Frank A. Watt

Frank A. Watt, Pioneer of This County, Passes On in Colorado

Local survivors of the pioneer days in Niobrara county were grieved upon learning of the death of one of their old-time and steadfast friends, Frank A. Watt, who passed away at his home in Canyon City, Colo., last Friday, November 20th. Mr. Watt's death was the result of injuries received in an automobile accident near his home in the latter part of October. The injuries caused paralysis of the throat and brought upon his passing. He was past 74 years of age.

Mr. Watt came to this section of the country in 1879, and homesteaded on the land adjoining the Vincent Baca place, about three miles south of this city. During his residence here, he operated a cattle ranch. He was married to a Miss Stover and to this union three children were born, a son passing away in infancy, and being buried on the ranch here.

In 1892, he with his family left for Colorado, locating near Canyon City. A coincident in his passing and that of August Mashek two days prior, was that the latter drove Mr. Watt's livestock to Colorado from here.

He followed ranching only a couple of years in that vicinity and then became captain of the night guards at the state penitentiary at Canyon City. This position he held up until July this year, when his advanced age forced him to retire.

Mr. Watts, with his daughter, Miss Frances, made a trip to this city in 1930 and visited for several days with a number of the old-timers, and a happy reunion was had by all. Some of those who were privileged in seeing him again were Mr. and Mrs. Harry Card, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Frank DeCastro, Mr. and Mrs. George Saffell and A. A. Spaugh.

Mr. Watts is also survived by a son who lives at Denver.

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