Family History: Marion Warden Williams Family

Marion Warden Williams
1855-1925

David and Emily's third son Marion Warden Williams was born March 5, 1855 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He married Martha (Mattie) Belle Smith in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon on October 10th, 1875, at Marion's house. The presiding minister was Isaac Dillon. Mrs. Dillon and Martha's mother, Sarah, were the witnesses. Martha, who was the youngest of Peter and Sarah Smith's children, was a twin to Martin. Both had red hair. She was the younger sister of Jane (Jennie) who Marion's older brother William Henry Williams had married two years earlier.

Wedding day, October 10, 1875, in Portland, Oregon:

Marion and Martha moved to Astoria in Clatsop County. They took Marion's second youngest sister, Mary, with them. Marion earned his living as a musician. In the first five years of their marriage they had two of their ten children, son Allie Larnzo (born April 1, 1873) and daughter Maude Blanche (born in March of 1880).

Minnie Belina was born in Oregon July 7, 1883. Shortly thereafter Marion and Martha moved their family to Grangeville, Idaho County, Idaho.

In Grangeville they worked a 136 acre homestead and officially acquired it on January 27, 1900. They had seven more children by June of 1900: Albert Marion (born September 12, 1884), Lennie David (born January 17, 1887), an infant boy (born August 3, 1889) who died when he was only 8 days old, Katy B. (born February, 1891), Esther Elvira (born April 9, 1894), Charles Cuba Sylvester (born June 7, 1896), and Earl Lancelot (born May 10, 1900).

On September 25, 1901, in Grangeville, Idaho, their oldest daughter, Maude Blanche, married Helmut Christian Matthiesen. They had Raymond, Elza, and Hobart Helmut.

Marion and Martha were not quite finished with their own family. In 1905 their last child, Ressie May, was born April 21, 1905, in Grangeville, Idaho. The family worked hard on the homestead and at mining and at whatever else they could do to make a living.

Even though they worked as hard as they could, they couldn't make a go of it and went broke. Sometime between August 1910 and September 1913, they had to give up the homestead, and they moved to Asotin, Asotin County, Washington, and then to Lewiston, Nez Perce County, Idaho.

During this time their daughter Katy married Walter Edward Tate on January 15, 1913 in Bozeman, Montana. The couple moved to a homestead near Big Sandy, Chouteau County, Montana. Katie's uncle Will Smith was living in Big Sandy at the time. Sadly Katy died young (sister Ressie said of "heart" problems) on March 24, 1914 in Big Sandy, Montana. Below is a copy of a letter Katie wrote on September 13, 1913 which describes her day-to-day-life.

It was also at this time that Lennie badly hurt his back. It was injured to such an extent that he was never able to stand straight up again.

Esther married Franklyn Seymour Taylor May 19, 1914 in Lewiston, Idaho. They had Marguerite (Peg) Ruth, Franklyn Seymour Jr. (Jack), Warden Marion, Harold LeClaire, Josephine Rae, Patricia Ann, Robert Wilson, Esther Jeanne, Geraldine Lou, Richard Lee, Lois Mykeen, Thomas Lance, and Daniel Andrew.

Charles (Charlie) married Agnes Nadine Harrington on November 17, 1917 in Lewiston, Idaho. They had daughter Mardell and son Charles Marion.

Allie married Nettie Wilson September 17, 1923 in Lewiston, Idaho. She had a son, Erwin, from a previous marriage.

Lance married Gertie L. Richardson July 24, 1920 in Lewiston, Idaho. They had two children, Eldred Marion and Zelpha. They divorced shortly after 1930. Lance later married Elyn Lometa Bergman. They had a son Lance Earl.

Ressie married John Charles Sloate November 7, 1921, in Colfax, Washington. They had two children, Martha Elaine and James Ward (Buddy). Ressie later married Charles Weldon and Carl Wollen.

Minnie married John William Bonner and later Charles Guy.

Marion died March 10, 1925 in Lewiston, Idaho, of a heart attack.

Marion's obituary reads as follows:

Lewiston Morning Tribune

Wednesday, March 11, 1925, page 5

MARION WILLIAMS DEAD
WAS VICTIM OF HEART DISEASE, DYING SUDDENLY YESTERDAY
Marion Williams 617 Snake River avenue, a resident of Lewiston for the past 12 years, dropped dead at 8:15 o'clock yesterday morning at the J. T. Moser home, 121 Prospect, where he was working. His death was due to heart trouble. He was 68 years of age and a native of Arkansas. He had been in apparent good health.

Mr. Williams came west to Oregon 40 years ago and to Lewiston in 1913, where he had since resided. He had been following the occupation of gardner for several years.

He is survived by his widow and eight children, these being: Allie, Charles, Leonard, Mrs. John Sloate and Minnie Bonner of Lewiston; Blanch Williams and Mrs. Frank Taylor of Clarkston; Bert of Salem, Oregon, and Mrs. H. C. Matthieson, of Cottonwood.

The funeral arrangements have not been made.

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Friday, March 13, 1925, section 2, page 1
FUNERAL OF MR. WILLIAMS
WAS CONDUCTED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON FROM VASSAR CHAPEL
Funeral services of the late Marion Williams were conducted yesterday afternoon at the Vassar chapel, Rev. E. C. Scott, Baptist minister of Clarkston, officiating. There were a great many friends and relatives of the deceased present and many beautiful floral pieces were offered. The interment was made in the Normal Hill Cemetery.

Mrs. George C. Campbell, assisted by Mrs. A. S. Stacy on the organ, gave a song service. The pallbearers were: H. S. Coburn, W. A. Criddlebaugh, E. M. Harrington, F Liter, Morris Taylor and F. Le Frances.

Martha died December 31, 1938, in Lewiston, Idaho, of a cerebral hemorrhage.

Martha's obituary:

LEWISTON MORNING TRIBUNE
Saturday, December 31, 1938, page 2

MRS. MARTHA WILLIAMS IS CALLED BY DEATH

Mrs. Martha B. Williams, a resident of central Idaho 45 years, including 25 years in Lewiston, died at 2 a.m. today at her home, 1238 F street, after a stroke of paralysis suffered one month ago. Mrs. Williams was born in Linn county, Ore., in 1859.

Survivors include eight children: Allie Williams, Florence; Bert Williams, Yakima; Charles Williams and Lance Williams, Portland; Esther Taylor, Spokane; Mrs. Ressie Sloate, Mrs. Maude Matthiessen and Mrs. Minnie Bonnere, all of Lewiston; 20 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The body is at the Brower-Wann chapel. Funeral arrangements are pending.

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Monday, January 2, 1938, page 8
FUNERAL RITES YESTERDAY FOR MRS. MARTHA WILLIAMS

Funeral services for Mrs. Martha Williams were held yesterday afternoon at 2:30 from the Brower-Wann chapel, the Rev. Lem R. Carter officiating. Hymns were sung by Mrs. S. C. Skillern, accompanied by Miss Marie Carson, organist.

Interment was at Normal Hill cemetery. Pallbearers were: E. R. Hollingsworth, Harry Green, Walter Willett, L. W. Lyon, Orey Curtis and John Striebich.