What happened to Charles Williams (1852/53-?) after the death of his wife Flora (Hunter) on June 25th 1920?

Question

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for any source information: articles, area books, obituaries, etc that mention my 3x great grandparents Charles or Flora Williams. 

I’m particularly interested in any other information for Charles Williams as he seems to have disappeared after the death of his wife.

Some information on them: 

1852 – His wife, Flora F Hunter, is born in Brookville, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. Father is Arnold Hunter (1827 PA - 1918 MN) and Mother is Caroline Matilda Stearling (1829 PA - 1871 MN)

May 1852 or 1853 - Charles was born, probably in Minnesota but also could be Wisconsin. Father is Aaron Williams (1817 VT – Circ. 1885 location?) and Mother is Eleanor "Ellen" Slingerland (1827 NY - 1901 WI)

1858 – His family is in Iowa per the 1860 census birth location for his sister Kate.

1860 – Census on July 13^th states his family is in the Town Of Tomah, Monroe County, Wisconsin.

1874 – Charles marries Flora F Hunter on May 12^th at the District Court - Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minnesota.  I have the marriage record and it has no other family information other than their names and the date.

1875 – Their daughter Estella M. Williams (my 2x grandmother, married 3 times: Coulson then Dean then Lee) is born on Mar 17^th in Rosecoe Township, Goodhue County, Minnesota.

1875 – Census on May 1 shows them living in New Haven, Olmsted, Minnesota.

1877 – Their son Arnold Frank Williams is born on Jan 12^th in Rosecoe Township, Goodhue County, Minnesota.

1879 – Their son Truman G Williams is born on July 16^th in Bird Island, Renville County, Minnesota.

1880 – Census shows them living in Sioux Agency, Yellow Medicine, Minnesota.

1880 – Their daughter Gertrude Williams (married twice: DeCamp and Wallace) is born in Minnesota (exact date and location unknown).

1882 – Their son Alfred S. Williams Sr. is born July 16^th in Pine Island, Goodhue County, Minnesota

1885 – State Census on May 25^th shows them living in Rosecoe, Goodhue County, Minnesota.

1889 – Their daughter Eleanor Williams (married twice:  Foster and Peach) is born Feb 22^nd in Minnesota (exact location unknown).

1891 – Their daughter Flora F Williams (married:  Church) is born in Feb in South Dakota (exact location unknown).

1893 – Their son Walter Abraham Williams is on born Apr 8 in North Dakota (exact location unknown).

1900 – Census on June 15^th shows them living in T.151-R.62, 65, 67 Minco & Oberon Schools, T.151-152-R.67-69 T.142-R.69 West Antelope & Viki, Benson, North Dakota.

1906 – They had moved to Canada.  The Canadian census June 24^th shows them living in Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan, Canada.

1910 – Charles is a naturalized Canadian citizen.

1911 – Canada census in June shows them living in Township 5 Range 17th W 2nd Mdn, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

1916 – Canada census on June 7^th shows them living in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada.  This census also states their Religious Affiliation is Methodist.

 

1920 – Census on Jan 10^th shows them living in Middle Inlet, Marinette County, Wisconsin.  So, between 1916 and 1920, they move back to the U.S.

June 25 1920 – Flora Williams, his wife, dies of Apoplexy in Rosebud Montana and is buried 2 days later on June 27^th in the Rosebud Cemetery.  Charles is the informant, and his address is listed as Rosebud Montana.

It’s unknown at this time if they were visiting Montana or had moved there from Wisconsin after the Jan 10^th, 1920 census.

At least two of their children died in Montana later on:  Flora F Church in Daniels County 1971 and Alfred S. Williams Sr. in Flathead County 1977.

Charles is listed as a farmer in all the censuses.  His father Aaron is also listed as a farmer.

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Comments

Continuing...

Sources consulted and known Information:

1.        Charles Williams - All the online genealogy sites that I know of, don’t have any supporting information regarding date/place of death for Charles:  https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LR32-PHL , 

      https://www.geni.com/people/Charles-Williams/6000000180675252272 ,

      https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Williams-110436 ,

      https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/14446582/person/29104300452/facts

2.      Charles Williams – I’ve checked the online newspaper sources for an Obit/article on his death, to no avail: GenealogyBank.com, Newspapers.com, NewspaperArchive.com and LOC - Chronicling America

3.       Charles Williams – Government Records:

 a.      The State of Wisconsin replied back to my inquiry for a death record search for Charles Williams for the years 01/01/1915 - 12/31/1944.  They checked 27 possibilities, none matched his wife’s name (Flora), or parents name (Aaron or Eleanor), or occupation (farmer) or place of birth.

b.     The State of Minnesota replied back to my inquiry for a death record search for Charles Williams for the years 1920 – 1939.  None of the results matched for similar reasons (parents, place of birth, etc).

c.       The State of Montana replied back to my inquiry for a death record search for Charles Williams for the timeframe after June 25^th.  They found no results.

4.      Charles Williams - I’ve contacted Rosebud County MT, area cemeteries and mortuaries and they don’t have a record of Charles Williams death.  Many have suggested that not all deaths that occurred in rural areas in those days were officially recorded with government offices.  Makes sense.

5.      Flora Williams - is buried at Rosebud Cemetery (also show a copy of her death certificate):  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120971167/flora-f-williams

Since Flora Williams died in Rosebud County on June 25 1920, they either moved from Wisconsin or were traveling in Montana sometime after Jan 10^th, 1920. (Perhaps to visit one of their children that were living there??).

In either case, since his wife died, it’s a strong possibility that he went back or moved back to Wisconsin.

It appears that he primarily went by Charles, however, he also went by Charley (and Charlie and Chas).

The most common online genealogy sites and family trees have his death as circ. 1939 in Wisconsin (however, without any sources).

I’m hoping someone out there has a family bible, a newspaper article/obit (that isn’t available online), probate records or any other record really, that shows where/when this Charles Williams died.  Or that someone who has him in their tree has a private record source they’d be willing to share with a fellow descendent.

If found, I would gladly purchase a copy of the record(s).

Thanks,

Gary

Answer 1

Possibly this is his death record?

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ZXS4-1VT2?treeref=LR32-PHL

Comments

Wow!   That sure looks like a match.  

I'll have to see if I can go to a local FamilySearch library to see a copy of the original or order a copy of that from the state of MN.  (I like to have copies of originals on hand).

As an aside, I can't believe I didn't run across that yet!  And, I missed the year by 5 when I inquired with the state of MN (between 1920 and 1939) 

Thank you very much Lorraine, I really appreciate you finding this and posting it!

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Your welcome! Thanks for the best answer nod! One thing that I didn't find is where he was after 1920. Searched the 1930 and 1940 census  At the age he was when he died I figured I would find him in the 1940 in that area, but no luck.

Answer 2

Here is another record of his death. Minnesota Death Index

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V4H3-ZM8

Answer 3

from olders daughter Estella   it mentions her dad From her find A grave

Charles William June 23, 1944 Bemidgjil ,Beltrami, Minnestota