Sunnyland Chronicle Watts Home - 1900

click on photo twice to enlarge

Vol. 2- No. 4 April, 2002

1

THE HISTORIC WATTS HOME

This historic old home was located at Delta, an old community a few miles
southeast of Willisville in NevadaCounty. The information in this article
is from old newspapers on microfilm printed about 1900. Many of you will
remember Watt’s Dept. Store in Camden. This is the same Watts family 
whose ancestors owned this beautiful home. The cemetery mentioned has
some of the oldest marked graves in Nevada County.

The Watts home, at Delta, in Nevada County was one of the most
beautiful places in South Arkansas. The house was built in 1858, 
and represented an outlay of thousands of dollars, and for many
years it stood as a testimonial of the civic pride of the owner, Mr.
Thomas J. Watts. He was a native of Georgia, a man of stern
integrity, energy, decision of purpose, and strong domestic affection.
Such men as he were those who won the respect and esteem of all

who felt an interest in the up-building of this section of the country.

His wife, formerly Miss Elizabeth Godbold, was a woman of the
finest character, loyal and true in every relation of life.

They came from Lowndes County, Alabama, and lived first in a log 
house near the spot where the new house was afterwards built. The
family consisted of three sons, John C., Monroe, and Thos. J. Watts,
Jr. and three little daughters, Rachel, Mary, and May. The three

daughters all died quite young. The new house was built by the most 
skilled workers to be found. The window frames, doors, etc. were 
made by hand. Some of these same men had just finished building the
Graham house in Camden. Among them was Mr. Sifford. The 
plastering was done by B. Titcomb, who was an expert in that line.
Among the painters was a man named Crowan, who was undoubtedly
a genius, for he afterwards went to Italy and studied art, returning in
later years with many fine specimens of his work, which unfortunately 
were lost. Mrs. Lizzie Watts is the owner of a very beautiful fire screen
painted by him.
The grounds surrounding this beautiful house formed an appropriate
setting for the picture. Hedges of box, carefully clipped, long rows of 
pink crepe myrtles, and white alethea's, with their wreath of bloom
during the summer and fall, hydrangeas and oleanders in huge tubs, 
and an immense white climbing rose which outgrew its frame, and 
stretched out long fragrant sprays as if in welcome to the fortunate
guests who made up the house parties of the old days. All these
combined to form an ideal picture of Southern home-life before the
war. A grove of fine old trees furnished shade when the children 
romped and played. Another little daughter was added to the family,
Miss Lizzie Watts, the only one of the children born in the home.
When she was quite an infant, her father died. Mrs. Watts was

devoted heart and soul to the Southern Confederacy. She frequently
entertained soldiers for days at a time. Generals Magruder and Price
were among her guests, also Gen. Churchill and family and Dr. C. M.
Taylor of Little Rock. After the Battle of Poison Springs, wounded

Confederate soldiers were brought to her house in wagons, and the
entire lower floor, including the parlors and even Mrs. Watt’s
bedroom was converted into a temporary hospital.

THE SANDYLAND CHRONICLE

2

All the Negro women on the plantation were put to work washing the
clothing of the men and preparing broth and other food for them. After
the war, the family continued to reside here, extending a charming
hospitality to all their neighbors and friends. Large parties were frequently
entertained for a week. The Watts Bros. had a large store near the house,
to which the farmers for miles around brought their produce for barter.

Mr. John C. Watts married Mrs. Nannie Morris and Mr. Monroe P.
Watts married Miss Minnie Lee of Camden, and on each occasion the
young couples were entertained at the Watts home. Mrs. Watts died on
April 18, 1886 and was laid to rest in the family cemetery, wherein are
buried the remains of all their loved ones. They still use this cemetery
and when the neighbors see the steady tread of a slowly moving process-
ion coming up the road, they know another member of this fine old
family has crossed the Delta of the River of Death toward the Gulf of 
Eternity. After the death of Mrs. Watts, the family removed to Camden,
and shortly afterwards, Mr. Thomas J. Watts was married to Miss Mary
Helen Watts of Mt. Holly. The old home was sold to Mr. Geo. W. 

Hambrice. About two years ago the house was burned and no trace is

now left of it, save the memories of those who once dwelt under its

hospitable roof.( other newspaper articles state that the house was still 
there iln 1906 with the Hambrice family intact), Camden is proud to
claim as citizens Messrs. M. P. and T. J. Watts and their interesting 
families, and Miss Lizzie is one of the most efficient and beloved members
of the H. L. Grinstead chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.