Minden, Lillian Amelia b. 6 Apr 1870 Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa, USA d. 2 Oct 1948 Salem, Marion County, Oregon, USA: Fiegenbaum Family Database

1870 - 1948 (78 years)

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Name	Minden, Lillian Amelia
Nickname	Lillie
Born	6 Apr 1870	Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa, USA [1, 2, 3]
Gender	Female
Died	2 Oct 1948	Salem, Marion County, Oregon, USA [4, 5, 6]
	The following is a transcription of an obituary for Lillie Amelia Williams published on 5 October 1948 in the Oregon Statesman, of Salem, Oregon. "In this city October 2, Lillie Amelia Williams, late resident of 1112 Mill st. Survived by daughters, Ethel Williams, Salem, Mrs. Blanche Segersten, Lewiston, Idaho, and Mrs. Frances Arent, Forest Grove; brothers, Edward H. Minden and L. F. Minden, Stockton, Calif., Charles Minden, Lewiston, Idaho, Chester Minden, Corvallis, Albert Minden, Spokane, and Will Minden, Princeton, Idaho; also three grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Services will be held in the First Methodist church, Tuesday, October 5, at 1:30 p.m. Interment in Lee Mission cemetery. W. T. Rigdon company in charge."
Buried	5 Oct 1948	Salem, Marion County, Oregon, USA [7, 8]
	Lillian was buried in the Lee Mission Cemetery (Section A, Block 28, Lot 02, Grave 07). She and her husband share a gravestone.
Person ID	I5504	Fiegenbaum
Last Modified	13 Mar 2011

Father	Minden, George Ernst, b. 5 Sep 1838, Germany , d. 3 Jul 1891, Preston, Pratt County, Kansas, USA (Age 52 years)
Mother	Wellemeyer, Lisette Matilda, b. 12 Aug 1848, Warren County, Missouri, USA , d. 10 Sep 1925, Meridian, Ada County, Idaho, USA (Age 77 years)
Married	1869	Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa, USA [9]
Family ID	F1779	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family Williams, Rev. John Edward, b. 14 Aug 1863, New Haven, Gallatin County, Illinois, USA , d. 19 Jun 1948, Salem, Marion County, Oregon, USA (Age 84 years)

Married 20 Dec 1888 Preston, Pratt County, Kansas, USA [10, 11, 12]

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.

Children

	1. Williams, Blanche Elizabeth, b. 1889, d. Yes, date unknown
	2. Williams, Florence Willard, b. 1891, d. 1891 (Age 0 years)
	3. Williams, Ethel Lydia, b. 13 Jun 1892, d. Oct 1981 (Age 89 years)
	4. Williams, Frances Lillian, b. 27 Dec 1893, d. 1985, California, USA (Age 91 years)

Last Modified 6 Aug 2018

Family ID F1780 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Sources

[S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), pages 59, 110.
Lillie Amelia Minden, child of George Ernst Minden and Lissette Matilda Wellemeyer, was born in 1870 at Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa.
[S200] Sharon Lemkuil, Genealogical research, Email on 15 September 2008 to J. Mark Fiegenbaum.
Lillian "Lillie" Ameila Minden, daughter of George Ernst Minden and Lisette Mathilda Wellemeyer, was born in 1870 at Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa.
[S113] Web site, Lee Mission Cemetery. Burials. Revised 2006.
(http://www.oregonpioneers.com/marion/Lee_W.html). Accessed in September 2008. Burial information and a transcription of the inscription on the gravestone for Lillian Amelia (Minden) Williams: WILLIAMS, Lillie Amelia; b. 06 Apr 1870.
[S200] Sharon Lemkuil, Genealogical research, Email on 15 September 2008 to J. Mark Fiegenbaum.
Lillian "Lillie" Ameila (Minden) Williams died on 20 October 1948.
[S113] Web site, Lee Mission Cemetery. Burials. Revised 2006.
(http://www.oregonpioneers.com/marion/Lee_W.html). Accessed in September 2008. A transcription of an obituary for Lillie Amelia Williams published on 5 October 1948 in the Oregon Statesman, of Salem, Oregon.
[S113] Web site, Lee Mission Cemetery. Burials. Revised 2006.
(http://www.oregonpioneers.com/marion/Lee_W.html). Accessed in September 2008. Burial information and a transcription of the inscription on the gravestone for Lillian Amelia (Minden) Williams: WILLIAMS, Lillie Amelia; d. 02 Oct 1948.
[S113] Web site, Lee Mission Cemetery. Burials. Revised 2006.
(http://www.oregonpioneers.com/marion/Lee_W.html). Accessed in September 2008. A transcription of an obituary for Lillie Amelia Williams published on 5 October 1948 in the Oregon Statesman, of Salem, Oregon.
"Services will be held in the First Methodist church, Tuesday, October 5, at 1:30 p.m. Interment in Lee Mission cemetery. W. T. Rigdon company in charge."
[S113] Web site, Lee Mission Cemetery. Burials. Revised 2006.
(http://www.oregonpioneers.com/marion/Lee_W.html). Accessed in September 2008. Burial information and a transcription of the inscription on the gravestone for Lillian Amelia (Minden) Williams:
     WILLIAMS, Lillie Amelia
     b. 06 Apr 1870
     d. 02 Oct 1948
     on headstone: "Love never faileth"
     on marker with Rev. John E. Williams
     location of grave: Section A, Block 28, Lot 02, Grave 07
[S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), p. 59.
George Ernst Minden and Lissette Matilda Wellemeyer were married in 1869 at Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa.
[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.
[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.
[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.