The 1920s-John and Anna Willems Family in Logan County, Arkansas

A wine press once owned by John M. Willems,
 that in 2004 stood at the Cowie Winery in Paris.

The entire decade and then some was dry for some Americans what with the 18th Amendment to the Constitution --Prohibition. However,  Section 29 of the Volstead Act allowed 200 gallons of "non-intoxicating cider and fruit juice" to be made each year at home. Initially "intoxicating" was defined as anything more than 0.5%, but the Bureau of Internal Revenue soon struck that down and this effectively legalized home wine-making. For beer, however, the 0.5% limit remained until 1933.  Drinking continued uninterrupted at the John M. Willems farm.  He wasn't raising grapes, berries and an orchard of assorted fruit trees just to make juice and pies!  Apparently when the sheriff or revenuers visited, Anna would gather up the bottles of stronger illegal liquor in her apron and find a good hiding place for them.  If the visit was cordial and not too early in the day the sheriff would be offered a glass of wine even during those Prohibition years.  
Over 200 gallons of wine were made during years before and after Prohibition.  Sometime after Prohibition was over while making wine John M. and his sons found all of the wooden casks were being used.  Aloys Willems recalled his Papa went to the drugstore in town and bought some wooden casks that had previously contained Coca-Cola.  They were much less expensive than the brand new ones, so John M. Willems thought he'd save some money with the same result. Unfortunately that wasn't the case as the result was ghastly!  The wine had a distinct off taste from the Coca-Cola.  John M. Willems also made brandy and cognac for the adults, grape juice, apple cider, and pear cider for kids of any age. 
John Martin Willems, known as "Papa" to his twelve children and even most all of his grandchildren, enjoyed drinking immensely for about a week every year.  During this binge he did little work, just laid back and imbibed.  After sobering up at least a bit, he went to visit the abbot at St. Benedict's to whom he swore off liquor.  This oath lasted a year and Papa was back in the bottle for another binge.  

A census enumerator arrived at the John M. Willems farm on the last day of January in 1920 to count the home's inhabitants.  The family was recorded as to be living on the Paris and Scranton Road. Thirty eight year old John Willems owned the farm free of mortgage. Having arrived in the USA in 1884 he was a naturalized citizen, year of obtaining citizenship unknown.  John was a farmer on a general farm and employed others to assist with the work. John's wife Anna was 37 years old and was the mother of two daughters and six sons.  They were listed as: "Catharene", 15, Elizabeth, 12, Philip, 11, "Mathier", 8, and William, 6, who all had attended school.  Five year old "Fredie", Aloysius, 3 years and two months, and 7 month old Frankie Willems were all too young to attend school.  John's mother-in-law, Anna Guenther, then a 78 year old widow, was living with the family. She was incorrectly listed as having migrated in 1887, and was recorded as being naturalized in 1918.

Eight and a half months later Anna Guenther suffered a stroke and died on September 13, 1920.  She was survived by her daughters Margaret and Anna, and thirteen grandchildren.

Anna Gunther's death certificate

The younger children of John and Anna Marie Willems had no memories of their grandmother--four of them had yet to be born.  Aloys Willems had one memory of her--that of seeing his Grandma Guenther paring apples.  She gave him an apple peel to chew on.  Anna was buried in the family plot of St. Joseph Cemetery.

Anna Guenther's property was passed on to her heirs in the manner described below.
The bequest of $300 should read "John Klyne", who was 23 years old at the time of Anna Guenther's death. 

Matt Willems, Circa 1920, in his stocking feet!

The Guenther's had made St. Joseph's in Paris their home church with all of the family's baptisms, marriages, and deaths taking place there.  The John M. Willems family, however, primarily attended Mass at St. Benedict's in Subiaco, though some of the official ceremonies: funerals, weddings, baptisms, etc, were conducted at St. Joseph's in Paris.  Mass at St. Benedict's was held in what is now the basement until the present church was erected.  John M. and Anna's daughter, Anna Marie remembered the family's pew was the fourth pew from the front.  

Justin John Willems was born July 6, 1921 to Anna Marie and John.  He was their ninth child and seventh son.  Two years later Anna Marie was born-- her mama's namesake, and coincidentally the daughter who when grown would most closely resemble her. She arrived on May 4, 1923, and was the tenth child and third daughter.  Then on December 16, 1925 Margaret Johanna Willems arrived.  Anna truly had her hands full. Daughters Catherine and Elizabeth were a big help to their mother even taking their younger siblings into their beds to sleep with them.

