William Elmer Gilliam (1893 - 1971)

Born 3 Jul 1893 in Charleston, Franklin, Arkansas, United States

Husband of Grace Gertrude (Barnes) Gilliam — married 25 Dec 1916 (to 1934) in Franklin, Arkansas, United States

Died 12 Nov 1971 at age 78 in Booneville, Logan, Arkansas, United States

Biography

The son of George Washington Gilliam (1848-1938) and Sarah Louisa Fitzhugh (1859-), William Gilliam was born in Charleston, Arkansas{[citation needed}} in 1893, residing with his family in 1900 in Fenter Township, Arkansas.^[1] In 1910, he lived in Prairie Township, Arkansas, residing with his sister, Elizabeth Aldridge, and her family.^[2] Will's siblings included:

1. Cora Belle Gilliam (1880-1943)
2. Mary Frances Gilliam (1888-)
3. Elizabeth Gilliam (1891-)
4. George Washington Gilliam, Jr. (1892-1951)
5. Thomas E. Gilliam (1894-)
6. Leanna Gilliam (1899-)

Will married Grace Gertrude (Barnes) Gilliam, marrying in Franklin County, Arkansas on Christmas Day of 1915,^[3] having one son together. Will registered for the World War I draft when he was 22, registering in Six Mile, Arkansas on June 5, 1917.^[4] He stated that he lived in Effa, Arkansas and that he worked for himself. Will was described as a man of medium height and build, with dark hair and blue eyes; he did not enlist.

In 1920, residing with his wife and son in a home he rented in Charleston, Arkansas, Will worked for a local blacksmith as a laborer.^[5] In 1930, they lived in together in Arkansas Township, Arkansas, renting a home for $9.00 per month while Will worked for the railroad as a laborer.^[6]

Widowed in 1934, Will lived in Prairie Township, residing with his son and his family and working as a farm laborer.^[7] His son was drafted during World War II and enlisted in the United States Navy, separating from his wife after the war and divorcing in 1951. In 1950, Will and his daughter-in-law, and grandson, lived together in Prairie Township; his daughter-in-law also farmed.^[8] Will remarried in 1953, marrying Minnie Mae Warren (1889-1969), the daughter of William Jasper Warren and Mary Elizabeth Doyle and the widow of James Franklin Nash and William L. Jones, marrying in Logan Township, Arkansas on June 20, 1953.^[9]

William Gilliam passed away in Booneville, Arkansas^{[citation needed]} at the age of 78, residing last in Booneville.^[10] He is buried at Potts Cemetery in Charleston, Arkansas.^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ 1900, Fenter Township, Arkansas: "United States Census, 1900", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3FQ-NF2 : Wed Mar 06 07:10:55 UTC 2024), William L Gilliam in Entry for George Gilliam and Lula E Gilliam, 1900.
2. ↑ 1910, Prairie Township, Arkansas: "United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKJT-86N : Thu Mar 07 11:53:37 UTC 2024), Willie Gilliam in Entry for Ross Aldridge and Lizzie Aldridge, 1910.
3. ↑ Marriage, Franklin County, Arkansas, 1915: "Arkansas, County Marriages, 1837-1957", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N9QV-HZN : Fri Mar 08 09:33:16 UTC 2024), Entry for Wil Gilliam and Gertie Barnes, 25 December 1915.
4. ↑ World War I Draft Registration: "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3PB-QVQ : 25 December 2021), William Elmer Gilliam, 1917-1918.
5. ↑ 1920, Charleston, Arkansas: "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDN2-9XK : Sat Mar 09 12:33:33 UTC 2024), Entry for Will William and Gertie William, 1920.
6. ↑ 1930, Arkansas Township, Arkansas: "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMGN-JF8 : Sat Mar 09 20:45:29 UTC 2024), Entry for Will E Gilliam and Gertie Gilliam, 1930.
7. ↑ 1940, Prairie Township, Arkansas: "United States Census, 1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQVL-N23 : Sat Mar 09 01:17:46 UTC 2024), W E Gilliam in Entry for Harmon Gillian and Nola Gillian, 1940.
8. ↑ Department of Commerce. Bureau of the Census. 1913-1/1/1972. Population Schedules for the 1950 Census, 1950 - 1950. Washington, DC: National Archives at Washington, DC. National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Prairie, Franklin, Arkansas; Roll: 1399; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 24-24: Prairie township - That part outside Charleston town, and excluding Camp Chaffee (part). Ancestry.com. 1950 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2022. Ancestry Record 62308 #31244761 with attached Image
9. ↑ 2nd Marriage, Logan Township, Arkansas, 1953: "Arkansas, County Marriages, 1837-1957", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NM1Z-34V : Sat Mar 09 03:04:35 UTC 2024), Entry for W E Gilliam and Minnie Nash, 20 June 1953.
10. ↑ Death, Booneville, Arkansas, 1971: "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J1V3-TX9 : 10 January 2021), William Gilliam, Nov 1971; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
11. ↑ Burial, Potts Cemetery, Charleston, Arkansas: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26704619/william_elmer-gilliam: accessed March 20, 2024), memorial page for William Elmer Gilliam (3 Jul 1893–12 Nov 1971). Find A Grave: Memorial #26704619 Potts Cemetery, Charleston, Franklin County, Arkansas, USA; Maintained by Frances Allen Titsworth (contributor 46972611).