality. He regarded every person with respect and affection. No one, for any reason, was denied the benefit of his services. He devoted himself to his calling.

Many remember his battle with time and the elements during the flu epidemic at the time of World War I. Many another (sic) individual can recount specific cases of the great physical effort required to reach a home where birth was imminent, illness raged, or death threatened.

He had an exceptional sense of humor, a dry and ready wit, his fabulous memory providing him with a delightful store of true anecdotes from which he readily drew to apply to the current situation.

Many Interests

His interests included wide reading, from which he committed to memory favorite passages; and interest in music, in sports, and a liking for working with wood. He was fond of horses which provided him transportation and his love of animals found him the owner of a succession of devoted dogs, usually of doubtful parentage, but often possessed of distinct personalities.

None of these activities detracted from his love for and pride in his family and home, his concern for the best interests of those dear to him.

His service to his community extended beyond the practice of medicine in this community and surrounding area, for he served on the local of education for more than 32 years, was a town officer, and served Ringgold county as coroner for 18 years.

He was a member of the staff of the Ringgold County Hospital, a member of the Ringgold County Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association, the later awarding him a fifty-year pin in June, 1954.

Dr. Watson was held in high regard by fellow physicians, and was long recognized as an expert diagnostician. Through the years he furthered his own knowledge by attending graduate sessions, and by building for himself a large medical library.

"Dr. Watson Day"

In all, he practised (sic) his profession for 55 years prior to his retirement, and in recent years his friends found a specific and appropriate way to express their gratitude. In June, 1954, on the fiftieth anniversary of the beginning of his practise (sic), the Diagonal community held "Dr. Watson Day" which was attened by hundreds of patients, former patients and friends who came from near and far to honor him.

The events of the day included a dinner for Dr. Watson, his family, colleagues, and a few friends. One of the most ingenuous parades ever witnessed here followed, with unit after unit depicting the events in his life, his activities, the hazards, as well as modes of travel, the whole adding up to a picture of his place in the hearts and lives of the people, with 2,000 persons present to share in the parade and program.

During the formal progran in the afternoon he was presented with a huge scrapbook which held literally hundreds of letters, pictures, and greetings from friends, and which subsequently continued to bring him pleasure.

A fund started to buy a suitable gift snowballed to the point that he was presented with a fine wristwatch, a $100 bill, and Mrs. Watson presented with a radio. Dr. Watson estimated that in 50 years he had assisted at the birth of 2,000 babies, and 200 of that number were present at the event.

The following year brought another signal honor when he was named by the Iowa State Medical Society "Outstanding General Practitioner of the Year."

Life History

Elbert Jay Watson, the son of Miles Elbert and Charlotte Headley Watson, was born August 20, 1876 at Blockton, Iowa, and passed from this life November 4, 1960, just 36 years to the day after the death of his father. He had observed his 84th birthday this year.

He attended school in Blockton, and took his medical schooling at Ensworth Medical College, Saint Joseph, Missouri, from which he was graduated in June, 1904.

On June 22 of the same year he was united in marriage with Della Minor, also of Blockton, and they established their home in Arispe, where he began his professional career. Two years later the family moved to Knowlton where he continued practising (sic), moving in 1918 to Diagonal, which town was to be home for the rest of his long life, and where the Watsons observed their fiftieth wedding anniversary in 1954.

The Watson family includes a daughter, Olive, Mrs. Gerald Lonnecker of Creston, a son, Elbert M. Watson of Diagonal, four granddaugthers, three grandsons, and four great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Charles [Clara Leora] Jarvis of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Mrs. A. [Dora Lavern] Turnbull of Diagonal. Mrs. Watson's death occurred in June, 1956, and two sisters and two daughters* also preceded him in death.

Memorial services were held Monday afternoon from the Methodist church in Diagonal with Rev. Tom McCormick reading selections from Dr. Watson's scrapbook, and the Rev. Paul A. Beymer, of Cedarsville, Michigan, a longtime friend, bringing the message. The Rev. Clark Bassett also assisted.

Many came from a distance to attend the funeral services, including Mr. and Mrs. John Wise of Rushville, Illinois. The Wise family lived for a time on Platte river east of the Burr Swartwood farm. The church was filled to overflowing with persons from all walks of life.

Mrs. Harold Taylor was organist, and concluding the service Mrs. A. J. Kessler sang, "The End of a Perfect Day". Casketbearers were Dr. A. H. Bonebrake of Nebraska City, Dale Herrington of Mount Ayr, Rew Yaryan of Boone, Ronald Bonebrake of Council Bluffs, Ronald Beymer and Velmer Stephens. Burial was in the family plot in the Diagonal Cemetery.

* One daughter, Anna June Watson, was born and died in 1905. The other daughter, Hazel, was born in 1906 and died January 22, 1954. Both daughters were interred in Diagonal Cemetery.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2017

Ringgold Obituaries maintained by Tony Mercer.
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