When the Willems children were old enough they went to St. Benedict's School in Subiaco which was five miles east and south of their Papa's farm.  (That seems to be the case for the older children, while the younger one's received at least part of their education from the nuns at St. Joseph's school in Paris.)  The distance would have been too far for the little ones, so John M. Willems got some parts together and built them a buggy.  Aloys Willems recalled the same mule pulled the 2 bench buggy for many years.  The school year was adjusted to suit the agricultural area.  It began in the hottest months of July and August, then in September and October the children were off to help with the harvest.  Back to school in December through April, then recessed while the crops required cultivation. The children received religious instruction at the school in addition to learning the three Rs.  Chores were done before and after school and any child old enough to go to school was old enough to lend a hand on the farm. When school wasn't in session the field work began at 7 am and ended at 6 pm.  Chores were done before and afterward.  John M. Willems favorite saying was “Boys and young mules must be kept busy or they get into mischief.” Bedtime for many of the children was 8 pm in winter and 9 pm in summer.  The children minded well knowing it did them no good to complain and much easier to comply with Papa's rules.  When the clock struck the time for bed each got up and promptly went up the stairs to bed.

Anna Marie Willems

At home the instruction continued as meals were always prefaced with a prayer most usually said by John M. Willems. Sometimes grace was said in German, and at times after giving thanks for the family's bounty, Papa would lapse into a sermon, whose subject may have been decided by the children's transgressions.  At other times the children were quizzed as to what the priest at Mass said during the sermon. The children were supposed to be silent at the table unless they were spoken to by an adult.  Guests sitting at the enormous family table were frequent.  Most often guests were priests and brothers from Subiaco, or extended family members.  The house was large, but always full of people making one wonder where everyone slept when the time came.  Anna Marie Willems was known as a wonderful cook who passed her skills on to daughters Catherine and Elizabeth.
John M. Willems was always busy with his farm, with politics, or helping neighbors through hard times.  The farm had pigs, chickens, and cows, mules and horses, an orchard, bee hives, a blacksmith shop, and a sawmill. Crops raised were primarily cotton, also oats and barley, with some watermelon, corn, and other edibles. Near the house was a large kitchen garden with quite a variety of vegetables and herbs. John Willems was known to research new varieties of crops, then give them a try to see how they performed.
It was Anna Marie, called "Mama" by her children, who nurtured the them, who listened to their hopes and dreams, their silly stories.  Though she was firm with the children, she was blessed with an even temperament, and known for her sweet nature. Her children loved her as she loved them, and none was ever afraid of her as they sometimes were their Papa.  She prepared their meals, and made them sandwiches to take to school in a large bucket.  Depending on what was available they might have homemade bread and butter, or jelly bread.  Sometimes, though, they had ham or bologna sandwiches. Add an apple or other piece of fruit grown on the farm when in season and you could be sure the lard bucket used to haul these lunches would be empty on the return trip. Anna's life was her husband and children. Among other things she baked bread daily, canned produce for winter months, made preserves, mended, laundered, ironed, and attempted to keep the large house clean.  Since she almost always had a baby in diapers, she had motherhood down pat.  Anna Marie Willems didn't have the luxury of time to do fine needle work.  Her work was bringing up good children and putting their needs and those of her husband ahead of her own.

John and Catherine Schwartz

1923 William Willems Solemn Communion,
little brother Aloys holds the candle

The year 1923 brought the happy event of eldest daughter Catherine's marriage to John Albert Schwartz of Shoal Creek, Arkansas.  They married at St. Benedict's Church in Subiaco on November 20, 1923.  After the wedding they lived about a mile to the west of Catherine's father's farmhouse. John Schwartz farmed and for a time tried his hand at mining coal. 

John and Catherine's marriage license

John Martin Willems was good at keeping in touch with relatives, though often he was extremely busy.  Finally the opportunity arose for a trip.  On one occasion he asked Elizabeth, probably then a teenager, to accompany him to Streator, Illinois.  Not only were they visiting her Papa's aunts, uncles, and cousins, but John's brother Frank and family were visiting in Streator at the same time.  Eleanor, Frank and M. Louise's daughter, was about the same age as Elizabeth.  The cousins had much in common and enjoyed each others company so much that they continued to correspond.  Years later after both were married they found they had little in common as their lives had changed too much in the course of time.

On another visit to Streator, John M. Willems struck up a friendship of his own with his cousin Effie (Eva) Sauer, who was over twenty years his junior.  He invited her to come to his farm to meet the rest of his family. Effie accepted and John bought her train fare. 

