Please note, there are some discrepancies with this information.
Excerpts from Reflections, Sac City Quasquicentennial 1855-1980.
Page 25: Samuel L. Watt
“Samuel Watt was one of the early settlers of Sac City. He grew up in Kentucky and lived in Ohio before moving to Iowa in 1855.
Making the journey to Sac County were Watt, his wife and several children. His family included seven children by a first marriage. Those seven were James, Thomas, Deborah, Robert, Harriet, Nancy and Christina (wife of Andrew Leach). His children by a second marriage included Olive G., wife of Wm. Conley (married in Sac County); John J.; Samuel L; Lydia M. (wife of John Stocker); Sydney (wife of F.T. Dobson). The Dobson’s raised a daughter Sarah Francis (Swan) in Sac County. The family traveled in a wagon pulled by a team of oxen. They also brought a horse and buggy and a few milk cows.
When they reached Sac County they began work on a log cabin. Many neighbors joined them in the task. The cabin was their home for many years.
The Watt’s, being farn\mers, had to travel as far as Cedar Falls with their wheat crop. The children were responsible for most of the work because their father was crippled. The oldest son, James, and sister Harriet moved to California in 1859. They were joined by another sister Christina in 1862. That left the younger children with all of the farm work. For several years they had a difficult time managing.
Samuel sub-contracted the delivering of mail from Fort Dodge to Sioux City. Because of poor health, Watt was unable to do the job. Once again the children took on more responsibility. Samuel C., Jr. tackled the job. He was only thirteen at the time. However, he successfully performed the task for three summers.
Samuel L., Sr. moved to Sac City and after two years returned to the farm. From there he went back to Ohio. He died at his daughter Sydney’s home in 1875. Mrs. Watt had preceded him in death in 1873.
Samuel T. Watt, Jr. purchased a small tract of land southwest of Sac City. For the next two years he drove freighting teams in the mining regions of California, Nevada and Colorado. He met many thrilling adventures while working in the wild unsettled areas.
When Samuel returned to Sac County in 1873, he began ranging cattle on his land. He bought large herds of feeders and fattened them for market.
In 1881, Watt sold his livestock, rented out his land and moved to buena Vista. There he was in the livery business for a year. In 1882, he moved back to Sac and was successful in various business enterprises.
Watt was the owner of a meat market and furniture store. He sold those and became interested in horses. At one time he had sixty head of draft and road horses on his nearby farm. He was an excellent judge of horses. He dealt extensively in Iowa land, owning over one thousand acres.
Samuel was a busy and outgoing citizen. He served as city councilman and as assessor. He was a stockholder in the Farmer’s Savings Bank. He was an active member of the Democratic party. He was a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
Page 26:
Samuel was an efficient secretary and one of the largest stockholdees in the Sac County Fair Association. The Fair Association was in poor shape when Watt took over, but the Association was reorganized through his efforts. The grounds were overhauled and new livestock displays and exhibits made the fair a success. Under Watt’s direction, attendance at the fair increased.
Watt was married to Rosa P. Allen of Sac City in December of 1873. She was the daughter of Washington Allen, a pioneer of Sac County. They raised three children. Their children included Ina Belle (Maker) from Sac City, (she was the mother of two daughters, Catherine Edna and Vivian); Willis Wallford Watt, who farmed in the Sac City area and was in the U.S. Army; and Edna Pearl (Strohmeier), wife of Gus Strohmeier who was a car dealer in Sac City and former secretary of the Sac County Fair Association.”