Relationship 8: Theodore John Williams & Myrtle A. Bird

Relationship Record 8

Male/Husband} Williams, Theodore John (John T.)

Family History} Hancock

Female/Wife} Bird, Myrtle A.

Relationship Type} Marriage

Marriage: Date} Exa 14 Feb 1903

Place} Jackson, Jackson, Michigan

Ended: On Date} Exa 2 Nov 1933
By} Death of husband

Source 1}	9 = Biography
Source 2}	110 = Newspaper
Source 3}	1427 = Marriage rec
Source 4}	72 = Birth record
Source 5}	26 = 1910 USA cen
Source 6}	304 = 1920 USA cen
Source 7}	1663 = Newspaper
Source 8}	853 = 1930 USA cen
Source 9}	1632 = Death record
Source 10}	675 = Photographs
Source 10}	676 = Photographs
Source 12}	30 = Cemetery rec
Source 13}	1588 = Cemetery rec

1st Household No.} 190 = Detroit, Michigan

Photographs} The Williams circa 1908

Last Updated
by} Karen Hancock

Date Updated} 6 Jun 2023
Date Created} 17 Jun 1994

Notes: Their son Simeon Williams said "My parents lived for awhile in a religious commune in Pennsylvania. About that time, a religious movement swept over the county. My parents left Pennsylvania when they became disillusioned with religion and with their relatives. They wanted to get away from 'the whole mess'. Their 60-acre farm in Pennsylvania was sold at a sacrifice. My father did believe in the 'golden rule', but contrary to 'church' teachings, felt that churches were too hypocritical." Theodore (John T.) was in prison at the Ionia Reformatory, Ionia, Michigan, from 15 Nov 1899 until he was released on 14 Feb 1903. He married Myrtle in the Michigan town of Jackson on the day (Valentine's Day) of his release. Theodore was then 42 and Myrtle was 39 years old. They had already had a son, Simeon, born 20 Sep 1897 in Covington, Kenton, Kentucky.
Simeon continued "My family then came to California in about 1904. We moved from Michigan to San Francisco by train. It went through the Grand Canyon area. We were in San Francisco for a short period. All of our worldly possessions were contained in one trunk. We had very little money to live on. In 1904, San Francisco storekeepers still looked with suspicion on paper money. They wanted gold or silver coins.

Fortunately, my father found a job immediately at Atlas Peak in Napa County. My parents moved to and worked at the 'Knight ranch' — about 14 miles up Atlas Peak Road. My father worked as a ranchhand with the grapes, sheep, and oak wood on the ranch. My mother cooked for all of the ranch hands. (Knight could have been the name of the renters, rather than the owners.) There was no school available for me in the Atlas Peak area, however. So after less than a year there, my family moved from the ranch to the town of Napa.

My father rented a house at 120 Main Street. My mother worked as a dressmaker out of their rented house. My father made knicknacks — such as in-and-out signs — and sold them door-to-door. When he approached Judge Gesford, the judge said 'its nobody's damn business when I'll be back.'

During 1905, Napa had one of its worst floods. I remember seeing the wooden walk in back of 120 Main floating. People were rowing boats on Main Street as far north as the Catholic Church." Dan Hancock's comments: Theodore and Myrtle were legally married, but six or 7 years later than Simeon believed. The "commune" definitely existed in Michigan and may have existed earlier in Ohio, Kentucky, and/or Pennsylvania.

In the 1910 US census, Theodore, 49, and Myrtle, 46, were living on Sonoma Road, Napa Twp., Napa, California. Theodore was a farm laborer, and Myrtle was a notions merchant. They owned their home, free of mortgage. Their sons were Simion J., 12, attending school, and David F. 3.

In the 1920 US census, Theodore, 59, and Myrtle, 56, were living on Sonoma Hill Road, Carneros, Napa, California. Theodore was a well borer of water wells. Their sons were Simeon J., 22, a farm laborer, and David F. 12.

In the 1930 US census, Theodore, 69, and Myrtle, 66, were in Carneros, Napa, California. Theodore was still drilling wells. Their sons had both established their own homes.

Theodore died 2 Nov 1933, at the home of Myrtle's daughter Daisy Raina of an apparent heart attack. Myrtle died 26 Apr 1934, also in the home of her daughter, 124 Raymond Ave., Napa. They are buried in the Tulocay Cemetery, Napa.

Children:

Total # of Children} 2

Seq. # of Primary} 1

1st Child}	Williams, Simeon Clyde (Si)
2nd Child}	Williams, David Theodore (Dave)

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