In 1924 John decided to visit his siblings and their families in Canada and applied for a passport.  The passport contains an abundance of information including the fact that he intends to enter Canada via railroad from St. Paul, Minnesota. His trip is "for health and pleasure".  Note that the date of Phillip and family's immigration is off by at least a year.

John Martin Willems passport application-click on image to enlarge

When John brought home stories of his brother Alois hunting trophies and news of all the wild game, the Willems boys were green with envy.  Oh the boys trapped and hunted some, but as they grew they found they had so much work and little time for hunting or anything else.  

1923 Alois poses in the center with his children 
Angela, Arnold, Evelyn, Ray, and Hillaria Willems. 
Note the enormous woodpile behind the subjects.

1924 Alois Willems with friend Pete Skalicky -- bear, moose, and wolf trophies.

The 1920s likely was when John M. Willems first bought a car.  He is known to have had one of the first cars in the area.  Granddaughter Hermena Werner Pinter remembers it purred loudly. Travel for trips of great distance was likely done by train since the highway system wasn't up to snuff.  In the county a car would be ideal except when the roads were muddy and using horses and mules made more sense.

The following interview was conducted during the week of July 4, 1991, by Danny and Kathy Hodnett. It was recorded on video at the longtime home of Anne and Aloysius "Ollie" Willems at 1509 N 57^th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53208, and later transcribed to print.

OLLIE:

About 1925, it rained, and that was one time we got off work on the farm.  So we hitched up the wagons--cause when the roads got muddy, we seldom used the car —and the circus was in town!

So we all piled in and went up to the circus, and we watched the clowns and the tightrope walkers and the sideshows.  One of the sideshows I saw had a great big hand belt and on the side a hopper came down in a V-shape.  They had a bunch of dogs they ran in the hopper and on the other side a sausage mill was running with great big hotdogs coming out!  I wondered about that for a long time…That actually happened! 

Of course we also saw the stilt walkers, and when we got home, we had to try that out.  We went to the shop and cut up some poles and whittled them down and made some stilts.  Everybody learned to walk on stilts.

Then my brother Fritz, who is 2 years older than I am, decided he could walk a rope so we got a plow line.  If you don’t know about a plow line, it’s about a half-inch sea grass rope.  Anyway, we crawled up in the hay barn and across there, about 20 feet high, we stretched that rope across.  Fritz went and got a bamboo fishing pole about eight feet long, like the tightrope walker’s.  He got on one side and I said, ‘kinda keep the rope tight…watch him.’ So he gets on, walks barefooted—walks one foot --and balances. He gets over halfway and all of a sudden—“KABUNK!”—He was down!

ANNE:

Was the barn empty?

OLLIE:

No. That was in a hallway 16 feet wide and there was nothing below except some hay we fed the calves. 

Anyway, I said ‘Fritz, are you hurt?’ 

‘Heck no!’ he said. ‘I just wanted to fall down and see how it’d feel!’

That ended the tightrope walking for a while.

There was another incident about how tough Fritz was—how he liked the battle.  We were coming home from school one day and this group of boys would like to throw rocks at the buggy.  We had a buggy—there would be 4 or 5 of us in it at a time—pulled by a mule—old Jack at that time. 

I was reading my book one evening going home from school, and all of a sudden I hear rocks hit the buggy.  Fritz hands the lines over to me and I don’t even know what happened.  I grabbed the reins and he’s running back down the road.  I say, ‘Fritz do you need some help?’ and he hollers back, ‘Heck no! There’s only five of ‘em!’ 

He did the job too.  He was quite a fighter.

Clem Schwartz was a young man at that time and he’d egg the other boys on to tease him because he knew how Fritz was.  We were ‘Full of sauerkraut’ because we’re German, and we called them ‘Blue bellied Yankees’. More than once the rocks were thrown at us when we went to school.  That (mule) was the same Jack.  He went to school for 8 years.  He never did get a diploma, and I don’t think he learned a thing.  He was just as smart the last day as he was the first.

-------------------------------------------------

1925 Matt Willems 8th grade graduation.  Matt is in the back row 2nd from left.

Elizabeth and Herman about 1925

Herman and Elizabeth on their wedding day.

On November 23, 1926 there was the occasion of another happy wedding for John, Anna, and family to attend. Elizabeth Ann Willems met a young man named Herman Joseph Werner at a dance where  Herman was playing violin as a paid musician.  They dated and were wed at St. Benedict's in Subiaco.

