David Gilmer Watts (1829-1864), referred to primarily as Gilmer, was born in Madison Ohio. Clarrisa C. Eames (1836-1884), commonly referred to as Clara, was born in Vermont. Gilmer married Clara in 1856 and the two settled in La Salle, County Illinois and had two children, Alpha and Walter. Gilmer was a teacher before joining the Union Army in 1862. After Gilmer enlisted, Clara also taught. In April 1863, Clara moved to Sandoval, Marion County, Illinois to live with Gilmer's parents. Gilmer enlisted as a private in Company B of the 88th Illinois Infantry in 1862. He fought in the Battle of Perryville, and on December 31, 1862 was wounded in the Battle of Stone's River in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and taken prisoner. While a prisoner, he was sent to a hospital in Annapolis, Maryland where he stayed from January 28 until March 11, 1863. From Annapolis he travelled to Benton Barracks in Missouri, where he stayed until June 2, 1863. Watts was freed in an exchange of prisoners and fought in battles in Chattanooga, and later in the Atlanta Campaign. He was killed during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain on July 19, 1864. Around April 1864 Clara moved to Normal, McLean County, Illinois to study for a teaching certificate. She remained in Normal after Gilmer's death. In 1870 Alpha, and likely Walter, stayed in the Soldiers' Orphans Home in Normal. Clara died in 1884. Alpha married Randolph Zeph in 1877, and they lived in Pontiac, Livingston County, Illinois and had two children, Walter (b. 1879), and Olive (b. 1883). Walter Watts moved to Gainesville, Florida in November 1882.
From the description of David Gilmer Watts and Clara Watts papers, 1855-1889 1862-1864 (bulk). (Atlanta History Center). WorldCat record id: 436869153
