Saturday, September 12, 2009

Walter and Lillie WILLIAMS


Wedding Portrait. Walter and Lillie (Johnson) WILLIAMS (Decorah, IA: Solberg, 1914). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

Friday, September 11, 2009

1900 US Federal Census: Walter WEBJØRNSEN and L. Viola JOHNSON


1900 US Federal Census. Image courtesy of Ancestry.com.

This page from the 1900 Census is interesting in that it lists both my grandfather and grandmother as children. Walter's parents, Sigvart and Mathilda, are on the previous page.

Webjornsen, Walther / son / W / M / Feb / 1890 / 10 / S / Iowa / Norway / Norway / Farm laborer
_____ Junetta / daughter / W / F / Sep / 1892 / 7 / S / Iowa / Norway / Norway
_____ Alma / daughter / W / F / Apr / 1894 / 6 / S / Iowa / Norway / Norway
_____ Myrtel / daughter / W / F / Mar / 1896 / 4 / S / Iowa / Norway / Norway
_____ George / son / W / M / Apr / 1899 / 1 / S / Iowa / Norway / Norway


At the bottom of the page is the family of Gustav Johnson, whose daughter, L. Viola, would marry Walter in 1914. By then the Webjørnsen family had changed their surname to Williams.

Johnson, Gustav / Head / W / M / Oct / 1855 / 45 / M / Norway / Norway / Norway / Farmer
_____ Henrietta / wife / W / F / Feb / 1861 / 34 / M / Iowa / Norway / Norway
_____ George / son / W / M / Sep / 1882 / 17 / S / Iowa / Norway / Iowa
_____ Charles / son / W / M / Dec / 1884 / 15/ S / Iowa / Norway / Iowa
_____ Emma / daughter / W / F / Jun / 1887 / 12 / S / Iowa / Norway / Iowa
_____ L. Viola / daughter / W / F / Jun / 1892 / 7 / S / Iowa / Norway / Iowa
_____ Esther / daughter / W / F / Mar / 1894 / 6 / S / Iowa / Norway / Iowa
_____ Anna / daughter / W / F / Feb / 1897 / 3 / S / Iowa / Norway / Iowa



Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Glenwood, Winneshiek, Iowa; Roll: T623_466; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 132.

Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Confirmation Memorial: Walter Didrik SAGNESS


Confirmation Memorial (10 Apr 1904). Walter Didrik SAGNESS. Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

1910 US Federal Census: Walter WILLIAMS


Detail of 1910 US Federal Census. Image courtesy of Ancestry.com.

Williams, Walter / Hired man / M / W / 20 / S / Iowa / Norway / Norway / English / Laborer / Farm work



Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Frankville, Winneshiek, Iowa; Roll: T624_428; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0153; Image: 1104; FHL Number: 1374441.

Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Wedding Token: Walter and Lillie WILLIAMS



A Token of our Wedding. Walter and Lillie WILLIAMS (10 May 1914). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

Clerk's Certificate As To Marriage Record


Marriage Certificate. Walter and Lillie (Johnson) WILLIAMS. Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

CLERK'S CERTIFICATE AS TO MARRIAGE RECORD

STATE OF IOWA, Winneshiek County, ss.

I, Kenneth R. Nesset Clerk of the District Court of the State of Iowa, in and for Winneshiek County, do hereby certify that the marriage records of the said County, of which I am custodian, show that Walter Diderick Williams (Age 21) place of birth Winneshiek County, Iowa and Lillie Viola Johnson (Age 18) place of birth Winneshiek County, Iowa were married by Rev. S.A. Scarvie, Ev. Luth. Pastor at Rural Decorah on the 7th day of May, 1914.

Number of marriages: Groom first; Bride first. Book: 6 Page: 165.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my hand and seal of said court, at Decorah, Iowa, this 17 day of February, 1976.

