Class of June 24, 1861

Col. George Owen Watts is the district clerk of Rapides Parish, La., and is one of the representative men of the same, it being with truth said that no more capable man for the position could be found than he. Like all native Kentuckians he is of an energetic, enterprising and intelligent disposition, and in the discharge of his duties he has been remarkably faithful and competent. He was born in Richmond, Madison County, May 17, 1840, being a son of Charles Sinclair Watts, a farmer, and a grandson of Charles Watts, a native of England who came to the United States a short time prior to, or during, the Revolutionary War, settling in Amherst County, Va., branches of his family afterward locating in Westmoreland County, Va., Pennsylvania and Alabama. The mother of the subject was Miss Elizabeth Walker, a daughter of Judge William Winston Walker, of Jamestown, Va., whose ancestors early came to America, they, as well as the Watts, taking sides with the colonists during their trouble with the mother country, afterward settling in Virginia and Maryland. Charles Sinclair Watts was born in 1801 and died in 1874, his wife's birth occurring two years later than his own, and her death in 1887. George Owen Watts was one of five sons and one daughter born to his parents, and in his native state he attained to man's estate. He was given exceptionally good education advantages, and in 1861 graduated from the West Point Military Academy, after which he immediately joined the Federal Army, and was given the position of second lieutenant in the United States Mounted Rifles of Gen. Meade's staff, but August 10 of the same year resigned, his resignation being accepted, after which he almost immediately joined the Confederate Army as a private, and was shortly after assigned to duty as aide-de‑camp on Gen. Simon B. Buckner's staff, and was detailed to serve in the Engineer's Corps, and built a portion of the forts at Fort Donelson, and was in charge of the fortification around Nashville, Tenn. He was next assigned to duty in charge of the fortification of Fort Pillow, and was afterward ordered to Vicksburg, and served in the second battle of Corinth in charge of a Mississippi battalion of infantry which had been commanded by Maj. Ward, of Panola, Miss., and after that battle he served as judge advocate of court martial at Holly Springs and Grenada, Miss. He was next ordered to Gen. Earl Van Dorn at Columbia, Tenn., and served as his chief of artillery, but after the death of Van Dorn he became inspector-general of Buckner's division. His next service was in Virginia, but July 8, 1864, he was once more ordered to Gen. Buckner, of the Trans-Mississippi Department, as chief of artillery, but surrendered as colonel of cavalry. After the war he returned to his old home in Louisiana, and settled near Alexandria as a planter, and is still the owner of a valuable lot of land near the town. He has always taken a deep interest in political matters, and has been parish assessor by appointment of Gov. Nichols, and has been clerk of the district court for three successive terms, which fact goes to show the success with which he has discharged his duties. He was married, in 1865, to Miss Annie Elizabeth Ogden, a native of Rapides parish, La., and a daughter of Judge Octavius Nash Ogden and Lethenia (Sprague) Ogden, the former a member of a prominent old family of South Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Watts have two children: Octavius Nash Ogden and Annie Elizabeth. The family are members of the Episcopal Church, and he is one of the vestrymen. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and the A. O. U. W. socially.