Circa 1927, Elizabeth holds her little sister 
Margaret, Anna Marie stands on right

Circa 1926, Anna Marie who was the girl who arrived after the births of seven brothers in a row.

Circa 1925 Abbot Edward Burgert and the parishioners of St. Benedict's
Father Peter Post is the priest holding his hat on the front, right.
John M. Willems stands behind him. Phillip Willems is at the right side top of the stairs smoking his pipe.

1927 
Aloys Willems Solemn Communion

Willie Willems second row on right with his 8th grade graduation class, Circa 1928

The last baby born in the Willems family at the homeplace was John Stephen Willems. He was delivered by Mrs. Otten, the local midwife, and baptized immediately as he showed signs of stress.   John, not a junior since his middle name differed from his Papa's, was born February 28, 1928.   Johnny, as he was usually called,  was the twelfth child and eighth son of Anna Marie and John Martin Willems.  
Anna's health began a downturn, resulting in terrible headaches.  She was diagnosed with Bright's disease, which now in her case would be called chronic nephritis. There were many symptoms of the illness with fatigue and severe headaches being most pronounced in her case.  To combat the pain in her head she would wrap a cold towel around her head, and when she was very sick spent most of the day in bed.  The older girls pitched in with laundry and other chores, but had families of their own to look after.  

An old German Atlas, once the property of John M. Willems

John M. believed most things could be learned in a person's spare time by reading books. After all, it worked for him!  He had an extensive library and encouraged his children to read and improve their minds.  His collection of books included volume after volume of law books, manuals on agriculture, and assorted reference books. There were also biographies and many great works of literary fiction in his library including those by James Fenimore Cooper, Charles Dickens, and William Shakespeare.  Frank was sitting at the table in the family's kitchen one afternoon reading a cheap cowboy novel when, to his dismay, his Papa asked to see the book, looked it over, and unceremoniously threw it into the fire.  Frank's sister Anna Marie once said the children weren't allowed to go to the public library so contented themselves with books from school or home. 

John M. Willems signatures in atlas

It was John Willems opinion that his sons should not go to school, but remain on the farm to do the work of a man once they reached the age of fourteen.  He made an exception for his son Willie and allowed him to continue his education at St. Benedict's.  This exception was granted since Willie seemed inclined to join the priesthood and as a result also freed William to pitch in as cook when needed. 
The atlas pictured, turned up in a used book store in Kentucky where by strange happenstance a member of Aloys Willems family happened upon it. 
Teaching by example was Papa's way of life.  Though he had much help, between his sons and hired help, his hands were rock hard and leathery from shoeing mules, working the sawmill, driving mules and bringing in crops.  The young ones, both children and grandchildren liked to watch Papa work but knew to stay out of his way.  Papa was fearless, had a great business sense, and was much admired.  
At the age of 14 John's sons were considered men and worked alongside their brothers and hired hands on the farm throughout the seasons.  Papa talked with each son as he came of age making him understand they were to be out ahead of the pack while working in the family cotton fields.  Most did this as well as they could. 

The family had bees in a meadow and an orchard. Several times a year the hives would require tending where Papa required help to remove honey combs which were sold for 15 cents each.  Queen bees were replaced as needed.  With as many as 26 hives this amounted to plenty of contact with the bees.  As a teenager Aloys had a bee fly down the back of his shirt collar and sting him near his spine.  He became very ill, certainly an allergic reaction, and from then on relinquished bee tending to other family members.  Papa, of all the family was probably the only one who didn't mind tending the beehives.  His sons when enlisted to rob the hives of honey approached the job with trepidation, dreading the few stings they might receive even though Papa smoked them with a billows.  

Circa 1928, Frank Willems Solemn Communion

One of Frank Willems favorite stories was telling how his Mama sent him and several of his brothers to St. Benedict's Church in Subiaco one day for holy water. The boys hitched the mule to the buggy and set off the four or five miles to church.  It was a hot day and the mule didn't make very good time.  By the time the boys had arrived at church, filled a jar with the holy water, and set off for home it was even hotter.  They became increasingly thirsty and finally one of them took a drink--yes, of the holy water.  Well, by the time they arrived back home it was all gone, but as Frank said, Mama was a forgiving sort and who's to know if they were better boys for the experience.  While I can't imagine why the holy water wasn't brought home after Sunday Mass, it seems that maybe Anna Marie was giving her boys something to do away from home so she could mop the floor or have a few moments without rowdy boys underfoot. 

