Family History: William Henry Williams Family

William Henry (1852-1908) and Jane (Jennie)(Smith) Williams (1855-1941) Family

William Henry Williams

Olivia Mae Williams (William Henry and Jennie Williams' daughter) wrote a history of the Williams family and cover letter to her niece Barbara (daughter of her brother, Ralph David Williams). It has some great stories about her childhood and what life was like in the William Henry and Jennie Williams family.

Jane (Jennie) Smith

William Henry Williams was the first born son of David and Nancy Emaline (Green) Williams. He was born in January, 1852, in Georgia.

William Henry Williams married Jane (Jennie) Smith in Salem, Marion County, Oregon, on September 10th, 1873, at the house of James Tomlinson. Presiding was Congregational minister P. S. Knight. Sarah
Smith, Jennie's mother, assented, and A. I. Ramsey and D. M. Drake were witnesses.

Jennie was older sister to Martha, who William Henry's brother Marion later married.

By June, 1900, the couple had three sons all born in Salem where William Henry Sr. worked as a weaver. William Henry Jr. was born June, 1874; Walter Frank was born July, 1876; and Ora M. was born in 1879. The young family also cared for William Henry's youngest sister (Sophronia Etta, born 1870). They moved to The Dalles, in Wasco County, and William Henry Sr. took up farming there.

1880 Oregon census Wasco County, p. 270b, June 8, 1880

While living in The Dalles their only daughter, Mae Olivia, was born in November, 1881.

About 1884 they left The Dalles on a covered wagon for Grangeville, Idaho County, Idaho. There they built a log cabin near the foothills and raised sheep.

On January 28, 1895, William Henry made the final payment of $6.00 on his homestead. It was successful for awhile, but in 1897 a severe depression hit the country. William Henry Williams was financially ruined.

During the time in Grangeville three more sons were added to the family: Everett Edson (born January, 1885), Ralph David (born June, 1888), and Loren Orville (born June 26, 1892). Sadly, son Ora M. died sometime between 1880 and 1900.

1900 Idaho census, Idaho County, Grangeville, p. 240b, June 27, 1900

During the ten years following the depression one of William Henry Sr.'s jobs was as a substitute police officer in Grangeville. It was while doing his duty as an officer of the law that he was shot and killed by blacksmith Joe Sorrow on August 11, 1908. (account of death)

Five of William Henry's living siblings wrote a note of thanks to the Grangeville newspaper on September 16, 1908: Mrs. E. H. Hall (Elizabeth also known as Laura), Mrs. Ettie Reading (Sophronia Etta), Mrs. George Jackson (Eliza also known as Della), Mrs. May (Mary) Kinnaman and Lafe (Lafayette) A. Williams (wrongly listed as "Lope"). Brother Marion wasn't listed because he lived in Grangeville at the time. Published note of thanks:

William Henry Jr. married Margaret (Birdie) Jane Ames June 16 1895, in Grangeville, Idaho. They had two daughters: Hester and Mora. William Henry Jr. died November 8, 1962 in Calfornia.

Walter died July 10, 1924, in Lewiston, Idaho.

Olivia died September 14, 1964, in Oildale, California.

Everett married Freda Porvis April 11, 1925, in Mullan, Idaho. He died May 1, 1934, in Grangeville, Idaho.

Ralph married Ruth Sullivan September 9, 1912, in Butte, Montana. They had four children: Barbara J., Arva H., William Henry and Jerry Ralph. Ralph David died March 15, 1955, in Spokane, Washington.

Loren married Lela about 1915. They had two daughters: Margaret and Dorothy. The family lost contact with the Loren and Lela in the late 1920's.

Jennie died May 1, 1941, in Caldwell, Canyon County, Idaho.

William Henry Williams Family c. 1906:

Ralph David, William Henry, Mae Olivia, Loren (seated), Jane ("Jennie"), Everett