Children of John and Emily (Thomson) Williams - by Judy Sievers Bates
Children of John and Emily (Thomson) Williams
Sarah Jane Williams
December 10, 1849 Sarah was born in Columbus, Columbia County, WI
Source: WHT collection p. 23
Source: WHT collection p. 23
- Prior to her marriage, Sarah was a schoolteacher in the Columbus area.
November 5, 1871 married Henry Patrick Field in Columbus, Columbia County, WI. The ceremony was conducted by W. A Hendrickson, the minister of the Presbyterian Church in Columbus.
July 14, 1873 son Hobart born in Columbus
September 14, 1875 daughter Mabel born in Columbus
March 22, 1878 daughter Edna Jeanette born in Columbus
1883 Henry, Sarah, and children left Columbus for South Dakota
Source: According to the 1915 South Dakota State Census
April 5, 1890 Henry Field purchased land according to Government land office records (Doc. # 9564 Town 108N Range 069W the SE ¼ of Section 17 in Buffalo County.)
- The Ancestry site U.S. County Land Ownership Maps 1860-1918, Emily Williams is shown as the owner of the NW ¼ of section 13 in Perry Township, Davison Co., SD., H. P. Field is listed as a tenant.
By 1900 the family is living in Perry Township in Davison County, presumably on the land owned by Emily. Henry’s occupation is listed as a farmer. Mabel and Edna are in the home.
The 1910 US Census shows Harry [sic Henry] age 62 and his wife Sarah, age 60 living in Plano Township in Hanson County. Henry is a farmer. (A great 1910 plat map exists, I do not see land ownership for Henry Field).
The 1920 census shows Henry and Sarah are again living in Perry Township, Davison County. Henry is a poultry farmer. Their son, Hobart, and his family live on the adjoining farm.
March 21, 1923 Sarah died in Mitchell, South Dakota findagrave
Source: South Dakota Death Index 1897-1955 certificate #85595 p. 278 found on Ancestry; WHT collection p. 25; she is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Mitchell, SD
March 15, 1927 Henry Patrick Field died in Mitchell
Source: South Dakota Death Index 1897-1955 certificate number 108432 p. 278
Source: South Dakota Death Index 1897-1955 certificate number 108432 p. 278
- Ancestry note: The death certificate states the date of death is March 14, 1927; buried in Graceland Cemetery, Mitchell, SD
- Per information provided on the findagrave site, Henry was born in Waterbury, Washington County, Vermont in December 1848.
- In 1880 while still living in Columbus Henry listed his occupation as a teamster.
- The 1900 US Census states his year of birth as 1847.
- At some point, year(s) unknown Sunny Ludeman states Henry and Sarah moved to Running Water, Bon Homme County, SD to live with George Wallace, former husband of Emily. She states George Wallace is an uncle to Henry Field. Again, date unknown, but probably after living in Running Water, Henry purchased the previously mentioned land in Buffalo County in 1890. Presumably, they then moved back to Buffalo County, SD. Elizabeth states about 1891 Henry, Sarah, and children moved to Hanson County, SD to live with Emily on her farm.
- Sunny offered a few other comments regarding Henry and Sarah. With few concrete dates to work with she says Sarah would travel by wagon to work at Fort Thompson, an Indian Missionary school on the Crow Indian Reservation located on the western side of Buffalo County. Sunny recalls her mother mentioning they lived in Buffalo Co. in 1884, this being their first home in South Dakota. They were homesteaders and lived in a sod shanty until a home could be built.
- Note: They do not show up on the U.S. Bureau of Land Records until 1890, which shows Henry purchasing the Buffalo County land. Perhaps they were unable to “prove up” their original land purchase in the required five years, which would mean giving up the property.
- Another statement, again year unknown, told of the family moving to Georgetown, Colorado. Henry's sister Elmira/Almira was married to Hugh Twining (there were Twinings in Gays Mills, WI too!). They lived in Georgetown as Hugh was in the oil business there. The move to Georgetown was not a successful one. Henry became very ill and could not work, so Sarah found employment washing clothes for the miners and oil workers, just so the family could survive. After a relatively short time, they returned to South Dakota.
- Sunny seemed to indicate Henry and Sarah’s life was hard and they were probably quite poor.
Mary Ann Williams 
November 7, 1853 Matie was born in Columbus to John Williams and Emily Thomson
Source: WHT collection p. 23
September 27, 1882 she married Edward Devy. The religious ceremony, held at the family home, was conducted by Miles G. Todd (no denomination listed in census records)
Source: Pre 1907 Marriage Records for Columbia County, Wisconsin vol. 3 p. 64, State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Madison; WHT collection p. 27; newspaper article in the “Columbus Democrat” Saturday, September 30, 1882 p. 8 col. 3 August 5, 1884 daughter Inez W. born in Mitchell, South Dakota. Inez died the same day.
Source: birth and death tombstone inscription at Graceland Cemetery, Mitchell, South Dakota; birth and death WHT collection p. 27
December 9, 1885 son Robert E. born
July 13, 1889 daughter Mary born
August 17, 1890 daughter Mary died.
- Ed Devy owned racehorses. In August he and the family traveled to Missouri so Ed could enter his horses in some races. Mary became ill and died. Ed sold his horses before the family returned to Mitchell. He never raised horses again. Source: date of birth and death, tombstone inscription, Graceland Cemetery, Mitchell, South Dakota; WHT collection p. 27; the story of Mary’s death told by Sunny Ludeman.
