Williams, Frances Lillian

Female 1893 - 1985  (91 years)


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  • Name Williams, Frances Lillian 
    Born 27 Dec 1893  [1
    Gender Female 
    Died 1985  California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Person ID I5518  Fiegenbaum
    Last Modified 28 Sep 2008 

    Father Williams, Rev. John Edward,   b. 14 Aug 1863, New Haven, Gallatin County, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 Jun 1948, Salem, Marion County, Oregon, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 84 years) 
    Mother Minden, Lillian Amelia,   b. 6 Apr 1870, Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Oct 1948, Salem, Marion County, Oregon, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years) 
    Married 20 Dec 1888  Preston, Pratt County, Kansas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 4, 5

    • The following is a transcription supplied by Sharon Lemkuil of a portion of a diary written by John E. Williams. Sharon has also supplied the editorial notes.

           "It was revealed to me in a dream one night who my bride should be. It made a profound impression on me. I had known the dear girl for years; we lived as neighbors. I knew that she was a perfect little Queen. But that she and I would ever wed, had never entered my thoughts before the dream vision. One beautiful June Sunday morning, when the flowers were blooming and the birds were sweetly singing, and all nature was clothed in her most beautiful garments, I was sitting in my Sunday school class, when suddenly my dream came to me like a flash, when a young lady of eighteen years, with a beautiful and perfect form, and oh such a lovely sweet face, and the loveliest beautiful brown eyes, she was the loveliest creature I had ever seen, entered the church. I looked up into her face, and oh such a captivating smile, it captured my heart and soul. She was the girl presented to me in my dream. I was almost overcome with the thought; could it be true that such a lovely girl was to become my wife? I hoped so. Was it just an ordinary dream? I hoped not. When the preacher began his sermon, I looked not at him but at her, and she smiled so beautifully. I remember nothing about the sermon. Not one word.
           "When the services were over I lost no time in getting to her pew, shook hands with her, and told her I was glad to see her. I was. Then she smiled a heart captivating smile, I was almost overcome. Such winning manners could not be described. It was her beautiful character, as well as her beautiful face, and form which gave her such magnetic charm.
           "I asked her if I might have the pleasure of her company to the song service which met at the church at three o'clock p.m. She accepted and it sent a thrill of joy all over me. At two-thirty I was at her home, buggy shining, I had two fine speedy horses, all slicked up. I drove at a two forty gate going up. But in coming back gave them plenty of time. She seemed to rather enjoy the slow driving. She said that she did not believe in driving horse hard; neither did I then. And I drove very slowly all the way back to her home. I did not want to offend her.
           "I asked to come again the next Sunday, and was accepted. I went, but it was my last time, at least for the present.
           "Her good parents objected for her to keep company with young men. I think that they knew what would happen if we continued to keep company together."

      Note: John had recently returned home and had become converted. Before that he had led the life of a true hardened cowboy, for three years never having been at a meal made by the hands of a woman. He worked Cheyenne, Dodge, Denver and Montana, almost dying in a blizzard which is when he decided to return home to his parents in Kansas.

           "But I determined to win her at any cost. So we began a correspondence until my dream became true. After we were engaged for quite a while, I met her one day coming to town on a mule, and while riding as close as I could to the mule with my horse, I attempted to kiss her, she being perfectly willing. It was more than an attempt. But I almost pulled her off the mule. It was a very narrow escape, and I do not recommend such tactics to others. It takes an expert to do it."

      Note: At this point John goes to see his family in Socorro, New Mexico where they had moved to from the Haynesville, Pratt County KS farm which John was working, but they didn't like it there. John went on to Dayton, Washington and recommended the country to his father who took the family there. Meanwhile, John returned to Kansas, asked Lillie to marry him immediately and to move to Washington, which they did.

           "I insisted that we get married as soon as possible. To this she agreed and on December the 20th 1888 we drove to Pratt Center, secured our license and drove back to Preston, went to the home of the Rev. J. W. Lowe, and were married about four o'clock. And lo my dream came true. And from that good day to the present, 1907, she has been as perfect a wife as any one could be. During all these years she has never shown bad temper nor spoke an unkind word to her most unworthy mate."

      Note: John's youngest brother was named Luther Lowe Williams, Luther for his mother's maiden name (they were of the same family as Martin Luther the Reformer, the line is from Martin Luther's first cousin), and Lowe most likely after this Rev. J. W. Lowe.
    Family ID F1780  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Durand, William E.,   b. 1891,   d. 1918  (Age 27 years) 
    Married Y  [6
    Last Modified 6 Aug 2018 
    Family ID F1782  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Arant, [--?--],   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Married Y  [7, 8
    • In obituaries for her mother and father, who both died in 1948, Frances was identified as "Mrs. Frances L. Arant" and "Mrs. Frances Arent," of Forest Grove, Oregon. Details of this marriage are not known at this time.
    Last Modified 6 Aug 2018 
    Family ID F2111  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Sources 
    1. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), p. 110.
      Frances Lillian Williams, child of John E. Williams and Lillie Amelia Minden, was born on 27 December 1893. No place given.

    2. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), p. 110.
      Frances Lillian died in October 1985 in California.

    3. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), p. 110.
      John E. Williams and Lillie Amelia Minden were married. No date or place given.

    4. [S200] Sharon Lemkuil, Genealogical research, Email on 15 September 2008 to J. Mark Fiegenbaum.
      John Edwards Williams and Lillian "Lillie" Amelia Minden were married on 20 December 1888 at Preston, Pratt County, Kansas.

    5. [S200] Sharon Lemkuil, Genealogical research, Email on 15 September 2008 to J. Mark Fiegenbaum.
      A transcription supplied by Sharon Lemkuil of a porton of a diary written by Rev. John E. Williams. Sharon also supplied editorial comments.

    6. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), p. 110.
      William E. Durand and Frances Lillian Williams were married. No date or place given.

    7. [S200] Sharon Lemkuil, Genealogical research, Email on 15 September 2008 to J. Mark Fiegenbaum.
      A transcription supplied by Sharon Lemkuil of an obituary for Rev. John E. Williams. Sharon reported that the obituary had appeared in the Oregon Sentinel, Volume 12, Issue 3; 20 June 1948.
           "Surviving beside his widow are ...three daughters...Mrs. Frances L. Arant of Forest Grove...."

    8. [S200] Sharon Lemkuil, Genealogical research, Email on 15 September 2008 to J. Mark Fiegenbaum.
      A transcription supplied by Sharon Lemkuil of an obituary for Lillie Amelia Williams [nee Minden]. Sharon reported that the obituary had appeared in the Oregon Sentinel, Volume 11, Issue 5; on 5 October 1948.
           "Survived by daughters, ...and Mrs. Frances Arent, Forest Grove;...."