OKGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any
format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must
obtain the written consent of OKGenWeb State Coordinator.

Presentation here does not extend any permissions to the public. This
material can not be included in any compilation, publication,
collection, or other reproduction for profit without permission. Files
may be printed or copied for personal use only.
=====================================================================

ANDREW P. WATSON
Vol. 3, p. 965-966

The well-deserved title of "Potato King of Oklahoma" has been won by
Andrew P. WATSON, who from the year 1900 has been carrying on
extensive operations in the growing of this vegetable in the vicinity
of Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, and who, as head of the Potato
Growers' Association, has accomplished much in the interests of the
tuber shippers of the state. At the present time Mr. Watson is a
resident of Oklahoma City, where he is a member of the State
Corporation Commission, on which body he has served since Oklahoma's
acquirement of statehood, in 1907.

Mr. Watson belong[s] to a family of Scotch origin, whose American
ancestor came to this country prior to the Revolutionary War and
settled in South Carolina. His grandfather was a participant in the
War of 1812, holding the rank of colonel in the United States army,
and in that capacity built the breastworks at Honeyhill, South
Carolina. Andrew P. Watson was born at Acworth, Cobb County, Georgia,
June 11, 1848, the son of farming people, James M. and Nancy S.
(MAYES) Watson. He received his education in the common schools, and
was but sixteen years of age when he laid aside his schoolbooks to
enlist under the flag of the Confederacy, refugeeing to South
Carolina and joining a volunteer regiment from that state. During the
last eight months of the great struggle between the South and the
North he capable commanded a company of sixteen-year-old boys, and it
is a remarkable coincidence that he occupied, fifty-two years after
their erection, the breastworks which had been built by his
grandfather, at Honeyhill. With the fall of the lost cause, Mr.
Watson returned to the home of his parents, and with them went in
1867 to Mississippi, which state he made his home until 1900, when he
was attracted by the opportunities offered by Oklahoma and, coming
hither, settled at Shawnee, where he still has extensive and
important interests.

On his arrival, he at once recognized the advantages of the section
for potato-growing, in which he interested himself so actively and
intelligently that he was soon in command of a large enterprise, and
since that time has raised more and better potatoes than any other
man in the state. He has had two crops a year, with an average as
high as 100 acres, and an average yield of 152 bushels for a first
crop, and the consummate manner in which he has handled his great
operations have fairly won for him the title by which he is known,
that of "Potato King." Mr. Watson's business associates, and the
farmers generally in the state, realizing his ability, elected him to
represent them in the capacity of head of the Potato Growers'
Association of the state, in which office he has carefully watched
the markets and production in other sections, notably Colorado, so as
to advise the growers of Oklahoma as to the outlook for planting and
shipping large crops. No one in the state is better posted upon the
potato situation and conditions than is Mr. Watson.

In 1907, at the time of statehood, Mr. Watson was elected a member
of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, and drew the short term of
thirteen and one-half months. In 1908 he was re-elected for the six-
year term, and in 1914 became the democratic candidate for re-
election to this office. He has been a democrat since attaining his
majority, and has been an active worker in his party's ranks.
Fraternally, Mr. Watson is connected with the Masons and the Woodmen
of the World. With his family, he attends the Southern Presbyterian
Church. Mr. Watson has never forgotten his old comrades of the Civil
war, and at present is commander of the Second Brigade, Confederate
Veterans, with the rank of brigadier-general. He maintains offices on
the fifth floor of the Mercantile Building, while his home is located
at No. 141 East Twelfth Street, Oklahoma City.

Mr. Watson was married in 1873 to Miss Lizzie STRICKLAND, of
Brookhaven, Mississippi, who died in 1888, the mother of four
children: Madie M., who became the wife of D.A. MCPHERSON, of Aaden,
Mississippi; Pickens, who resides at Oklahoma City; James S., who; is
a practicing attorney of Oklahom[a] City; and Archie H., cashier of
the Bank of Hollister, Oklahoma. In 1890 Mr. Watson was again
married, his bride being Miss Adele STALLINGS, of Starkville,
Mississippi. Three children have been born to them: Louise, Tom P.
and Robert M., all residing at home.

Typed for OKGenWeb: February 11, 1999.