John S. "Johnny" Willems tells of another story on the same vein that occurred in the 1930s.  At times when a phone call was received, Papa would claim he couldn't hear the caller clearly and send his son out to water the phone line so he could hear better. Johnny did as he was told.  Papa knew how to get his little boy with big ears out of the house to have a private conversation.   

1928-1929 Student and their teachers at St. Benedict's School in Subiaco-Click image to enlarge

The roster of students 
- look for Justin, Frank, Alois, and Fred Willems

Frank Willems, late 1920s or early '30s

Phillip and Katherine were  living with their eldest son John Martin Willems when Katherine became ill. Apparently they'd not made it to Canada that summer as Doctor Smith, who signed her death certificate, stated she was under his care from July 11 until the day of her death on September 10,1929.  Katherine is recorded as being age 77 years, 10 months, and 25 days at her death.  John M. Willems was the informant for the document.  He stated that his mother's parents were Mary Yunk and Clemens Neisius.

Katherine was laid to rest in Subiaco at St. Benedict's Cemetery.

The 1920s

The Willems sisters families in Streator

The Sauer house at 1214 N. Shabona in Streator had nine inhabitants at the time of the 1920 census. The five oldest children had left home by then so there was head of the family, John, a car inspector, age 55, and his wife Margaret (formerly Willems) age 54.  Daughter Eva,17, also known as Effie, was an office girl for a local doctor. Sons Frank, 18, and Carl, 15, both worked in a factory, Raymond, age 11, went to school, and the youngest, six year old Margaret Sauer had yet not started school.
The Sauer's newly married daughter Justina and her husband Joe Hart, who worked as a glass cutter, were both recorded as being 23 years of age.

Katherine Willems Korstick Klever and family were living at 405 N. Everett in Streator.  The 1920 US Census recorded "Catherine" and husband John "Cleaver" living in the rear of the house with Katherine's 2 children by Karl Korstick and the two they had together.  Katherine's son Edward, more commonly known as Matthew, "Kostnick" and wife Clara were renting the front of the house from the Klevers.  (Matthew had served at headquarters of the 68th Artillery, Coast Artillery Corps during WWI.)
John, 57, still owned his grocery.  He and the 49 year old Katherine were both naturalized citizens. John's stepson's William, 18,  and Anthony, 16, both held jobs.  Neither attended school. William was timekeeper for a car shop, and his brother Anthony was an office boy for The Metal Stamping Works that manufactured card tables and music stands among other things. Anthony's 29 year old brother, Edward was a foreman at the Stamping Works.  Though the census didn't note such things, Edward and his 21 year wife Clara were expecting a baby.

The Wahl family of 1006 Bronson Street in Streator was enumerated as follows:
Nicholas Wahl, 53, and his wife Katherine, 58, both aliens.  Nicholas worked as a roadmaster for the interurban railroad.  They owned their home free and clear.  Nine of their ten children are listed though the two oldest sons have lines through their names indicating they likely didn't live at their parents address.  (Not listed was their oldest daughter Katherine who died October 28, 1918 at the age of 25.) Children listed were: Peter, 34, a railroad engineer; Karl (Charles), 32, a masher at the detinning works; Frank, 24, a track foreman for the railroad; James, 22, a laborer at the plate glass factory; and William, 20, a laborer at a washing machine company.  Anna, 19; Nicklos, 16, a laborer at a washing machine company; John, 13,  and Rose, age 11.

Joe Willems

In 1920 Joe was living at 126 South Kirkwood Road in Kirkwood, Missouri just outside St. Louis.  He was renting the space for his second hand store business and living at the same address.  Joe was 32 at the time of the census though he was listed as 34.  A 1923 city directory lists Joe Willems as a furniture dealer at 124 South Kirkwood Road.  This address is presently adjacent to two railroad tracks.

Beatrice, Nebraska
Frank and Louise's family of five was living on Lincoln Street at the dawn of the 1920s.  Thirty six year old Frank was working as a traveling salesman for an auto company and reported he'd become a naturalized citizen in 1919.  The family house was mortgaged.  M. Louise was 36, eldest daughter Emma, was 15, Eleanore, 11, and Leo, 8.  All three of the children were attending school. Luckily for them, the children's grandparents lived just blocks away to the north at 1421 Monroe Street.
Phillip Willems was reported as being age 61 when the census was enumerated in January of 1920 though he wouldn't reach that age until the following month.  Phillip's wife Katrina was 68.  Phillip was working out as a laborer at times and is listed as being a naturalized citizen in 1916, while Katrina is listed as an alien.  Phillip and Katherine still enjoyed traveling to visit family and with great distance between Annaheim, SK, Mission, TX, and Paris, AR, Beatrice, Nebraska was probably a good central location in which to live.
A Horrible Accident
It seems that tragedy after tragedy befell the Frank X. Willems family.  In 1920 three of their 5 children were living, but in 1925 they would lose Leo, their remaining son.  The fourteen year old boy was laid to rest in St. Joseph Cemetery, Beatrice, Nebraska near his brother Frank.

