When Mitford Sarentha Watson was born on 17 February 1848, in Union, Arkansas, United States, her father, Joseph Drury Watson, was 38 and her mother, Therasa Waller, was 32. She married Robert Martin Shull about 1870. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 3 daughters. She lived in Winn, Louisiana, United States in 1860 and Justice Precinct 2, Shelby, Texas, United States for about 10 years. She died on 15 May 1931, in Shelby, Texas, United States, at the age of 83, and was buried in Strong Cemetery, Strong, Shelby, Texas, United States.