Notes taken from Hughs gencom file:
The History of Atchison and Holt Counties, Missouri, St. Joseph Steam
Printing Company Printers, Binders, Etc. 1882, page 845 and 846.

LOTT WATTS, dealer in grain and agricultural implements, was born in Crawford County, Illinois, on June 27, 1843. His father was Lott Watts, a native of Virginia, and his mother, whose maiden name was Nancy Eaton, was a Kentuckian by birth.

Lott received a good common school education, and in 1866 he came to Missouri, settling in this county. In August, 1862, he joined the Ninety-eighth Illinois Mounted Infantry, with whom he remained until July, 1865. He participated in many of the hard fought battles of the war from the engagement of Stone River, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, etc., performing his duty in a manner becoming a soldier. In politics he is a Republican.

He married Miss Phoebe Ann Good in November, 1868. She is the daughter of John and Nancy Good, of this county. They have three children: Alonzo Allen, Amy Iola and Ida.

Mr. W. has 413 acres of land in two good farms. He came here without means and first entered the store of Mathews & Hackett, of Sonora. In eighteen months, his health failing, he entered a farm and went to work. After three years agricultural labor he came here and commenced to buy grain and deal in farm implements. He succeeded for a time beyond his anticipations, but by a confidential clerk lost $1,650, which left him in a bad condition. He resumed business against much opposition in 1873, and since that time has accumulated a good property. The first year of his business he handled 50,000 bushels of grain. In 1874 he bought a stock of goods with Dr. Hardy, of St. Joseph, but sold out in January, 1875, and in 1876 they leased a lead mine in Mound City for six months. This also they sold out having been quite successful.

In 1880 Mr. Watts bought the farms he now owns, upon which his two brothers are living. In every good enterprise, something in which the community is interested, Mr. Watts is to be found lending his influence and means. He has a grain house at this point and is agent for the McCormicks machinery.

His father, Lott Watts, Sr., was born in Virginia in 1793, and during his boyhood he moved to Overton County, Tennessee, where he remained until 1818. He then went to Crawford County, Illinois, where he improved a farm. He served through the war of 1812 and received an honorable discharge. In 1819 he married Miss Nancy Eaton, formerly of Overton County, Kentucky, and a daughter of Benjamin Eaton. They had fifteen children, three of whom died in infancy and eight died after they were grown ; four are now living: James Harvey, Polly (now Mrs. S. H. Hackett), Benjamin Franklin and Lott. Mr. Watts was one of the pioneers of Crawford County, Illinois, and took an active part in its organization. He was the county judge for fifteen years and justice of the peace for thirty-five years. In 1854, in company with his son, James H., and John Downey, his son-in-law, they started for Atchison County, Missouri, and, upon arriving in Knox County, Missouri, he was taken sick, as was also Mr. Downey, they both dying within six hours.

Benjamin Eaton, the father of Mrs. Watts, moved to Illinois from Overton County, Kentucky, in 1812, and, on account of the Indian troubles, they were obliged to live in a fort for six years, or until the Black Hawk war was over. Mrs. Watts was born August 5, 1798, and has lived with her son Lott since she came to this state in 1866. She is now in the enjoyment of good health.279