Springfield-Greene
County LibraryD. S. WATTS, M. D., has been a close student of his profession, and in his mission of "healing the sick" his generous treatment of his patients, his liberality and kindness of heart, have won for him not the respect alone, but the earnest regard of the large clientele which he has gathered around him, and like many other family physicians he has become, in many cases, the family adviser in matters of business and affairs other than of a professional nature. He is a product of the county in which he now lives, his birth occurring on March 21, 1846, his father, James Watts, having been born in Tennessee. He came to Greene County, Mo., in 1835, and became the owner of a farm near the James River, and on this place be resided until his death, which occurred in 1876. He did not take part in the Civil War, owing to the fact that he was too advanced in years. His father, John Watts, was of Irish descent, and his great-grandfather was an active soldier of the Revolution. James Watts was united in marriage to Miss Delilah Taber, a native of Kentucky, a member of an old, and prominent family of that State. She survives her husband and resides in Webster County. She bore her husband fourteen children, whose names are as follows: William H., who was killed in a battle near Salem, Ark., at the age of thirty years, at which time he was a member of the Sixth Missouri Cavalry, Company A, under Col. Wright; John J. is living in Webster County, was a member of the Sixth Missouri Cavalry, and is now a man of family; Thomas J. has been a practicing physician of Greene County since 1861, and is a man of family; James M. is a farmer in Webster County, is married and has a family, and during the Civil War served in the Sixth Missouri Cavalry until the close of hostilities; Isaac N., who died at the age of about twenty-one years a short time after receiving an honorable discharge from the Sixth Missouri Cavalry during the Civil War; Rebecca is the wife of James M. Smith, a farmer of Greene County; Mollie T. died in early girlhood; David S.; Delilah E., who married L. C. Sams, now of Clinton, Henry County, Mo.; Robert S. is a farmer of Webster County and a man of family; George W. is a farmer of that county also, and is a man of family; Andrew J. has been a practicing physician of Webster County since 1876, is married and has a family; Mattie A. is the wife of Dr. W. J. Rabenaw, of Everton, Dade County, Mo., and Rachel A., who is the wife of Hiram Jennings, a merchant and farmer of Webster County. The father and mother were members of the Presbyterian Church, and politically the father was a Republican and took an active part in all matters of public interest. He was very highly regarded in the community in which he lived and had numerous warm personal friends, whom his kindness of heart and numerous noble traits of character gathered about him. His widow survives him and lives in Webster County. In that county Dr. D. S. Watts spent his early life, his initiatory training being received in the district schools near home. In 1868, with T. J. Watts, he entered the study of medicine, after which time he entered the Missouri Medical College, from which institution he was graduated in 1870, from which time until 1884 he successfully practiced his profession in Webster County, at the last mentioned date moving to Ash Grove, where his time is fully occupied with the large clientage which his undoubted knowledge of his profession and his kind and sympathetic manner has gathered about him. He is a well-posted man on the current events of the day and is exceptionally well up in medical lore, making a point of keeping in constant touch with the advance made in all branches of the profession. He is a member of the southwest Missouri Medical Association, the State Medical Society, and belongs to Ash Grove Lodge, No. 422, of the I. O. O. F. He has ever supported the principles of the Republican party and has attended many county conventions. He has aided by influence and means any enterprise for the improvement of Ash Grove, and all enterprises that have for their object the good of the human race receive his utmost sympathy and hearty support. In addition to looking after his large practice be is engaged in the drug business on Main Street, which is conducted in first-class style and is thriving. In a business way, as well as professionally, the Doctor has been successful, and be is the owner of a considerable amount of real estate in Ash Grove. He was united in marriage to Miss Lovisa E. Lamb, of Greene County, daughter of James Lamb, and by her has two living children and two that are deceased: Nellie M., who graduated from a college of Columbia in 1892; Minnie M., who is now fifteen years of age and is still in school, and Lillie D. and Sadie E. deceased. The Doctor and his family have a handsome home on Main Street and move in the highest social circles of the place, regularly attending the Baptist Church, of which Mrs. Watts is a conscientious member.
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