The History TRUST digital archive Prepared by: Tremont Historical Society Biography Watson - Willis B. Watson (1859-1928) Father: Watson - Dr. Barron Crowell Watson Mother: Watson - Julia (Willis) Watson Birth Date: 1859-10-11 Born Place: Morristown, New Jersey Significant Siblings: Significant Education: St. Mark's School, Southborough, Massachusetts Harvard - graduated 1881 Harvard Medical School - graduated 1885 Spouse Name: Watson - Viola Helen (Benson) Watson (1859-1940) - Spouse Parents: Benson - Benjamin Bartlett Benson Benson - Mary G. (Barr) Benson Wedding Date: 1881-10-12 Wedding Place: Boston, Massachusetts Occupation: Physician, Merchant Childhood Home: Home: Tremont, Bernard Summer Home: Tremont, Bernard Winter Home: Tremont, Bernard Death Date: 1928-01-06 Death Place: Tremont Cemetery: Head of the Harbor, Marsh Road, Tremont. Hancock County, Maine Our thanks to Southwest Harbor Public Library for sharing this data entry template for use by The History Trust (Feb 2021). Page 2 of 2 After summering in Tremont for several years, Dr. Willis Watson moved to the Village of Bernard in Tremont in the late 1800s. He married a local woman, Viola Helen Benson. He practiced medicine for a short time and then built and ran a general store on the Bernard Road in Bernard. He owned the wharf in Bernard that later became the F.W. Thurston Co. wharf. He purchased a lot of property in Tremont islands in Blue Hill Bay. Dr. Watson was a prominent member of the community. From 1897 to 1900 he was on the Board of the Bass Harbor Steamboat Wharf Company, which operated from January 1881 to 1901. He also was Tremont town treasurer from 1920-1924 and 1926.. The Tremont Historical Society & Country Store Museum in Bass Harbor has many Willis Watson artifacts, including his medical kit, photographs and his Beaver top hat. More information about his life, his family, his properties and his community activities may be found at historytrust.org. mtd/3-24-21