From the Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, 
Grant, Iowa, and Lafayette Wisconsin, J. H. Beers & Co., 1901, Chicago, IL.

Page 925 ~ Grant County
 
JOSEPH WATTERS, now a retired farmer of Hazel Green, Grant county, was born in 
Cornwall, England, only son of Joseph and Mary (SPARGO) WATTERS, who were born, 
reared and passed their entire lives in England.  The father was an old-time 
miner in Cornwall.
 
After the death of his parents Joseph WATTERS came to this country in August, 
1848, and settling near Hazel Green, Wis., engaged in lead mining, following 
that work for some years.  In 1851 he went to California by the ocean route
across the Isthmus to San Francisco, and from there to the gold fields, where 
he remained some three years, then coming back to Hazel Green, where he had 
left his wife and family.  When Mr. WATTERS had returned to his home he bought 
wild prairie land in the town of Hazel Green, and began life as a farmer.  To 
this original tract he afterward added a quarter-section, and now owns a fine 
place of 240 acres.  Here he erected a fine home, with good barns and 
comfortable outbuildings.  Mr. WATTERS has followed stock raising quite 
extensively, his farm being well situated for that purpose.
 
In June 1848, Mr. WATTERS married Miss Lizzie WILLIAMS, who was born in 
Cornwall, England, in March, 1830, a daughter of Thomas and Mary WILLIAMS, the 
former of whom died there, but the mother came to this country and died in 
Hazel Green.  To this union have been born six children, one of whom died in 
childhood: (1) John, born in 1849, married Miss Sarah BARTLE, of Hazel Green, 
and is a farmer in the town of Hazel Green; there are two sons in this family, 
Virgil and Lloyd.  (2) Peter, born in 1858, married Miss Elizabeth STEPHENS, 
and resides on a farm in the town of Hazel Green, where two daughters have come 
to them, Hannah and Grace.  (3) Edward, born in 1868, married Miss Katie MILLS, 
and they lived with his father on the old homestead, where she died in 1896, 
leaving one son, Clifford.  (4) Mary is single, and at home with her parents.  
(5) Grace, born in 1872, is at home with her parents.  
 
Mr. WATTERS has been for many years an active worker in the Republican party.  
Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, and he was one of the 
builders of the first church of his denomination in Hazel Green.  He is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with the Blue Lodge at Hazel 
Green.  Mr. WATTERS came to Grant county when a young man, without means.  The 
country was a wilderness, with but few homes on the prairies, and these miles 
apart  There was courage in his heart and strength in his muscles, and he has 
hammered out a large success in life.  Mr. WATTERS is a man of strong 
affections and deep friendships.  These are not lightly placed, but to be his 
friend once is to be always his friend. 
 
Submitted by:  Carol
(carolannh@ticon.net