PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

These Watson Family Photos were given to me from my father (Alfred H. Potrafke), who got them when his parents (Herman F. Potrafke & Sarah Mozella Watson-Potrafke) passed away.

Sarah Mozella (Watson)

Herman Ferdinand Potrafke

September 20, 1935

Wedding Day

Herman & Sarah (Watson) Potrafke are my paternal grandparents. They were two of the most influential people in my life, and two of the kindest, most loving people I have ever known. I was very fortunate to have them as part of my ancestry.

Sarah Mozella Watson: b. 24 Mar 1914; d. 17 Sep 1993

Herman F. Potrafke: b. 20 Nov 1894; d. 28 Jul 1981

They were 20 years apart in age. This was my grandfather’s fourth marriage, and my grandmother’s first.

Clarence “Offie” Watson

15 Jun 1885—31 Aug 1969

Offie Watson (Pa Pa Watson, as I knew him) was my paternal great-grandfather. I was 9 years old when he died, and I do remember him. He was at a party with friends, at a camp-site along the Ohio River in Clermont County, Ohio, enjoying his alcohol and dancing when he died! He was a drinker… and he was always fun! Everyone he met liked him, and he was always making people laugh!

He married May Bowring 25 Dec 1908 in Clermont County, Ohio. They had six children together; two daughters unfortunately died very young, one daughter (my granny) lived to be 76, and three sons who lived through adulthood.

I don’t know when they split, but Offie and May never lived together as long as I can remember, and don’t think they lived together for MANY years. They did remain legally married until his death. He is buried in Bethel, Ohio next to one of his daughters and a grandson who died young, and she is buried in Williamsburg, Ohio next to one of their sons.

Left: Allen “Jr.” Watson

b. 11 Jan 1924; d. 17 Dec 2000

Right: Phillip Norton Watson

b. 13 Aug 1912; d. 25 May 1974

This is my Uncle Jr. and Uncle Phillip; my granny’s (Sarah M. Watson) brothers. I remember both of them very well. My granny was very close to all three of her brothers. I have letters from all three of them which they wrote to her during the war. All three were overseas at the same time.

Jr. (not sure why he was called that!), was married twice. He has three daughters with his second wife, Donna Townsley.

Phillip was never married and lived with his mother (May Bowring-Watson) all his life.

Arnold Ray “Dynamite” Watson

b. 28 Feb 1910; d. 08 Oct 1976

Uncle Dynamite, as I always knew him, was the oldest child of Offie & May (Bowring) Watson. He was the Sheriff of Brown County, Ohio.

I remember him, as I was always with my granny (his sister) as a child, and she was probably closest to him. He was married twice, with no children born to his first wife (that I know of), but eight children to his second wife, Kathryn F. Fiscus.

He was always making people laugh, and like his father, he liked to drink his alcohol!

He was a very nice man, and did not have an easy life as I can remember.

Perry Watson: b. 04 Jun 1840; d. 26 Nov 1937

May (Bowring) Watson: b. 26 Mar 1884; d. 31 Jul 1971

This is my paternal great-great grandfather, and his daughter-in-law, my paternal great-grandmother.

Herman F. Potrafke

b. 20 Nov 1894; d. 28 Jul 1981

Sarah Mozella Watson

b. 24 Mar 1914; d. 17 Sep 1993

Alfred Herman Potrafke

b. 21 Jun 1937; d. 14 Jan 2007

This is my grandparents and my dad. My ‘granny’ as I called her, was the sweetest person. Everyone she met just loved her. She grew up with three brothers, and did not have an easy life growing up. She lived with her mother as her parents were separated, and lived separate lives, although she did see her father a lot. Probably more-so as an adult than as a child.

She had her father’s wonderful sense of humor, and seemed to have more of his personality. She was always so kind and gentle, and such a good woman.

My dad also had that funny sense of humor, and unlike his mother, but like her brothers and her father, my dad liked his alcohol! All were very funny, and very kind people though.

My grandpa (Herman Potrafke), was totally different! He was a VERY intelligent man, very strict, grew up with parents who migrated from Germany to the U.S. in the late 1800’s. He spoke fluent German as well as English, and was always more serious and worked VERY hard in life. I have very fond memories of him also, as he was a very good man, and a wonderful grandfather.

Herman F. Potrafke

b. 20 Nov 1894; d. 28 Jul 1981

Sarah Mozella Watson

b. 24 Mar 1914; d. 17 Sep 1993

My Granny & Grandpa. Picture taken in 1962 at the Clermont County Fair, in Owensville Ohio.

Phillip Allen Watson

b. 12 Jun 1949; d. 22 Jan 1997

Kathryn Francis (Fiscus) Watson

b. 27 Jul 1916; d. 10 Jan 1981

This picture was taken in 1979. It is Phillip Allen Watson, son of Arnold Ray “Dynamite” Watson & Kathryn (Fiscus) Watson.

Kathryn (Aunt Kathryn, as we called her) had a stroke and was paralyzed, and in a nursing home for many years. I’m not sure when she had the stroke, but I do remember it, so it had to be sometime after 1964 or so. She could never talk much after that, and it broke her husband’s heart when it happened.

Phillip Allen was their fifth child, and he was very sick most of his adult life. He had heart problems, diabetes, and was very overweight.

He too, was like my dad and their grandfather, Offie… very funny and always making people laugh! He was a neat guy, and everyone just seems to like him when they met him!

James Ray Watson

b. 24 Oct 1940; d. 17 May 1999

Kathryn Francis (Fiscus) Watson

b. 27 Jul 1916; d. 10 Jan 1981

This picture was taken in 1977. It is Jimmy Ray Watson, son of Arnold Ray “Dynamite” Watson & Kathryn (Fiscus) Watson.

This is Aunt Kathryn with their second child; oldest son.

They called all their children except one, by their first and middle names. I remember thinking that was odd, but that’s what they did! They had Shirley Jean, Jimmy Ray, Carl Edward, Carolyn Sue, Phillip Allen, Charles Edward, Melody Rae, and Sarah Ann. They were all called by both names except Charles Edward, who is Charley. He, Melody Rae, and Sarah Ann are the only three still living.

Jimmy Ray was not as comical and well-liked as Phillip Allen. Phillip Allen was the most like his grandfather and father of any of these children.

Some of the Children of Arnold Ray “Dynamite” Watson & Kathryn Francis (Fiscus) Watson

Jimmy Ray, Carl Edward, Carolyn Sue, Phillip Allen, & Sarah Ann

This picture was taken in 1983. This is five of the eight children in this family. Missing are: Shirley Jean (who passed away in 1982), Charley, and Melody Rae.