December 31, 1904 husband Edward died
May 15, 1914 son Robert died.
- Robert died in a single-car accident in Mitchell. He was driving his new electric car. Source: obituary “Mitchell Daily Republican”, May 18, 1914 p. 4 c. 3; birth and death, tombstone inscription Graceland Cemetery, Mitchell, WHT Collection p. 27 Services were held at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
Source: South Dakota Death Index 1897-1955 certificate #176553 p. 170 found on Ancestry, note the certificate states date of death is June 27, 1937; tombstone inscription states June 28, She is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Mitchell, South Dakota.
A few notes about "Matie":
- She grew up in Columbus; as a young adult, she was a school teacher in the area. At some point, before her marriage to Edward, she had moved to Mitchell. It is unknown (to me) why she moved there. I assume some of the family members, perhaps cousins, had suggested she come.
- There is a small article in the “Columbus Democrat” dated Sept. 30, 1882. It states “Miss Matie Williams, now located at Mitchell, Dak, has been visiting friends in this city for the past week or two. A rumor that she is about to enter into a life partnership with a prominent attorney of Mitchell is in circulation, and late developments seem to indicate that there is sufficient grounds on which to base the report with some certainty.” Her life was filled with joys, as eventually her sister Sarah and her husband Patrick Field, her mother Emily, along with her half-siblings also left Columbus for Mitchell.
- There were dark times too as all three of her children, and her husband preceded her in death. The Devy home was spacious and filled with family, friends, and fine furnishings.
- When the City of Mitchell decided to build the now famous, Corn Palace in 1892, it was built on Main Street. The Devy home, one block over faced the back of the palace. Eventually, as the automobile encouraged tourism, the home was torn down to make room for a parking lot.
- Matie appeared to be a strong and creative woman with a sustaining independence. Though Edward was very successful she expressed her creativity by becoming a milliner, who made yearly trips to Chicago to keep up with the current fashions for hats. She was one of the first businesswomen in Mitchell. She is listed in the 1902 City Directory in Mitchell, South Dakota as Mrs. Mattie A. Devy, milliner, located at 312 Main St, which is the family home.
- Perhaps an indication of her creativity or independence was revealed in the announcement of the wedding at Emily’s home in Columbus. Per the Columbus Democrat, the "interesting ceremony” was performed at the residence of the bride’s mother…” Source: story as told by Sunny Ludeman. She even had one of Mattie’s creations.
A few notes about Edward Devy:
- He was born in Canada on July 10, 1843. Per the 1900 US Census, he immigrated to the US in 1864. He was a prominent attorney and land agent in Mitchell. He assisted Emily in her land purchases as well as helping Henry and Sarah. The 1909 Plat Map of Perry Township in Davison County indicates he owned 520 acres of section 27 and the NE ¼ of section 35.
- He was listed in the 1902 City Directory in Mitchell as being in the real estate business, with an office at 307 Main Street, the family home being nearby at 312 Main Street.
- In the business section of the 1904 City Directory in Mitchell, his office was at 524 Main Street.
Emma Luthera Williams
1855 Emma was born in Columbus, Wisconsin
Source: Based on a calculation of census records, and date provided to Lakeside Cemetery in Hastings, Minnesota
August 1882 son DeClarke born
Source: 1900 US Census
Source: 1900 US Census
1887 son John Henry born and died
Source: year from the WHT Collection, the name provided by the Stultz family
Source: year from the WHT Collection, the name provided by the Stultz family
July 16, 1887 Emma died.
Source: July 16, 1887, date on record at Lakeside Cemetery in Hastings, MN. The WHT Collection states she died in September 1887.
A few notes about "Lutie":
- Note: The information provided to William H. Thomson regarding Emma and her family is very sketchy, the September death time is probably wrong.
- Only the barest of facts are known about Emma. She was commonly known as Lutie. She is buried at Lakeside Cemetery in Hastings, Minnesota. A visit to the cemetery revealed the spot (or near the spot) where she is buried). There is no headstone.
A few notes about Tallman DeClarke Stultz:
- was born on January 25, 1851, in Beaver Dam, Dodge County, WI. At the time of his marriage to Emma, he was already living in Hastings. The Stultz family had, at one time, lived in Dodge County, WI, before many of them removed to Hastings.
- On the marriage registration, he listed his occupation as a painter [house]. In 1880 he and Emma are living in Hastings, again his occupation is a painter. The young family, Tallman, Emma, and De Clarke remain in Hastings for the 1885 Minnesota census.
- In the 1887 Minneapolis City Directory, Tallman is a paperhanger, living at 408 Nicolet Avenue.
- By the 1895 Minnesota census, the family make-up is Tallman D. Stultz, age 44, Barbara Stultz, age 30 (born in Ohio, relationship unknown), and Clark Stultz, age 12. The 1895 City Directory of Minneapolis indicates he is a paperhanger, living at 1248 6th Ave.
- The 1900 US Census finds a Tolman B Stultz, age 52, born in 1848 in Wisconsin, living at 2602 Vincent Ave. in Minneapolis. He is widowed. He is a painter. Also in the home is Dix or Dex Stultz, his 17-year-old son.
Source: Pre 1907 Marriage Records for Columbia County, Wisconsin vol. 2 p. 0116, State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Madison; WHT collection p. 25 year is wrong as this collection lists the year as 1872
Comments
Post a Comment