St. Nicholas Catholic Cemetery, Mercer County, Kentucky

St. Nicholas Catholic Cemetery, in rural Mercer County, is small and quiet.  Today I share photographs and obituaries for the Waters (Watters) family, including members of Clark, Settles, Divine and Dean families who intermarried with them

James Watters, born June 18, 1829, died October 1, 1909.

Mr. James Waters died at his home near Dixville Friday afternoon. He was eighty years of age and came to this county from County Dare, Ireland, in 1852. He stood high among his neighbors and was loved for his many thoughtful acts in cases of sickness and distress in his neighborhood. The funeral services were conducted Sunday by Father Gabe at Saint Nicholas church, near Rose Hill, and was one of the most largely attended of any ever held in the west end.  He leaves a wife and one son and daughter and a host of friends to mourn his loss.

The Harrodsburg Herald, Mercer County, Kentucky.  Friday, October 8, 1909.

Margaret J., wife of James Watters, Sr., born May 20, 1843, died February 20, 1934.

Mrs. Margaret Jane Waters, widow of James Waters, died at the home of her son, J. T. Waters, near Rose Hill, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 1934, at 5:15 p.m. Had she lived until May, Mrs. Waters would have been 91 years old. She was much respected by all who knew her.  The funeral was on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at St. Nicholas Catholic church, with the Rev. Father Clarence Myers officiating. Burial in St. Nicholas cemetery. Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Z. D. Devine, Lexington, one son, Mr. J. T. Waters, Rose Hill; a sister, Miss Kittie Clark, Frankfort; and three grandchildren, Mrs. Roscoe Davis, Miss Nannie Waters, Rose Hill and Fred Settles, Danville. She also leaves a foster son, Herbert Devine, of Lancaster, whom she reared from the age of two years. Two great-grandchildren are also left.  The pall bearers at the funeral were James Cox, Sylvester Cox, James McCrystal, Richard McCrystal, A. J. Huff and Paul Devine.

The Harrodsburg Herald, Mercer County, Kentucky. Friday, February 23, 1934.

Mary Jane Watters, wife of W. C. Settles, January 17, 1870 – June 2, 1907.

Mrs. W. C. Settles died at the home of her father, Mr. James Waters, near Rose Hill, Sunday morning. She was much loved lady and a member of St. Nicholas church. Father Ruff conducted funeral services Monday morning and the interment took place in St. Nicholas cemetery. Besides her husband she leaves a grown son.

The Harrodsburg Herald, Mercer County, Kentucky.  Thursday, June 6, 1907.

W. C. Settles, 1861-1927.

Mr. William C. Settles, aged 66, died Saturday morning at the home of his son, Mr. Fred Set­tles, and Mrs. Settles. he had been in failing health for several years, due to heart trouble and complica­tions, and recently became much worse. Mr. Settles was a splendid gentleman, much respect­ed and liked by all who knew him. He lived all his life in Mercer county. He is survived by his son, Mr. Fred Settles; by his widow by a second marriage, Mrs. Mamie Settles, and a step-daughter, Mrs. Will Duncan, of Danville, and the following brothers and sisters: Messrs. J. H. Settles, Lexington; J. E. Settles, Harrodsburg; John Settles, Paint Lick; Mrs. Joe Coomer, Dan­ville; Mrs. Sam Woford, Beardon, Oklahoma. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at the Baptist church, conducted by his pastor, the Rev. C. W. Knight, and the Rev. T. Hassell Bowen, of the Christian church. The burial was in the family lot in St. Nicholas cemetery, near Rose Hill, beside his first wife, who was Miss Mary Waters, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Waters.

The Harrodsburg Herald, Mercer County, Kentucky.  Friday, January 21, 1927.

Sarah Ellen Watters, born March 19, 1879, died September 29, 1907.

Lillie Watters, wife of Z. D. Divine, July 29, 1881 – May 19, 1976.

The Advocate Messenger, Danville, Boyle County, Kentucky.  Wednesday, May 19, 1976.

Tom Watters, July 4, 1872 – August 13, 1957.

Nannie Watters, wife of Rufus Dean, February 23, 1884 – May 24, 1914.

Mrs. Rufus Dean, a well-known young woman of the Ebenezer section, died last Sunday. She was 25 years of age, a member of the Catholic faith, and was well loved by all who knew her. The funeral services were held Monday at St. Andrews church, by Rev. Father Gabe, and the interment took place in the adjacent cemetery. Besides her husband she leaves an infant child.

The Harrodsburg Herald, Mercer County, Kentucky.  Friday, May 29, 1914.

Nancy Waters Dean lived long enough to have a son, J. D.

Rufus Dean, 78, of East Office Street, a retired farmer, died at 10:30 o’clock Thursday night at Haggin Memorial Hospital after a long illness.  He was a member of Benton Baptist church in Mercer County.  Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Ella Mae Carey Dean; a son, J. D. Dean, Harrodsburg; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Beatrice Preston, Harrodsburg; a stepson, Leroy Tyler, Perryville, and 17 grandchildren.  Funeral services will be conducted at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon at Alexander and Royalty Funeral Home here by the Rev. J. E. Darter.  Burial will be in Spring Hill Cemetery.  Bearers will be Charlie Taylor, John Claunch, Paul Bailey, Donald Davidport, Maurice Dean and R. T. Dean, Sr.  The body is at the funeral home.

The Advocate Messenger, Danville, Boyle County, Kentucky.  Sunday, January 19, 1964.

Eliza Ellen ‘Kitty’ Clark was the sister of Mary Jane Clark Waters, wife of James Waters.

Kitty Clark, December 17, 1853 – March 2, 1945.

Miss Eliza Ellen Clark, 92, died at 6 p.m. Friday, March 2, 1945, at the home of her nephew, G. T. Waters, Rose Hill, after an illness of two months. She had been living with her nephew for three years. She was born in Jessamine county near Nicholasville December 17, 1852, the daughter of Woodson Clark and Littie Hicks Clark. Survivors include four nephews, G. T. Waters, Rose Hill; John and Speed Devine, Mackville; George Devine, Rose Hill; three nieces, Mrs. Willie Hungate, Rose Hill; Mrs. Maggie Preston, Frankfort; Mrs. Z. D. Devine, Lexington; two great-nieces, Mrs. Roscoe Davis, Harrodsburg; Mrs. Everett Trayner, Rose Hill.  Services at the Glave Sims Funeral Home at 2:30 Sunday with the Rev. O. L. Gilmore, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, N. Frankfort, of which she was a member, conducting the services. Burial in St. Nicholas cemetery, Rose Hill. Bearers were John Devine, Speed Devine, Arthur Preston, Joe Clark, Everett Trayner and Roscoe Davis.

The Harrodsburg Herald, Mercer County, Kentucky.  Friday, March 9, 1945.