Benjamin Guy Williams (1895 - 1965)

Born 18 Dec 1895 in Fancy Farm, Graves County, Kentucky

Ancestors

Husband of Floy (Shepherd) Williams — married 22 Dec 1917 in Metropolis, Massac County, Illinois

Died 19 Dec 1965 at age 70 in Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Malinda Hawthorne [send private message]

Biography

Benjamin Guy Williams was born in 1896 in Fancy Farm, Graves County, Kentucky. He was the son of Harve Williams and Minnie Gent. He was married to Floy Shepherd in 1917. He served in WWI as a private in Company "C", 127th Infantry, and fought in France. In 1920 he was again a farmer in Graves County, Kentucky. By 1930 he was living in Paducah, Kentucky, with his parents and two young sons, and was employed as a loan office manager. He is married, but no wife is listed. The minimum profile of a Floy Williams on the 1930 Census for the Western State Hospital, a mental institution, fits her. There is a McCracken County birth record in 1931 for Martha G. Williams, mother Floy Shepherd, given on the Kentucky Vital Records Index. Guy and Floy were both living in Mc Cracken County in 1935 from information given for each on the 1940 Census. However, on the 1940 Census, she is living in Mayfield, Kentucky, with their daughter Martha, and is employed. Guy is living with their two sons in Ferndale, Michigan, with his brother Coy. Both Guy and Floy are enumerated as married, but have no spouse in either household. He passed away in 1965 in Bisbee, Arizona.