Kenneth R. Nesset
Clerk of the District Court
By Becky Ohlert, Deputy.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Walter and Lillie WILLIAMS 50th Wedding Anniversary


50th wedding anniversary portrait. Walter and Lillie WILLIAMS (Decorah: Willis Wangsness, c. 1964). Image courtesy of Vincent Williams.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Obituary and Memorial: Walter D. WILLIAMS (1890-1976)


Obituary. Walter Didrik WILLIAMS. Decorah Public Opinion (17 Feb 1976). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

Last Rites For Walter Williams Held Monday

Funeral services for Walter D. Williams, 86, of Decorah were held Monday, Feb. 16 at First Lutheran Church.

Mr. Williams, who was a lifelong resident of Winneshiek County and Decorah, died February 13 at the Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital. He had farmed in the county, had operated the telephone switchboard at Nasset and also was a painter, in business with his brothers.

Pastor Paul Christenson conducted final rites. Burial was in the Lutheran Cemetery with the following pallbearers: Harley Fagerlie, Leon Williams, Peter Diederich, Arnold Hexom, Fred Rosenthal and Chester Hill. William Kuhlman was organist and accompanied Mark Williams, who was soloist, and the congregation as they sang hymns. Funeral arrangements were made by Steine Funeral Home.

Mr. Williams is survived by his wife, the former Lillie Johnson; three sons, Spencer Williams of Mason City, Lyle Williams, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Vincent Williams of Decorah; seven grandchildren; four great grandchildren; two brothers, George and Alfred Williams, both of Decorah, and three sisters, Mrs. Helmer Spilde, Mrs. Nellie Fagerlie and Mrs. Myrtle Riste, all of Decorah.

Walter Williams was born February 3, 1890 in Glenwood Township, the son of Sigvart and Mathilda Williams. He attended rural schools and was married May 7, 1914 in Glenwood Lutheran Church.

Mr. Williams was a member of First Lutheran Church.


Memorial (cover). Walter D. Williams (16 Feb 1976). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.


Memorial (inside). Walter D. Williams (16 Feb 1976). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Obituary and Memorial: Lillie (Johnson) WILLIAMS (1892-1982)


Obituary. Lillie Viola (Johnson) WILLIAMS. Decorah Public Opinion (4 Jan 1983). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

Last Rites for Lillie Williams held

Lillie V. Williams died Wednesday, Dec. 29 at the Beverly Manor Care Center in Iowa City at the age of 90. Mrs. Williams was born in Glenwood Township and had lived all of her life in the Decorah area except for the past two years when she made her home in Iowa City.

Funeral services were held Monday, Jan. 3 at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Paul H. Christenson officiating. Burial was in the Lutheran Cemetery. Pallbearers were Carleton Fagerlie, Maynard Folstad, Leonard Miller, Fred J. Rosenthal, Willis Wangsness and Leon Williams. The organist was William Kuhlman and the soloist was Mark Williams. Arrangements were made by Steine Funeral Home.

Mrs. Williams, the former Lillie Johnson, was born June 13, 1892 to Gustav and Henrietta (Sander) Johnson. She attended rural schools and also Breckenridge College. She married Walter Williams Nov. 7, 1914 at the Glenwood Lutheran Church. Her husband died Feb. 13, 1976.

She is survived by three sons, Lyle Williams of Salt Lake City, Utah, Spencer Williams of Mason City and Dr. Vincent Williams of Iowa City; seven grandchildren; four great grandchildren and one brother, William Johnson of Decorah.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and four sisters.

Mrs. Williams was a member of the Lutheran Church and had served in many capacities. She was a deaconess, had taught Wednesday church school and was active in the work of her church circle.


Memorial. Lillie Viola (Johnson) Williams (3 Jan 1983). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Gravestone: Walter and Lillie WILLIAMS


Walter D. and Lillie V. WILLIAMS gravestone. Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah, IA. Image courtesy of Vincent Williams.


Closeup of Walter D. and Lillie V. WILLIAMS gravestone. Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah, IA. Image courtesy of Vincent Williams.


Walter D. and Lillie V. WILLIAMS gravestone. Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah, IA (24 Jul 2021). Image courtesy of Mark D. Williams.


Walter D. and Lillie V. WILLIAMS gravestone reverse. Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah, IA (29 Jul 2022). Image courtesy of Mark D. Williams.