596327

[marlow.FTW]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 3, Ed. 1, Tree #6300, Date of Import: Sep 11, 1998]

Mrs. Josephine Marietta Watson was born on September 24, 1841, at Richford, Tioga Cty., New York. She was the daughter of John and Marietta Watson, who were natives of Massachusetts, but had migrated to Tioga County in New York State in 1811. She came from a family of twelve, there being six daughters and six sons, and she was the seventh child and the fourth daughter. In the fall of 1843, when she was two years of age, the family migrated to Michigan, the journey requiring three weeks; this journey was often described by Josphine as notable for the use by her father of horse drawn wagons in a period when oxen were generally used out here in the frontier, and for the hardships encountered in this unsettled country with few established roads.

The Watson family settled in Unadilla Twp of Livingston County, Michigan, and later resided for a time in Lyndon Twp. Here Josephine received her schooling which consisted of attendance at the village school in Unadilla and later at a select school in Williamsville in Livingston County. After completing her schooling, she taught for some time at the village school in Bunker Hill in Jackson County. At about this time, she was active in the soldiers aid and relief work during the Civil War.

On December 20th, 1864, Josephine was married to Otis H Obert, then the leading merchant of the village of Unadilla, where they lived for fifteen years. Three children were born: William H., John Charles, and Casin W. William died in 1868 when he was two years old.

The village of Unadilla, then a thriving trading and milling center, suffered a severe setback in the seventies, when the railroad which was expected to be laid through that district, was rerouted through other territory, and accordingly O.H. Obert removed his merchandising and banking business in 1879 to Bancroft, Shiawassee County, Michigan., then a newly established station on the pioneer line known as the Chicago & North Eastern RR., now a part of the Grand Trunk Western. The family resided in Bancroft for eleven years, during which time Josephine was identified with a number of societies that had for their aim the advancement of education and christianity, and she was a devout and indefatigable worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church and its Ladies Aid Society. Her husband became in Bancroft also one of the leading merchants, as well as also a leader in village and county affairs, while Josephine shared with him in the responsibilities and honors of a busy and active life in the early development of that village.

In March, 1890, the Obert family removed to the city of Detroit where John C. was engaged in the Preston National Bank and Casin W. was attending school. O.H. Obert retained his grain and cattle business, as well as his farm holdings in Bancroft where he spent a part of his time. In 1896, he established a merchandising business in Durand and the family moved from Detroit here to join him. He also at this time exchanged his Bancroft farm property for the 120 acre farm adjoining the Durand city limits to the East, and as his two sons, John and Casin, had joined him in the store, the business was given the name of Obert Brothers.

O.H. Obert passed from this life on November 21, 1901, but Josephine continued to make Durand her home, building in 1912, a compact and comfortable residence at 609 East Genessee Street, on a lot of the Obert subdivision at the eastern edge of the village. She spent much time with her son, John, in both Durand and Flint, and also lived at times with her other son, Casin, in Brooklyn and Mt. Vernon, suburbs of New York City. She did however, maintain her residence at the East Genessee St. address, where her younger sister, Genevieve, has lived with her for many years. Josephine has been wel-known to many of the older residents of Durand, and was loved and respected by a large group of friends in both Bancroft and Durand. She passed away at 12:10 on the morning of January 13th, 1928, in her 87th year. She had been in good health until October, 1927, when she began to fail as a result of her advanced age. She was in an unconcious state for six days prior to the end, which came peacefully and without suffering or pain. Funeral services were held in the Mapes Funeral Home on Sunday, January 15th, 1928, and interment was in the family plot in Vernon cemetary.