My Genealogy Hound

JUSTIN WATROUS, the proprietor and manager of the popular Smith’s Mills House, is the son of Austin and Ann (Christy) Watrous, and was born in the town of Hanover, Chautauqua county, New York, September 23, 1850. Archibald Watrous, the paternal grandfather of Justin Watrous, was born in Clinton county about 1795, and came to the town of Hanover about 1820, where he died in 1870 at the age of seventy-five years. He served as a baggage-master in the war of 1812, was an ardent Baptist, and purchased two hundred acres of land from the Holland Land company. He was a whig and republican in politics, and married Sallie Watrous, widow of his brother Ezra, by whom he had thirteen children, eight sons and five daughters. His son, Austin Watrous (father), was born in Clinton county, March 27, 1819, and was brought by his parents to the town of Hanover, where he died. He owned a firm of one hundred and thirty-five acres, was a republican in politics, and served for many years as deacon in the Baptist church. On April 20, 1833, he married Ann Christy, and reared a family of three children: Francis H., deceased; Henrietta, also deceased; and Justin. Mrs. Watrous is a granddaughter of John Christy, a whig and Quaker of English descent, who followed farming in Dutchess county, New York. His son, Leonard Christy, the father of Mrs. Watrous, was born in Dutchess county, where he owned a farm of one hundred acres. He died in 1865 at the age of seventy-five years, was a republican and married Ruth Hall, by whom he had ten children.

Justin Watrous received his education in the common schools, and commenced life for himself by engaging in farming, which he has followed ever since.

September 17, 1874, he united in marriage with Melva, daughter of Benjamin Hiller. They have four children, three sons and one daughter: Arthur D., George W., Lizzie M. and Benjamin A.

Justin Watrous is an active republican, and has served as assessor of his town for three years. He has an interest in a valuable farm, situated one-half mile from Smith’s Mills, where he owns and conducts the well-known hotel. Mr. Watrous has had good success as a farmer, and well understands keeping a first-class hotel and holding a large patronage.