Butler County, Alabama - Chapter 7, 1885

This honored citizen of Alabama was born in Butler County, January 3, 18 19, and was the eldest child of John H. and Prudence Watts, who moved in 18 17 from Greene County, Georgia, to Butler County, in the then Territory of Alabama. His father was among the first settlers of Butler County, and located the place now known in the Flat as the Watts' Old Place, and which is often visited as the birth-place of one of the Governors of Alabama. His mother was a daughter of Thomas Hill, who distinguished himself by his generosity to the first emigrants to this county, and after whom the subject of this sketch was named. The country being new, Governor Watts did not have the privilege of going to a good school until he was sixteen years of age, when he was sent to the Airy Mount Academy, in Dallas County, where he received careful instruction from James A. McLean, a thoroughly educated Scotchman. Here young Watts made rapid progress, and was prepared for college in 1836. He was admitted to the University of Virginia in November of the same year, where he remained until July, 1840, when he was graduated in all the schools in the regular course except the school of the Greek language and literature. In addition to the regular academic course, he received certificates of proficiency in political economy, geology and mineralogy. During the last session at the University, he took the junior course in law. On his return home, in the summer of 1840, he found the county very much excited over the celebrated Harrison presidential campaign, and he began his political career by making several speeches in favor of the Whigs.

He continued the study of law at home until January, 1841, when he moved to Greenville, where he was admitted to the bar in March, on the examination of the eccentric Judge Ezekiel Pickens. He at once entered upon the duties of his profession, but was often interrupted by politics.

In 1842, he was elected to the Legislature by the people of his native county, and was renominated in 1843, but declined the honor for want of time to devote to his business. He was, however, elected in 1844 and again in 1845 ; and made a good member of the Legislature each time. It was during his last session that the Constitution was changed so as to have only biennial sessions, and this was the last session at Tuscaloosa. On the lOth day of January, 1842, he was married to Miss Eliza B. Allen, the accomplished daughter of Wade Allen, Esq., then a prominent and wealthy citizen of Montgomery. She died August 31, 1873, leaving a family of ten children. In 1847, Governor Watts removed to

Montgomery. That city, then being the Capital of the State, was looked upon as headquarters for all the best lawyers of the Alabama bar. Here he opened an office, and enjoyed a successful practice, soon winning the esteem and confidence of the intelligent people of the town and county. They showed their high appreciation of his worth by electing him to represent them in the House in 1849, and in the Senate in 1853. The Capitol was burned during the session of 1849, ^"^ ^^^ effort to remove the seat of Government back to Tuscaloosa, and not rebuild in Montgomery, was the absorbing question during the remainder of that session.

In 1855, he was the Whig candidate for Congress from this district, but was defeated by James F. Dowdell, Esq., the Democratic nominee. Although Mr. Watts was defeated by a small majority in this election, he was generally recognized as the leader of the Whig party in the State ; and was, accordingly, nominated as an elector on the Bell and Everett ticket in i860, hoping by their election to avoid, the necessity of secession. He was disappointed.

The whole South was, in the fall and winter of i860, in a state of intense excitement. William L. Yancey and Thomas H. Watts were elected by the people of Montgomery to the Secession Convention of the State, which assembled on the 7th day of January, 1 86 1. Colonel Watts voted for and signed the Ordinance of Secession, a lithographic copy of which now nangs in the library of the Supreme Court at Montgomery. After the organization of the Confederate Government, he was appointed by President Jefferson Davis, to act as Confederate States Commissioner to Arkansas, but declined the appointment from the fact that he was a member of the convention which seceded. In the spring of 1861, war was proclaimed against the Southern States by President Lincoln ; and Mr. Watts was instrumental in raising the 17th Alabama Regiment, of which he was elected colonel. He first entered active service at Pensacola, in the grand bombardment which took place there in 1861. In March, 1862, he was ordered to Corinth, Mississippi, and it was while his regiment was at this place, that he received notice from President Davis of his appointment as Attorney General of the Confederate States, with the request that he immediately repair to Richmond. This appointment was unsolicited by Colonel Watts or any of his friends, and shows how his ability as a lawyer was recognized by the public men of the South. With this appointment, Colonel Watts retired from the battle-field, after having won for himself a fine reputation in the military circles of the country, for bravery and gallantry.

He entered upon the duties of this office, April 9th, 1862, and continued to act as Attorney General until October I, 1863. In August of that year, while he was absent from the State, the people of Alabama, from their high regard for his executive ability, elected him to the office of Chief Magistrate of his native State. He received a majority of the votes cast in every county of the State except Winston.

Governor Watts entered upon his administration under most trying circumstances. The cause of the South had already assumed a distressing aspect ; the governmental affairs in every State were in a most embarrassing condition, and it required a steady nerve and a sound and experienced judgment to meet every emergency to the satisfaction of the oppressed people. Governor Watts guarded the interests of Alabama to the best of his ability, and made the best use possible of the means at his command, for the good of the general public. In these times of great trial and excitement, he held the reins of Government with a firm and unswerving hand, and the people of this grand State were exceedingly fortunate in having such a man at the helm of the ship of State. It is a remarkable fact that he gave general satisfaction. During the second year of his administration, the cause of the South became the Lost Cause, and the Government of the people was changed to the Provisional Government. The people of the South know, by experience, the effects of this form of Government. Fortunately, the Government of the people has been re-established, and Alabama buds and blossoms again as of yore.

ecutive Officer, retired from public life. He has, ever since that time, diligently devoted himself to the practice of law^, giving his whole time and energy to every case entrusted to him. He has argued more cases in the Supreme Court of Alabama than any other lawyer that ever lived in this State ; and has defended over one hundred persons charged with murder, and never had one of his clients hanged. He still lives in Montgomery, and enjoys a good share of public patronage from different counties in the State ; and is a member of the firm of Watts & Watts, having taken in partnership with him his son, Thomas H. Watts, Jr., who is a lawyer of recognized ability.

Governor Watts is a strong advocate of temperance, and has abstained from drinking any ardent spirits for forty years. He is now sixty-five years old, and still walks with the springing step of youth ; and is now able to do more work, both physical and mental, than he could do at the age of forty.

He has a good knowledge of hygiene, and enjoys perfect health. In August, 1846, while living at Greenville, he connected himself with the Baptist Church, and has been a consistent Christian ever since. He is now a prominent member of the First Baptist Church of Montgomery, and contributes liberally to all charitable enterprises.

Before the war, he had accumulated a large amount of property, owning over 200 slaves, but, by his great liberality to friends during the needy

Governor Watts is a warm-hearted, polite, temperate, intelligent, energetic, honest, conscientious Christian, and is worthy of the admiration of all those who appreciate the rare qualities of a truly great man. He has many relatives, and a host of warm friends in Butler County, who remember him very distinctly, and refer to his name with a great deal of patriotic pride. Let the noble example of Governor Thomas H. Watts serve to kindle in the breasts of the young men of Butler County, the desire to make their lives useful, and light up the pages of Southern history with their illustrious names !