Marion Gesford Watson (Mony)

Keystone, SD

1933, 1794, Rockerville, F-10, LEM

Marion Gesford "Mony" Watson was born November 2, 1911 in Plankinton, South Dakota and was the son of Ervin Harold and Marguerite (Roache) Watson. Records at Mount Rushmore state that in 1927 at the age of 16 he was a laborer making .40/hr. From 1930-31 he again is listed as a laborer drawing .50/hr. Marion Watson was with the WPA and in 1933 he served in the CCC. From 1935-41 Mr. Watson was again on Gutzon Borglum's payroll earning .75/hr. as Sr. Driller with an increase in 1937 to $1.25/hr.

Marion married Lucille Marie Hagen in 1942 and they had two children: Patrick Stephen Watson and Linda Jean (Watson) Garnhart. As stated, he was a driller and carver at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota and later worked at the Black Hills Army Depot. The family moved to Hanover in 1965 and Marion worked at the Savanna Army Depot before he retired in 1970. He later moved to Clinton, Iowa and died there on April 25, 1982. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.

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