Sources

• *1900 U. S. Census, Graves County, Kentucky, West Half of Magst. Dist. No. 5, enumerated 5 June, Sheet No. 4, Pg. 153A, line 4. G. Bennie Williams is a 4 year old single white male, the son of S. Harve and M. Minnie Williams. He was born Dec. 1895 in Kentucky. His parents have been married for 7 years. He has one older sister, E. Elura, and one younger brother, W. Sherman. All other members of the family were also born in Kentucky. His father is a farmer, and the family lives on a rented farm. (Names on this census are given in reverse order with the family surname first, then the middle initial, then the first name.)
• 1910 U.S. Census, Graves County, Kentucky, Magisterial District 7 (part of), enumerated 4th May, Page Number 12A, line 42. Guy Williams is a 14 year old single white male, the son of H. Sherman and Minnie Williams. His parents have been married 17 years, and each has been married only one time. Guy has an older sister, Eura; a younger brother, Wayne; and a younger sister, Nauva. Everyone in the family was born in Kentucky, speaks English, and can read and write, except for Nauva. Guy, Eura, and Wayne have all attended school since September 1, 1909. Guy is a farm laborer on the home farm, and receives a wage.
• 5 June 1917 - Registration for World War I Draft, Lowe's Precinct, Graves County, Kentucky. Benjamin Guy Williams, of Melber, Ky., is age 21 and is a natural born citizen of the United States. He was born Dec. 18, 1896 (all other records indicate birth in 1895), in Fancy Farm, Ky. (This is in northwest Graves County.) He is engaged in farming and works independently. He has no family members for whom he is responsible, nor is he married. He is of Caucasian race, and has never served in the armed services before. The registrar describes him as being of medium height, of medium build, and with light blue eyes and dark brown hair.
• 22 December 1917, Marriage License No. 3329 recorded pg. 124, Register of Marriages, Massac County, Illinois. License issued 12/22/1917 to Guy Williams , of Melber, Ky, RFD, a farmer, age next birthday is 23 years (he just turned 22 years old on Dec. 18), a white American born in Graves Co.; father's name H. S. Williams; mother's name M.M.Gent; his first marriage; and Floy Shepherd, of Melber, Ky RFD, age next birthday 20 years, a white American born in Graves; father's name J.R.Shepherd; mother's name Susie Burnett, her first marriage. Married at Metropolis, Illinois, December 22, 1917 with witnesses L.L. Goode and Verona Goode, with Albert J. Barrett, J.P. performing the marriage.
• "Williams, Benjamin G., Pvt. 1 cl, of Melder (should be Melber) Kentucky," appears on a list of officers and enlisted men of Co. "C", 127th Infantry, on page 185 of a book written by Capt. Paul W. Schmidt entitled Co. C, 127th Infantry, in the World War, a story of the 32nd Division and a complete history of the part taken by Co. C. (1919) Capt. Schmidt was an officer of Co. C. This book is online at digicoll.library.wisc.edu
• 1920 U.S. Census, Graves County, Kentucky, Magisterial District 7 (part of) Precinct 1, Lowe's, enumerated 5th of January, Sheet No. 2A, Owens Chapel Road, line 1, H/H24/24, a farm, Guy Williams, head. He is a 24 year old married white male living on a rented farm and is a farmer doing general farm work for his own account. He was born in Kentucky, as were both his parents. He can read and write, and speaks English. On line 2 is his wife Floy, a 21 year old white female born in Kentucky. Her parents were born in Kentucky. She can read and write, and speaks English. (Guy's parents, Harve and Minnie Williams, are enumerated further down the page at H/H 27/27.)
• 1930 U.S. Census, McCracken County, Kentucky, Paducah city (part of), Mag. District 11 (part), enumerated April 17;, Sheet 18A, Broad Street, House number 2059, visitation number 369, family number 400, line 13. William G. Hayden is head and owner of the home, a farm, valued at $5000. His employment however, is as a tobacco warehouse manager. At the same address, but as family number 401, on line 20, is Harve S. Williams and his wife Minnie. On line 22 is Guy Williams, their son, and under his name are two boys, Dwight L. and Norman who are listed as grandsons of household head Harve Williams. Guy is 34 years old and was married when he was 21 years old. No wife is listed, though he is enumerated as married. ( Floy may be in the mental hospital at Hopkinsville as the profile of an individual listed there does fit her description. See next entry.) He is the manager of a loan company, and was at work the previous working day. He was born in Kentucky, can read and write, and speaks English. He is a veteran of the WW. Dwight is 10 years old, can read and write, and was born in Kentucky. Norman is 7 years old and was born in Kentucky. Both boys have attended school since 1 September 1929. Guy's brothers Coy and Wayne also live in the household, and both are married, though only Wayne's wife Nana is enumerated.
• 1930 U.S. Census, Christian County, Kentucky, Magisterial Dist. 3, Western State Hospital, enumeration date April 11, Sheet 17A, line 1. Floy Williams, patient, a 31 year old married white female; married at age 19, can read and write and was born in Kentucky, as were both her parents. She speaks English. She was not at work the previous working day and is marked "Inst" on the employment schedule. This may be Guy's wife, as the information asked for does fit her profile, but without further information, such as previous residence or nearest relative, is somewhat .inconclusive, other than her unusual name and the absence of a wife named in the household where Guy resided and was listed as "married."
• 1940 U.S. Census, Oakland County, Ferndale city, Michigan, enumerated April 7th (?), Sheet No. 1B, Vector Avenue, Line No. 52, house number 1031, visit no. 19, non-farm home owned by household head Coy Williams. On Line 55 is enumerated Guy B. Williams, his brother. Guy is a 44 year old married white male. (no wife is listed) The last completed grade in school was the 8th. He was born in Kentucky and was residing in Paducah, McCracken County, Kentucky, on April 1, 1935. He was at work during the week of March 24, 1940, and worked 40 hours. He is an automobile assembler at an automobile factory. He worked 40 weeks in 1939, and earned $1200. He has other income. He is also one of the persons asked for supplemental information. His father and mother were both born in Kentucky. He speaks English. He is a veteran of the World War. He has a Social Security Number and deductions were made from all his wages. His occupation is again given as an auto worker in an automobile factory. On line 56 Guy's son Dwight L. Williams is listed as nephew to Coy Williams. Dwight is a single white male, 20 years old, and born in Kentucky. He works as a furnace installer for a furnace factory.
• 1940 U.S Census, Graves County, Kentucky, Mayfield City, Magisterial Dist. 6, Ward of city-1, South Fifth St.; enumerated April 16, Sheet 9B, line 71. Indexed as "Flay" Williams, she is a 42 year old married (but no husband listed) white female, head of the household, who has not attended school since 1 Sept. 1939, and whose highest grade finished was the 8th. She was born in Kentucky. Her place of residence April 1, 1935 was in rural McCracken County, Kentucky. She was at work the week of March 24, 1940. The number of hours worked during the week of March 34-30, 1940, was 48. She is a saleslady, a representative (? hard to read) of Royal Crown, working on her own account. The number of weeks worked in 1939 is marked as "0", nor did she have income from wages or salary. She reports "yes" to other income. Living with her is her daughter, Martha J., who is 9 years old. She has attended school since 1 September 1939, and has finished the 2nd grade. She was born in Kentucky, and lived in rural McCracken County, Kentucky, on 1 April 1935.
• 25 April 1942 - Benjamin Guy Williams, Registration for World War II Draft, residence 317 E. 9 Mi. Road, Ferndale, Michigan. He is 46 years old, born Dec. 18, 1895 (report has 1995) at Fancy Farm, Graves, Ky. The person given who will always know his address is Dwight L. Williams, of the same address. Benjamin Guy's employer is Chrysler Corp. DeSota Div., Detroit, Michigan. The registrar describes him as white, 5 ft. 10 in. tall, 148 lbs., with gray eyes and hair, and dark complexion. (The stamp of the local board gives the board address as 109 East Nine Mile Road in Ferndale.)
• 12 April 1947 - Benjamin G. Williams named as father on marriage license of son Norman Williams of Ferndale, Michigan.
• 19 December 1965 - death of Benjamin G. Williams in Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona. (aged 70). Memorial marker is a brass military one with his name, Kentucky, Pfc. Co. C. ,127 Infantry, World War I. Dec. 18, 1895 - Dec. 19, 1965. Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : memorial page for Benjamin G Williams (18 Dec 1895–19 Dec 1965). Find A Grave: Memorial #31920431citing Memory Gardens Cemetery, Bisbee, AZ.