The Pioneers of Watertown

The Marietta Register, December 14, 1871

Warren, Dec. 1, 1871.

A. T. Nye, Esq., Dear Sir:

I can give the names of nearly all of the first permanent settlers of Watertown. William Ford, Sr., and family of  sons and one daughter, William Ford, Jr., Nathan Proctor, Jacob Proctor, my father Simeon Deming, Horace Wolcott, and families, all came together from Massachusetts and Connecticut, I think, in 1795, to the headwaters, came down in the spring and went out and built their cabins and removed their families to Watertown.

Elias Wolcott came the next year and is now living, the only one of the first settlers. Also John Waterman and Ferrand Waterman were early settlers and remained during their life time. One brother, Sherman Waterman, was shot by the Indians. He swam across the creek to the block house and died. Major Haffield White and his son, Peletiah White and family, were permanent residents at Wolf Creek Mills.

Ezekiel Deming came soon after and settled permanently; also Simon Starlin and sons, and sons' sons, too numerous to count.

Jason Humiston came previous to 1800. I can not be definite about the year when the families came.

William Woodford came early, married Diana Ford, and became a permanent resident. William Ford, Jr., also returned from Wayne's army and married and raised a family of twelve children.

All those parents named except three have lived and died in Watertown. Nathan Proctor settled in Barlow.

I can recollect many events of the War of 1812, perhaps not of interest. There was a number of young men went from Watertown in that service: Elias Wolcott, Lorey Ford, Elisha Mallory, Norman Hart, Benedict Hutchins, Duty Green, David Deming, William Henry, Alexander Walker, Neal Walker, all living to return except Norman Hart.

Joel Deming