9-28-1925



Click on any image to enlarge

9-30-1925

Daughter Emma also died in a gun accident according to family lore.  John M. Willems son Frank wrote that she had "given a shotgun to her husband as a Christmas present.  That afternoon, eager to use his new gun, they drove out of town, stopped and got out of the car.  He reached down, picked up the gun, slipped on the ice and fell.  The gun went off and shot Louise, his wife."  Whether Louise was Emma's middle name or whether Frank mistakenly substituted that of her mother I don't know. Nebraska is a difficult state to research and from my computer I could find no record of her after the 1920 census- nothing of her marriage, death or burial.  A different story regarding the death of Emma was told by Frank's brother Aloys. In his story, people in an automobile were driving around the house in circles chasing jack rabbits and Emma was accidently shot and killed.  I believe the time of the year in his story was also Christmas time.  Whether either of these stories is accurate is anybody's guess!
A tornado unleashed it's wrath in 1928 when it blasted through the family chicken farm. The story was in places illegible, but here is what could be made out:

Tuesday, June 12, 1928 

Beatrice Vicinity Is Hit By Tornado

Buildings Unroofed by Storm Monday Night-

F.X. Willems has Heavy Loss at Farm Home 

BEATRICE, NEB-June 12- A tornado passed from the south

between this city and the state institution for the feebleminded

one mile west of here, during the night razed and unroofed

three businesses and completely demolished another killing

over two hundred chickens, the property of F.X.. Willems.

A … windmill and tower was twisted from its foundation and

fragments hurled for half a mile. Approaching the road north

the storm leveled an old hay barn after which the …. 

An eight inch board was driven completely through a 15 inch

telephone pole.  Both ends of the board of the board protruding

on either side in the form of a cross.  The pole was twisted off

twelve feet above the ground and holding together with cross

arms and …..buried several hundred yards north into a corn field.

Not a wisp was broken. No one was injured.

Tobias and Margaret Post move to Florida
The Post family had spent less than a decade in south Texas, and that was too long for Tobias. Though there had been no severe hurricanes while living in the Galveston area a descendant reports that flooding left them with few possessions. They made it out safely and settled in Jacksonville, where the family was enumerated in 1920. The census reported Tobias as 43, and "Margarite" as 46.
Times were hard for the family.  Their house at 1117 Dyal was mortgaged.  Tobias worked as a janitor in a dry goods store, while his son 17 year old Freddie was an apprentice at a stone works.  Freddie's sisters Anna, 19,  Louise, 15, "Therresa", 10, and 6 year old Clara who'd been born in Florida, all attended school.

The next post will be titled-
The 1920s-John and Anna Willems Family in Logan County, Arkansas 
If you know anything about the early model autos, trucks, or tractors John M. Willems owned please email me at katdan@centurytel.net.

Mathias family moves to Texas

Mathias and Dorothea move to Texas

After Joe was called into service in the Great War (WWI), Math and Dora decided to move to Hidalgo County, Texas.  Matt had several parcels of property in Charleston so he began to sell them off.  A property belonging to Mathias and Dorothea Willems and George Lumpp was purchased by the German American Bank.  This land is now part of the present site of the Franklin County Courthouse. In September 1919 Mathias and Dorothea sold the block of land adjacent to the Catholic Church. November brought the sale of the last of their property, on South Vine Street in which they owned a half interest.
Why exactly they moved, I do not know. Maybe it was in want of warmer winters that might help Math's skin condition, but by the time the 1920 census was enumerated Mathias, Dorothea, and three sons were settled on a farm outside Mission, Texas.   The record shows them as "Williams" and mangled other names as well, but it is them.  The third son was Daniel, age 12, born in New York, so most likely another orphan train rider.  Both "Matthew" and "Kotalora" as the names read, were 56 years old, Joe was 25, Charles (this would be John, Charles could be his middle name), was 24.  All the adult males worked on the farm.  "Matthew" claimed to have filed naturalization papers in 1906, but still was not a citizen.

