Louis Arthur Watres
Louis Arthur Watres | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Winton (now Jessup), Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | June 28, 1937 (aged 86) |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, businessman, lawyer, military officer |
| Years active | 1877–1937 |
| Known for | Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania (1891–1895); Pennsylvania State Senator (1883–1890); President of Pennsylvania National Guard; newspaper editor; businessman |
Louis Arthur Watres (April 21, 1851 – June 28, 1937) was a notable Pennsylvania politician affiliated with the Republican Party. He represented the 20th district in the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1883 until 1890 and held office as Pennsylvania’s fifth lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania between 1891 and 1895.
Biography
Born on April 21, 1851, in what was then known as Winton (now Jessup, Pennsylvania), Watres was the son of Lewis S. Watres, an early developer in the Lackawanna Valley. His family later relocated to Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Watres began his military career in 1877 by enlisting as a private in the Pennsylvania National Guard. Over time, he advanced to captain of Company A in the 13th Regiment, then to colonel of the 11th Regiment. He also served as judge advocate on the Division Staff and acted as general inspector of rifle practice during Governor James A. Beaver’s administration. Following the Spanish-American War, he commanded the 13th Regiment. Notably, he was appointed as the inaugural president of the Pennsylvania National Guard for a two-year term and played a pivotal role in advocating for the construction of Scranton’s 109th Regiment Armory.[1]
After gaining admission to the Lackawanna County bar in 1878, Watres held the position of solicitor for Lackawanna County from 1881 through 1890. Concurrently, he served as state senator for the 20th district from 1883 to 1890, contributing on both the Judiciary General and Appropriations committees. Subsequently, he assumed the office of Lieutenant Governor from 1891 until 1895.
In business ventures, Watres led multiple enterprises including the Scranton Passenger Railway Company, County Savings Bank, Title Guarantee and Trust Company, Economy Light, Heat and Power Company, Pittston Slate Company, and Boulevard Company. He was involved in founding the Springbrook Water Company and owned the Mansfield Water Company. His efforts were instrumental in developing the Wilsonville Dam on Wallenpaupack Creek, which resulted in the formation of Lake Wallenpaupack.[1]
Watres expanded into media ownership by acquiring the Scranton Truth in 1908 and later purchasing The Scranton-Tribune Republican in 1915. He merged these publications and remained as editor until he sold them in 1934.
In 1913, he invested $15,000 to acquire approximately 15,000 acres along Wallenpaupack Creek, including the Lacawac estate which served as his summer residence.
His leadership extended to fraternal organizations where he served as Grand Master of Pennsylvania’s Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons from 1916 to 1917. He also held executive roles within Pennsylvania’s Order of DeMolay between 1934 and 1937 and acted as Grand Master of its International Supreme Council from 1936 to 1937. Additionally, Watres contributed significantly to the committee responsible for overseeing construction of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial located in Alexandria, Virginia.[2]
Legacy
In recognition of his achievements, Lafayette College conferred upon Watres an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) degree in 1925.
He passed away on July 28, 1937.
The "Watres Armory," home to the 109th Regiment in Scranton, Pennsylvania, honors his legacy.
His second son, Laurence Hawley Watres, served as a U.S. Congressman representing Pennsylvania's 11th district.
External links
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- 1851 births
- 1937 deaths
- 20th-century American newspaper editors
- American bankers
- American Freemasons
- Lieutenant governors of Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania lawyers
- Pennsylvania National Guard personnel
- National Guard (United States) colonels
- Republican Party Pennsylvania state senators
- Politicians from Scranton, Pennsylvania
- Converts to Christian Science from Presbyterianism
- American Christian Scientists
- 19th-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly