Local Businessman United With Relative's Relic

A local businessman reminiscing about past times after receiving his great uncle’s pocket watch after it was discovered in Texas.

Bennie Taylor, owner of Taylor Realty, was recently contacted by Martin, Kenton and Lisa Connor of Jonestown, TX after finding a pocket watch that belonged to the late Clinton Taylor. Taylor, the great uncle of Bennie “Clinton” Taylor and Neligh resident until his death, married the mother of the Connors in his second marriage. Upon his death, she moved away from the area. After she passed away, the Connors were cleaning out a safety deposit box when they found the pocket watch.

Upon discovery of the watch, the Connors took it to the Antique Roadshow when it made a stop in a nearby town. Upon inspection there, they learned that the watch was given to servicemen after being discharged from the military during World War 1. Taylor said that he has very little knowledge about his great uncle’s time in the war and didn’t know the watch existed.

“I knew my great uncle fairly well, but we had never really talked about him serving.”

The Washington Watch Co. pocket watch was given to military personnel after their return home from serving in the military. According to service records, Clinton Taylor enlisted in the military in the spring of 1918, but due to knee problems was never shipped overseas and was honorably discharged in the fall of that same year. 

A letter attached with the pocket watch details the reason why it was sent. The Connors said that they wanted it to be given to the person named after Clinton Taylor.

“We feel this watch belongs in the Taylor family.”

The watch, produced by the Washington Watch Co/Illinois Watch Co, was made for Montgomery Ward retail stores across the United States around the time of World War 1. It was common for the watches to be given as gifts to soldiers returning home after serving in the war. It was at that time that Clinton came into possession of the pocket watch.

Bennie said that it is great to have the watch back into the Taylor family.

“It’s nice to know that this watch is in the family.”

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