September of 1925 brought a family reunion of sorts to Math and Dorothea's farm in Texas.  Not only did Mathias brother Phillip, and sister-in-law Katherine, arrive for a visit, but his youngest sister Katherine arrived from Streator, Illinois with her husband John Klever, and their two children Marie, who was almost 10, and Charles, age 8, who was known as Chuck.  The Klever's visit lasted about a month during which time the children enjoyed farm life, got into mischief for which they received spanking and got to know their cousins, aunts, and uncles.  (Thanks to Marie Klever Kolesar who wrote of this event, a bit of family history was preserved.)

Willems Family in USA 1911-1919

Representative Willems
John Martin Willems campaign for a seat in the Arkansas House of Representatives was a success. He served back to back terms in 1911 and 1913.  The House was in session from January 12 to March 13, 1911 with a special session from May 22 to June 10, 1911.  For his second term the session reconvened in Little Rock from January 13 to March 14, 1913.  John M. Willems roomed at 1513 McGowan in Little Rock and made his way home to the farm once business was concluded.  With three little ones at home and more on the way Anna Marie wasn't able to stay with her husband although she may have visited between pregnancies.  On October 31, 1911 she gave birth at home to Mathew John Willems, then a year and a half later William "Willie" Mathew Willems was born on May 12, 1913, making them a family of seven.  Anna Marie Willems delivered three more sons before the end of the decade: Fred Victor on October 3, 1914, Aloys Jacob on October 7, 1916, and then Frank Joseph June 23, 1919.

January 8, 1914, click to enlarge.
This German Catholic newspaper
ran a story regarding John M. Willems
decision to not run for office.



John M. Willems bought land to enlarge the farm when he believed it prudent, making the farm more self sufficient with each purchase.  With this growth more hired hands were needed.  The hands, some with families, lived in cabins on the fertile bottom land.  In these early years most everything was done with mule power, and the herd of mules grew as well. Chores from plowing and planting, to hauling timber or harvesting crops was made easier with a pair of mules.

Frank and M. Louise family move to Nebraska
Frank and Mary Louise didn't stay in Marysville, Kansas long.  It was no time and they moved the 30 or so miles north and settled in Gage County, Nebraska at a town called Beatrice.  Louise gave birth to their fourth child there.  Leo arrived on March 29, 1911.  While living in Gage County, Frank worked as a salesman and the family raised chickens, having large flocks to tend. Emma, Eleanor, and young Frank, Jr. were attending school at St. Joseph's School in Beatrice when Frank came down with diphtheria.  The six year old first grader died of the disease early in the morning of October 20, 1915.
The Beatrice Daily Sun ran a story telling of four cases of diphtheria resulting in closing the school for fumigation.  Frank Willems Jr. was the first diphtheria case diagnosed.
Frank was laid to rest in St. Joseph Cemetery in Beatrice.

1917 Phillip and Katherine move to Beatrice, Nebraska
On June 27, 1917 Phillip and Katherine applied for admission to the United States.
The admissions document listed Phillip Willems as being a 58 year old farmer, able to read, write, and speak English.  He was Canadian nationality of German origin who last resided at Annaheim, Saskatchewan.  Listed as a relative or friend in Canada is "August" John Willems, his son.  It should have read "Alois" John Willems.  Phillip and Katherine's final destination was Beatrice, Nebraska. When the document asks for who they are going to see and his complete address it reads Frank X., Annaheim, Charleston, Ark.  (The person filling this out was obviously confused!) As recorded, the last time Phillip and Katherine left the USA was 1910.  They are intending to reside permanently in the USA and become citizens.  Phillip is carrying $125.  Kate, that is how she is recorded, was age 65, and recorded her place of birth as Ouren, Germany (now presently in eastern Belgium). Kate was listed as being 5'2" with gray hair and brown eyes while her husband Phillip was 5'8" gray headed with blue eyes. Both were dark complected.  Kate reported they'd migrated from Germany in May 1883.
They were admitted to the USA on August 24, 1917 and headed to what would be their home for a time-- Beatrice, Nebraska.

The World War
Europe was in turmoil and the USA was being drawn into the fray after losing ships to German submarines.  Finally on April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson went before a joint session of Congress to request a declaration of war against Germany. With the United States involved in the World War, later known as WWI, men were require to register for the draft.  There were three registrations:
First Registration.  This registration took place on June 5, 1917.  It was for men aged 21 to 31--men born between June 6, 1886 and June 5, 1896.
Second Registration. This registration took place on June 5, 1918.  It was for men who had turned 21 since the previous registration.  In addition, a supplemental registration on August 24, 1918 was for men who turned 21 since June 5, 1918.
Third Registration. The third and last registration was held on September 12, 1918 for men aged 18 to 21 and 21 to 45.  
Aliens were not required to register, and not all that registered were drafted.

