The Watson & Courtney Families, Part II

William & Mary Eliz. Bowman Watson Family- House dog at far right!

The second child of William and Mary Elizabeth Bowman Coffee Watson was Mary Elizabeth, born Aug. 28, 1883 in Paris, Lamar Co., TX. She married George Washington Davis who was born May 17, 1875 in Arkansas, on Jan. 13, 1904 in Natural Dam, Crawford Co., AR.

George died in Sep., 1945 in Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., AR. Mary died Feb. 20, 1942 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino Co., CA. He is likely to have been the son of James Davis whose family appears in the 1880 census for Jasper, Crawford Co.

George Washington Davis registered for the draft in Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., AR on Sep. 12, 1918. He was described as being tall and slender with black hair and blue eyes. He was age 43 yrs., born May 17, 1875, and was a laborer at the Fort Smith Furniture Co. in Fort Smith. He named Mary Davis of Fort Smith as his nearest relative. The registration card was signed with his mark.

The children of George and Mary were:

- James Ather, born Nov. 17, 1904, died in 1923

- Harrison Claborn, born Aug. 6, 1906, died Jun. 28, 1985 in Harbor City, Los Angeles Co., CA. He first married Blanch C. Chaffin, and second Maxine Viola Ashmore. Maxine was the daughter of Charles Elmer and Effie Daisy Patton Ashmore and was born Apr. 9, 1911 in Iowa. She died on Jul. 7, 1965 in Long Beach, Los Angeles Co. Their children were James Edward, born 1930, and Joanne Fay, born 1932.

- Lue Irene, born Mar. 7, 1910 in Natural Dam, and died Apr. 16, 1997 in Calimesa, Riverside Co., CA. Lue married four times. Her first marriage was to Eldon Lowell Ashmore (perhaps some relation to Effie who married Harrison). He was born c1908 in Page Co., IA and died Jul. 1, 1969 in Wilmington, Los Angeles Co. There were no children.

Lue Irene Davis

Lue's second marrige was to Charles Rainwater. There were no children. Her third was to Elmer F. Basinger on Nov. 8, 1924. He was born Sep. 11, 1905 in Arkansas and died on Nov. 7, 1965 in San Bernardino Co.

Two children resulted from this union: Beverly Jean and Richard Elmer.

Dwight Warren Cunningham was her fourth and last husband. Dwight was born Jul. 5, 1921 in Arkansas and died Feb. 11, 1996 in Earp, San Bernardino Co. They were married on Apr. 14, 1961 in Winterhaven, Imperial Co., CA. There were no children. Dwight was a WW2 veteran who served in the US Navy and was at Normandy on D-Day in support of the invasion of Allied Forces.

Dwight Warren Cunningham

The fourth child of George and Mary Watson Davis was Luther Ambers (Bill) Davis. he was born Oct. 12, 1912 and died Dec. 2, 1982 in Apple Valley, San Bernardino Co.

Next was Lathie Cleo, born Feb. 12, 1915, and last was George Elwood, born Feb. 9, 1919 in Fort Smith, AR. He died Dec. 24, 1997 in Long Beach, Los Angeles Co.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address to add to or correct any of this information.