ENEALOGICAL RECORDS

 THE WATROUS FAMILY

IJAWS M. WATHOUS, the founder of the Watrous family in Tam
pa, was born in Pennsylvania, December 18, 1829. He is the
son of-James and Phoebe (Luce) Watrous. James Watrous was
born in Livingston County, New York, in 1807. He died in
Conklin, New York, in 1868. His wife, Phoebe (Luce) Wat-
rous, was born in Scoharie County, New York, in 1809. She
died in Conklin, New York, in 1889. Mr. Watrous followed
agricultural pursuits most of his life.
 This couple were the parents of six children, as fol4
 lows:
 (1) James M. (See below.)
 (2) Margaret E. (deceased), who married Nelson Col-
 Sville.
 (3) Orville, who resides in Bay City, Mich. He mar-
 ried (1) Martha A. Gurnsey; (2) Betsey Redfield.
 (5) Sarah, who married William H. Semonite. They ha4
 one child, Nellie, who married Carl W. Hill, of Tampa. The,
 have one child, Sarah Semonite.
 (6) Ellen, who married Burtis J. Bayliss. They re-
 side in Binghamton, New York.
 James M. Watrous received his education in the public
 schools of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, where he lived
 until he was nineteen years of age. He followed various
 occupations, such as carpentry and work in sawmills and in
 lumbering. Just previous to the beginning of the Civil Wax
 he removed to Bay City, Michigan, where he engaged very ex-4
. tensively in lumbering, also operating a saw-mill and manu-
facturing shingles.
 o In 1876 Mr. Watrous came to Tampa and purchased a tract
 of 150 acres of land lying southwest of Tampa along the north
 Short of Hillsborough bay. A great part of this is now em-
 braced in the suburb called "Suburb Beautiful," where are
 to be found many of the handsomest residences in Tampa or t 6
 vicinity.
 Much of this tract Mr. Watrous planted in orange and
 peach trees. He also had a nursery ihich he conducted with
 much success for several years. He also bought other pro-
 Sperty in those early days in this and other sections. He
 Swas largely instrumental in the improvement and upbuilding
 of the district. He now resides there, on a part of the
 Strict that he originally purchased. He has retired from
 Active business. He is a member of the First Methodist
 SChurch of Tampa, and one of its trustees. He served also
 for many years as a steward of the same church.
 SJames M. Watrous married, December 26, 18549, in 1-
 mhnwixraL,rw %oja, Jennime fi. OIhd5on. daughteror Of Oaoep i-

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