|
|
Viona Branham was born January 1897, in Arkansas. She was the daughter of James Lacey Branham and Eliza Jane Osborn. She was called "Onie".
The 1900 Searcy County, Arkansas census shows three year old Viona at home with her parents and siblings in Wiley's Cove near Leslie.
By the time of the 1910 census, the family had moved to Culpepper Township of Van Buren County, Arkansas. Onie was 14 at the time of that census.
Onie married John F. Watson about 1914, in Arkansas.
John F. Watson was born about 1890, in Indiana according to census. He was the son of Frank Watson and Alice (last name unknown). Frank Watson was born about 1849, in Indiana and Alice was born about 1861, in Indiana, according to census.
(The 1910 Conway County, Arkansas, Welborn Township census shows Alice Watson, head of household, 49, widowed, had given birth to 8 children, 7 children were still living. She rented a farm that she and her three children worked to make a living. With her on the census were her children, John F. Watson, 20 (b. abt 1890, IN); David H. Watson, 18 (b. abt 1892, MO) and Charley Watson, 14 (b. abt 1896, MO). The family lived near Josh and Rennie Howell. We believe that Onie and John may have met through the Howell family.
Although the census shows that Alice was widowed, Frank was very much alive. The census 1910 Conway County census, Welborn Township, shows Frank living with the family of Washington and May Griffin. (We believe May was a daughter to Frank and Alice.) The census shows Frank had been married twice and was currently married for 34 years. He was working as a farm laborer.)
John and Onie began their family in Arkansas. They moved to Oklahoma about 1919. The 1920 Osage County, Oklahoma census shows them living in Pawhuska City. The census shows John Watson, head, 30, working as a teamster; Dona, wife, 24, laborer; Charles Lee, son, 5; Oscar F., son 3; David J., son, 2 and Frank Watson, father, 70, widowed, born in Indiana, father born in England, mother born in Virginia.
The family was in Fairfax Township of Osage County, Oklahoma at the time of the 1930 census. The census shows John F., 50, a farmer; Ona, wife, 34, first married at 16; Charlie, son, 15; Oskar, son, 14; Dave, son, 12; and Frand Lornce, brother-in-law, 65, single. (His name was probably Frank Lowrance. The census says he was John's brother-in-law.)
The family eventually moved to California.
Onie died about 1964, at Madesto, California.
Children of John Watson and Onie Branham
1. Charles Lee Watson
2. Oscar F. Watson
3. David Watson