History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

190 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
ciples of jurisprudence and was well qualified for the arduous
duties of the profession when he returned to Ashton and opened
a law office. He remained in pi'actice there for nine years and
then, seeking a still broader field of labor, came to Dixon in the fall
of 1886. Here he has since engaged in general practice and his
pronounced ability has given him rank with the foremost mem-
bers of the bar in this part of the state. The legal profession demands
not only a high order of ability but a rare combination
of talent—learning, tact, patience and industry. The successful
lawyer must be a man of well balanced intellect, thoroughly fa-
miliar with the law and practice, of comprehensive general information
and jDossessed of an analytical mind. Possessing all
of these requisites, James W. Watts has long been accounted one
of the foremost representatives of the Dixon bar, and his ability
as an educator in the field of his profession is widely acknowl-
edged. On the 10th of June, 1889, he entered upon the, duties of
dean of the law department of Dixou College and is as well a
teachej' (»f law in tliat iiistitutiMji. in May, l!)i;'., tlic .lames W.
Watts College i»f Law was oigjaiized ))y students of tlie law department
of the Northern Illinois C(»llege of I^aw and at its head
Mr. Watts is taking an active part in maintaining the high stand-
ards of legal education in this state.
He is as well intensely interested in general education and the
cause of the public schools, recognizing in them one of the chief
bulwarks of the nation. Fur six years he served as ]iresident of
the board of education at Ashton and while there residing was
also assessor of the t(jwn of Ashton fen- five years and was super-
visor in 18SL FolloAving his removal to Dixon he was elected
piesident of the board of education of North Dixon and so con-
tinued for fifteen years. He likewise filled the office of city
attorney for two years and his official service has been character-
ized by the utmost fidelity to duty. Tn 1889 he was elected justice
of th(> po;ice and i-emained in that office until the 1st of May,
1898.
On the 25th of May, 1875, in Ashton, INTr. Watts was united in
marriage to Miss Mary Alice Williams and they have one child,
Mrs. Clea Biumell. who was born September 18. 1876. and is the
widow of Flwin M. Bunnell. She has two sons, Willard and
Elwin. and she and her sons reside with her father.
TNfr. Watts is prominently know7i in fraternal circles. He
belongs to the Masonic lodge at Ashton, the Benevolent Protect-
ive Order of Elks, the Tndei>endent Order of Odd Fellows and the