William Coleman Watts and Nancy Hamn Watts came to Marion County from Scott County, Arkansas, around 1860. William C. (assisted by neighbors) hewed logs and hauled them to a site they had chosen for a school. This school was probably the first school in the vicinity of Pleasant Ridge and was known as the Watts School.
The children of William and Nancy were: John H., who married Tennie Sims who died soon after their marriage. John then married a Busey and the only one of his children we know of was Bascum. John Watts was a Methodist preacher and circuit rider in Northern Arkansas for many years.
Other children of William and Nancy were Newton; Martin -- it is not known who he married but some of his children were Martin Luther, Ed, Gus and Marvin; Albert Coleman, who married Margaret Isabelle Bryant. Their children were Escar, who married Johnnie Daffron; Janie Lou, married W. F. Slagle; John W. married Annice Ellis; W. C. and Madge Nancy. After the death of Margaret, Albert married Una Flippin.
It is thought that William Coleman and Nancy Watts came to Arkansas from Tennessee.
Reprinted with permission from History of Marion County edited by Earl Berry, copyright 1977.