Technically, this is not an obituary - but it fits well here. -NL
To Mark Grave of Watso, Brave Old Chief of Banacas [Abenaki -NL]
A great deal of interest was aroused Memorial day at the services at the graves when the age and history of an old Indian was discussed. The red man is buried in the Lake George Cemetery and in an unmarked grave.
The life history of the Indian has been gained through an interview with Louis Gasset, who was a personal friend of the old Aborigine. Mr. Gasset is a Civil War veteran. He saw nine months of active service. He enlisted in a Brooklyn regiment. Gasset's wife was the granddaughter of an [the] old Indian.
The English pronunciation of the Indian's name is Watso. He was grand chief of the Banaca tribe of Indians. During the French and Indian Wars the tribe was an ally of the English.
John "Bony-part" Camp who resides in this village is a grandson of the chief. Camp's mother was a full-blooded Indian, while his father was half-blooded. The old chief of the Banaca tribe live to be 107 Years and five months old. The man possessed the true Indian features and physical development, as shown when on his hundredth birthday he was skating on the lake. His grandson estimates that he has been dead a little over thirty years. He was wounded in the leg the bullet being kept there the rest of his life, because of his refusal to have it removed. Mr. Gasset stated that the old chief was very popular with all who knew him. During the latter part of his life he walked from this village to Saratoga to attend the funeral of his sister who lived to be a hundred and one. Mr. Gasset said that when the chief was eighty years old he and Mr. Gasset made a canoe. The chief having the intention of going on a trapping expedition through the lake and to Canada.
Watso is said to have been one of the most famous Indian Chiefs in this part of the state. Mrs. Gasset, his granddaughter was brought up by her aunt on a farm in Canada. Her aunt later married a white man.
It is expected that in the near future a stone will be placed over the grave of this famous chief. The records were in the hands of John Camp, but were destroyed when his house burned to the ground several years ago.
Contributed by: Marge Bruchac - Nov-99
Published: "Lake George Mirror", Lake George, NY June 3, 1922
Found: Miss Hubbell's Scrap Book at Lake George Historical Association
Note: Apparently, the grave of Louis Watso is still unmarked - Dec/99
