b. May 7, 1868, Son of Frank Wallace Watlington and Mary Jane Anderson.William F. Watlington was born May 7, 1868, one mile east of Pinson, Madison County, Tennessee. On Feb. 25, 1900, he married Mattie Ruby VanTreese, daughter of James and Mary Macon VanTreese. To this union were born six children, two of whom died at birth. Two girls and two boys remain, all of whom were born in Pinson, Tenn.:m. February 25, 1900, to Martha (Mattie) Ruby VanTreese
(b. 1880, d. 1963)
d. April 20, 1938,
pd. Jackson, Tenn.
pb. Big Springs Cem.
.
I think it not amiss to say something about my Father and Mother; as you know we come, by inheritance and environment, to partake largely of their characteristics.
My Father was a well poised and balanced man, talked very little of his business affairs so far as I know. He made up his mind after due deliberation and then would proceed in a methodical way to execute those ideas. He seldom made a mistake, if he did no alibis were offered. He was Methodist in belief, as were both branches of the family. He was exceedingly tolerant of others in their religious beliefs, and just naturally brushed aside the small bickerings over denominational creeds and modes believing these narrow restricted ideas had no bearing on one's eternal welfare. He had the esteem and good will of all.
My Mother was not so well poised, would occasionally fly-off, but carried no venom or grudges, soon forgave a seeming injury and settled back into a happy train of cheerfulness, loved by all, both black and white. She was thoughtful and charitable in her conduct throughout her eighty-four years of life, and her sojourn here was undoubtedly a blessing.
Continuing the narrative of my life. As already stated I was born one mile east of Pinson in 1868. In 1873 Father sold his farm to Sterling Watlington and built a house in Pinson. In 1883 he sold this place (now known as the old Chatman place) to Mr. Houston and moved to a farm he bought just west of Pinson. I began clerking for my cousin Billy Houston in Jan. 1884. My Father, in the fall of 1885, returned to Pinson building the house destroyed by fire after the cyclone in 1923. I continued to work for my cousin except some intervals attending the Southwestern University at Jackson, now Union University, and a course at the Jennings Business College, Nashville, until I went in business for myself in the fall of 1894 at Pinson.
Thereafter engaged in active effort, in a successful business, giving much time and thought to civic affairs--succeeding my Father as Justice of the Peace, in 1910, who had filled this office thirty years and held by me for twenty-six years--including schools, two Methodist churches, and the bank. I devoted a large amount of time and energy to the Pinson Savings Bank, especially the task of keeping it afloat. After the People's Savings Bank failed in 1924 our bank gave me many moments of unrest. Prior to this failure everything looked good but after this it seemed that my affairs steadily grew worse, including rental property, then finally the Pinson Savings Bank had to close in 1931 due to no fault of mine but to a general depression in all parts of the country. I was now out of visible means of support, and made two unsuccessful races for county offices. Finally, in 1932, we moved back to Pinson where we had moved from after the burn-out to one of my vacant store buildings in order to rent the farm.
I secured a job at the State Highway Garage in 1934 and we moved to Jackson. I worked there until May 15, 1937, at which time my health broke down. Now if it were not for the best children God ever gave a man and woman, we would be on the mercy of the public. I am so happy to think of their nobleness of character, that the thought of a lost fortune is almost forgotten and I feel that we are exceedingly blessed after all. To be surrounded by sympathetic children and a loving wife, should be as much as any man should want.
-- W. F. Watlington, August 26, 1937