George Henry Williams (1892 - 1911)

Born 1892 in Adams, Mississippi, United States

Died 31 May 1911 at about age 19 in Van Alstyne, Grayson, Texas, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Katrina Miller [send private message]

Biography

This is the exact same biography I wrote on George's Find a Grave Memorial:''

"George was the last child born to Thomas Williams and Rebecca Britton.

Not much is known about his childhood, but on the 1900 Census Record^[1] it says George was living with his parents in Mantua, TX. (which is now Anna.).^{[2][3][4][5][6]}

On his death certificate, it says he was married. He married a woman named Eva Epperson in 1903.^[7]

What is a fact, is that when he was seventeen, he was arrested, and sent to prison for stealing a mule with his friend John Leo Skipworth. Records can be found at Huntsville, Texas prison, and the Grayson County Courthouse.^[8][9]While awaiting transfer to the Huntsville Prison, George wrote a letter to the "Van Alstyne Leader" to be published as a public apology to his parents. Mr. Skipworth is also mentioned in the letter (see images for letter).^[10]

Family legend is that George went to 'call upon' a girl, and found another man had beat him to it. In revenge, George and Leo stole the man's mule and rode it to death. Both boys were sent to Huntsville Prison, where George came down with sugar diabetes. He was released and passed away a few weeks later surrounded by his parents. Leo Skipworth ended up marrying and having children. Both men are buried at the Van Alstyne Cemetery."^{[11][12][13][14]}

HUNTSVILLE PRISON RECORD

NAME: George Williams AGE: 17 HEIGHT: 5 FT 9 WEIGHT: 142 COMPLEXION: Dark EYES: Gray HAIR: Brown MARKS ON PERSON: Stooped shoulders, #7 shoes MARRIED: No USES TOBACCO: Yes EDUCATION: Poor READ: Yes WRITE: Yes YEARS AT SCHOOL: 4 DATE OF BIRTH: 1892 BIRTHPLACE: Mississippi FATHER'S BIRTH PLACE: Tennessee MOTHER'S BIRTH PLACE: Tennessee OCCUPATION: Laborer TIME OF CONVICTION: August 10, 1909 OFFENSE: Horse Theft TIME OF IMPRISONMENT: 2 years COUNTY: Grayson RESIDENCE: Van Alstyne PLEA: Guilty WHEN RECEIVED: September 17, 1909 EXPIRATION OF SENTENCE: August 10, 1911 REMARKS: Pardoned April 15, 1910

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3L3-LVQ : accessed 17 March 2019), George Williams in household of Thomas H Williams, Justice Precinct 3 (east & north part), Collin, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 12, sheet 13B, family 238, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,621.
2. ↑ http://texasghosttowns.blogspot.com/2014/02/mantua-collin-county-february-2014.html
3. ↑ https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hvm25
4. ↑ https://www.collincountyhistory.com/mantua.html
5. ↑ https://www.collincountyhistory.com/mantua1.html
6. ↑ http://vanalstynehistory.org/2015/02/19/mysteries-mantua-ghost-town-explored/
7. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3WV-NXG : 13 March 2018), George Williams, 31 May 1911; citing certificate number 10931, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,050,486.
8. ↑ Texas, Convict and Conduct Registers, 1875-1945, Huntsville Prison, George Williams
9. ↑ http://www.co.grayson.tx.us/page/cclk.genealogy
10. ↑ The Sulphur Springs Gazette. (Sulphur Springs, Tex.), Vol. 47, No. 34, Ed. 1 Friday, August 20, 1909
11. ↑ "BillionGraves Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVRS-NH9D : 24 June 2015), GEORGE WILLIAMS, died 31 May 1911; citing BillionGraves (http://www.billiongraves.com : 2012), Burial at Van Alstyne Cemetery, Van Alstyne, Grayson, Texas, United States.
12. ↑ *Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 17 March 2019), memorial page for George Henry Williams (1 Feb 1892–31 May 1911), Find A Grave Memorial no. 10598224, citing Van Alstyne Cemetery, Van Alstyne, Grayson County, Texas, USA ; Maintained by Katrina Dawn Miller--UDC--Sherman, TX. (contributor 48103182) .
13. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 17 March 2019), memorial page for John Leo Skipworth (6 May 1890–27 Feb 1964), Find A Grave Memorial no. 10589360, citing Van Alstyne Cemetery, Van Alstyne, Grayson County, Texas, USA ; Maintained by June (contributor 37744826) .
14. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 17 March 2019), memorial page for George Henry Skipworth (7 Oct 1915–31 May 1998), Find A Grave Memorial no. 136872860, citing Van Alstyne Cemetery, Van Alstyne, Grayson County, Texas, USA ; Maintained by sue (contributor 47492809) .