Respected Men Passed Over

The lingering illness of William Watterson terminated fatally Sunday forenoon, pneumonia 
intervening to add to its complication to his troubles, and causing the end.

A brief biographical sketch shows that he was born in Peel, Isle of Man, November 10, 
1842.  On February 28, 1869, he was married to Miss Eliza Quayle, and that same year the 
bride and groom came to make their home in America.  They came to California via the 
Isthmus of Panama; arriving in San Francisco June 3, 1869.  They made their home in the 
vicinity of Stockton for several years, then at Delano, Kern County, where Mr. Watterson 
and his brother Mark were engaged in the sheep business.  They came to Inyo in 1886, 
buying farm property which was thereafter improved and made more valuable.

Success attended their labors, since retiring from active work on the farm and range, 
the family home has been in Bishop.  Of Mr. Watterson's brothers, James died in Benton, 
Mono County, leaving a family now well known residents of Bishop; Mark sold his interests 
here, and went to his native land to spend his closing days; George is the head of the 
prominent hardware house of Geo. Watterson Co.  Mrs. White Smith, of Bishop, and Mrs. 
Arthur Ridge, who has been here, were sisters of the deceased.

The surviving members of the family of which he was the head are his companion of so many 
years; sons Wilfred W., president of the Inyo County Bank, present head of the municipal 
government, and one of the county's foremost citizens; and Mark Q. Watterson, cashier of 
the bank named; and four daughters, Mrs. C.E. Kunze, now of Berkeley, Mrs. J.C. Clausen, 
of Los Angeles, Miss Elsie Watterson and Miss Mary Watterson, of Bishop.

Men like William Watterson leave their impress on the time in which they live.  His 
passing is a loss not only to those immediately bereft but to the community for whose 
advancement he has done much.  Quiet and modest in nature, he found his reward in 

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sincere belief that no individual has done more, or has wielded a stronger influence 
through personality alone, for progress in this valley than Mr. Watterson.  His 
convictions were strong, and though never intruded were ever weighty in affairs.  In high 
and consistent character, he was eminently qualified to assist in advancing the permanent 
interests of the community favored by the residence of himself and family in it.  In 
paying tribute to such a character as his, there is danger that the reader who did not 
know him may find in the writing what may be suspected to be fulsomeness, yet we could go 
far without  saying more than was his due, for we feel that what the community owes to 
him is impossible to estimate.  He lived uprightly, and in the respect and esteem of all, 
and he died "the death of the righteous," a Christian whose life was in accord with his 
professions.  One of the finest men who has come among has been taken.

The funeral Tuesday was conducted by Rev. A.P. Beal and assisted by Rev. S.S. Patterson, 
and Rev. C.S. Maddox, at the Methodist church.  The Masons conducted the service at the 
cemetery, Mr. Watterson having been a member of Winnedumah Lodge for the last nineteen 
years.

The Inyo Register
Bishop, Inyo County, California
Thursday, December 26, 1912

Transcribed by Pat Houser for Inyo County GenWeb, August 7, 2004