Individual 15: Theodore John Williams

Individual Record 15

Name} Williams, Theodore John (John T.)

Family History} Hancock

Title}

Race} White

Sex} Male

Birth: Date} Exa 7 Nov 1860

Place} Pittsburgh (?), Allegheny, Pennsylvania

Marr.: Date} Cir 1883/1886

Place} (Link)

Marr.: Date} Cir 1895

Place} (Link)

Death: Date} Exa 2 Nov 1933

Place} Napa, Napa, California

Burial: Date} Exa 4 Nov 1933

Place} Tulocay Cemetery, Napa, Napa, California

Grave Marker} Yes Area

Source 1}	9 = Biography
Source 2}	375 = Biography
Source 3}	89 = Biography
Source 4}	103 = 1870 USA cen
Source 5}	104 = 1880 USA cen
Source 6}	101 = Geog history
Source 7}	110 = Newspaper
Source 8}	111 = Newspaper
Source 9}	109 = Prison recrd
Source 10}	22 = 1900 USA cen
Source 11}	26 = 1910 USA cen
Source 12}	304 = 1920 USA cen
Source 13}	242 = Newspaper
Source 14}	72 = Birth record
Source 15}	79 = Marriage rec
Source 16}	164 = Geog history
Source 17}	675 = Photographs
Source 18}	676 = Photographs
Source 19}	15 = Death certif
Source 20}	30 = Cemetery rec
Source 21}	788 = Family history
Source 22}	1246=Letter

Parents: } David P. Williams & Mary Ann McCaw
Relationship No.} 54

1st Household No.} 190 = Detroit, Michigan

Occupation 1} Evangelist
Occupation 2} Farm laborer
Occupation 3} Well driller

Religion/Church} Presbyterian

Spouses: First} Nelson, Pamelia Elizabeth
Second} Bird, Myrtle A.
Total Number of} 2

Notes: Theodore's life consisted of three distinct and very different periods:

His early years in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, from 1860 to about 1894 or 1895. This period included his first marriage.
His wild years that began with his joining a "free love" religious sect in Ohio and Michigan (and perhaps Pennsylvania and Kentucky) that included his wives Pamelia Elizabeth and Myrtle and his brother-in-law Theodore Bird — and ended with his imprisonment at Ionia from 11 Nov 1899 until 14 Feb 1903.

His later calm and quiet final years in California with Myrtle and their three children (Daisy, Simeon, and Dave) — during which no mention was made of his earlier wild life. This period lasted from 1903 until Theodore's death in 1933.

During his trial in Adrian, the Detroit Tribune wrote "Theodore Williams would easily pass muster as a 'Flying Roller'. His long black beard and heavy growth of hair gave him a picturesque appearance."

Later, "Williams said the Lord had been crowding him hard for days and he must have money to start a home for his people." Also, "Williams said he formerly had a nice home, and gave that up, also leaving his wife and children; they taught that in addition for forsaking property one must undergo hardship and privation and forego all worldly lust."

In 1899 at Ionia, Theodore was described as having a dark complexion, black hair, medium forehead, "L mar" eyes, large nose, medium mouth, a square chin, considerable hair on heart and body, height 5' 9 and 3/4", weight 151 pounds, and "does not chew".

After arriving in Napa, Theodore built a well-boring machine with a derrick 28 feet tall and a hand-turned auger. This combination could drill water wells to 100 feet deep. Lengths of 1¼-inch diameter galvanized pipe coupled together were used for lowering a 6 foot by 7 inch auger into the ground as the well deepened. The auger was made in San Francisco. With his horse, he would move the machine to the drill site, set up the tripod and blocks and cables, start the well with his shovel, get the auger going, and empty the mud. Theodore with his horse and boring rig was a familiar sight in the southwest end of Napa County, with his drill paraphernelia loaded on his springwagon and trailing his long tripod derrick. He worked at boring water wells, especially all 26 wells in the Cutting tract, until his death in 1933.

His granddaughter Viola said "My remembrances of Grandma and Grandpa Williams mainly were of two soft-spoken, loving people. Grandpa had been a United Presbyterian minister. They were both very religious, but didn't go to church, as far as I remember." (Source 375)

Time of Birth}

Time of Death} 4:30 p.m.

Fraternal/Social}

Baptism Date}

Place}