History of the American Negro: West Virginia Edition

Robert J. Watson

254 history american negro with his conversion when he was about fifteen years of age, after which he joined the Baptist church. Feeling called to preach the Gospel, he set about preparing himself for that great work, going first to Wayland Seminary at Washington, D. C., and later to the theological department at Howard University. He was licensed and ordained by his home church and became a recognized leader in the religious life of the people. He came to see the medical profession a great field for service and even after he was 40 years of age took the medical course at Howard, won his M.D. degree in 1900, and lived to practice for more than twenty years. Let no one imagine, however, that the way is easy or without difficulties. He made his own way in school and in the best sense of the word was a self-made man. On Nov. 20, 1901, he married Miss Hattie Alexander, an accomplished teacher, a story of whose work appears herewith. Of the six children born to them the following are living: Loris Alexander, who is studying Pharmacy, Elva D., who will make nurse training a profession, Murel A., and Herbert M. Washington. In politics Dr. Washington was a Republican and among the secret orders was affiliated with the Masons, Odd Fellows, Red Men, and Pythians, in all of which he held office. He was also identified with the State and National Medical Societies. He passed to his reward on January 14, 1921, after a short illness. He left to his family the heritage of a good name and to the community and the race the example of a poor boy struggling up from poverty and obscurity to a place of large usefulness, unselfish service and well deserved success. Robert J. Watson One of the well equipped and promising young men of the Baptist ministry in West Virginia is Rev. Robert J. Watson, pastor of robert j. watson 256 history american negro the Baptist church at Montgomery. He is a native of Virginia, having been born at Calloway, in Franklin County, Va., on July 15, 1889. His father, John H. Watson, was a farmer and our subject worked on the farm till he was twenty three years of age. John Watson was the son of slave parents, James and Catherine Watson. Mr. Watson’s mother, before her marriage, was Miss Lockie J. Toney, daughter of Preston and Harriett Toney, also slaves before Emancipation. Young Watson laid the foundation of his education in the country public schools of Virginia. For his higher education and theological training he went to Virginia Theological Seminary and College at Lynchburg from which he was graduated in 1919. The story of his struggles for an education cannot be told better than his own simple words. He says: “I was the oldest boy, having one sister older, of a family of eleven children. My parents being poor, I was forced to drop out of public school at the age of fourteen and was hired on a farm at a salary of five dollars per month. I remained on the farm until I was twenty, my father receiving my wages which did not at any time exceed thirteen dollars per month. “After being set free by my father at the age of twenty, I began saving a part of my earning to the end of buying a horse and buggy, the acquisition of which at that time was my highest ambition. After possessing these, I awoke to the fact that there were yet higher things in life and so became dissatisfied. “I entered the Gospel ministry in 1912 and realizing the need of preparation and the finance necessary to obtain same, I went to work in the Norfolk and Western Rail Road shops at Roanoke, Va. This work paid a better wage than I had received as a farm laborer, so I remained there until October 1, 1913, at which time I left to matriculate at Virginia Theological Seminary and College, Lynchburg. When I entered school I had $150.00 in cash and $100.00 in bonds, my sole resource for beginning a six year course in boarding school. I spent all my cash the first year and was at a loss as to what I should do the other five years. I realized that I could not earn enough during west virginia edition 257 vacations...