Louis Arthur Watres

Louis Arthur Watres (April 21, 1851 – June 28, 1937) was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Republican member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 20th district from 1883 to 1890 and as the fifth lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania from 1891 to 1895.

Biography Watres was born on April 21, 1851, in Jessup, Pennsylvania (known as the borough of Winton at the time) to Lewis S. Watres, a pioneer developer of the Lackawanna Valley. and as commander of the 13th Regiment after the unit returned from duty in the Spanish-American War. He became the first president of the Pennsylvania National Guard and served in that capacity for two years. He was a member of the Armory Board of Pennsylvania

He studied law and was admitted to the Lackawanna County bar in 1878. Watres served as the solicitor for Lackawanna County government from 1881 to 1890. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 20th district from 1883 to 1890. He was a member of the Judiciary General and Appropriations committees. He served as Lieutenant Governor from 1891 to 1895.

He was a successful businessman and worked as president of the Scranton Passenger Railway Company, the County Savings Bank, the Title Guarantee and Trust Company, the Economy Light, Heat and Power Company, the Pittston Slate Company and the Boulevard Company. He was a partner in the development of the Springbrook Water Company. He was the owner of the Mansfield Water Company and promoted the construction of the Wilsonville Dam on Wallenpaupack Creek which created Lake Wallenpaupack. The land purchase included Lacawac, the estate previously owned by Congressman William Connell, which Watres used as a summer home. From 1934 to 1937 Watres served as the Executive Officer of the Order of DeMolay in Pennsylvania, later serving as Grand Master of the International Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay in 1936–1937. He was a key member of the committee established to construct the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia.

Legacy In 1925, Lafayette College conferred the honorary degree of LL.D to Watres.

He died on July 28, 1937.

The 109th Regiment Armory in Scranton, Pennsylvania, is known as the "Watres Armory".

His second son, Laurence Hawley Watres, became a U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 11th congressional district.