During the time span the USA was involved-- April 6, 1917 to 11-11-1918, 4 million men were mobilized for the military.  110 thousand died including 43 thousand that succumbed to the Spanish flu pandemic.  

click to enlarge John Martin Willems registration

John Martin Willems and brother's Frank and Joseph registered on September 12, 1918.  See each man's signature on the bottom left side.  John, Frank, and Joseph were never called to serve. The war ended November 11, 1918.
Frank was working as a salesman for Nebraska Bank Auto Company.

Frank Xaver Willems registration

John Martin's brother Joseph registered in Kirkwood, Missouri where he was self employed as a merchant.  His home address was also that of his business.

Joseph Willems registration

At Charleston, Mathias and Dorothea Willems sons John and Joe were 21 years of age when they registered. Joe was drafted into the US Army, John did not get called to serve.

Questions, corrections, or comments?  Email me at katdan@centurytel.net

The Willems Families in Annaheim, Saskatchewan pre-WWI

Love was in the air in Saskatchewan.  Despite the arduous work that went into plowing the land, building a house, planting, cultivating, etc., the young adults found time for courting.  All of the area immigrants were Roman Catholic so church and church functions were looked forward to for more reasons than worship alone.

Phillip and Katherine Willems

Phillip and Katherine's oldest daughter still at home, Mary Willems, was about eighteen years old when she married the German born Nicolaus John Glabus who was 6 years her senior.  The wedding took place in 1906 at St. Ann's church.  Nick's farm was two miles north of her father's farm so Mary still saw her family often.

Frank and Mary Louise family was growing.  When they'd arrived in Canada they had only baby Emma to care for. Then on February 21, 1908 Eleanor Katherine Willems arrived.  A big name for a little babe.  The following year they were blessed with a son.  Baby Frank arrived on September 9, 1909.

part of Phillip Willems claim near Annaheim

About this same time (probably the winter of 1908/09) Anna Willems Hoffman died.  Grieving at their loss, were Phillip and Katherine Willems and their surviving six children, Anne's husband Mike Hoffman, and daughter, Louise, who was about a year and a half old.
Alois Willems and his younger sister Katie were dating two Loeffler siblings.  They looked forward to seeing each other at the community barn dances where Alois played the violin.  Twenty one year old Alois courted seventeen year old Elizabeth Loeffler, while eighteen year old Katie Willems was woed by Elizabeth's older brother Ignatius Loeffler, Jr. who was 24 when they married on October 26, 1909. The wedding held at St. Ann's Church in Annaheim, Saskatchewan was a joyful affair.  It was a double wedding ceremony that joined two children of each family together.  (The photos below were submitted by the families for publication in a now out of print book called "A Cross in the Clearing". This book is available for viewing online at http://www.ourroots.ca/e/toc.aspx?id=8658.  It contains  a wealth of historical information in addition to biographies submitted by local families.  The book was published in 1980 so keep in mind that some of the biographies were written by descendants many decades after their ancestors were deceased.)

Not everyone in the Willems family was happy living in Canada.  The long winters were filled with short days and some years snow seemed to stay on the ground forever.  Winters were much colder than they'd been in Arkansas necessitating having an enormous woodpile, or going the more expensive route and purchasing coal to heat the house.  Joseph and his older brother Frank probably called it quits about the same time in 1910.  Frank sold his claim to Joe Lersch, packed up and headed for Winnipeg, Canada with Mary Louise and their three children.  They crossed the border in October 21, 1910.
The family are listed on a manifest as:
Frank X. Willems, age 27, a farmer, able to read and write, Canadian of German ancestry, Annaheim was his last permanent address.
Louise, his wife, was listed next.  She was a 28 year old housewife. M. Louise was also literate.
Next was Eleanora, age 2, and her little brother Frank, age 1.
Listed as the person he was closest related to in Canada is his father Philip Willems of Annaheim.  The family's destination was Marysville, Kansas.  Frank had purchased train fare to Kansas, and had $22 left.  His last time in the USA was May 1907.  They all answered "no" to the questions of whether they were polygamists or anarchists. (Those answering "yes" to those questions were denied admittance.)
Frank and the two children were listed to be in good health, and Louise, the document reported, was 3 months pregnant.  Frank was described as 5'7 1/2" and fair complected with brown hair and blue eyes.
Louise was listed as fair complected, 5'3" tall, with brown hair and brown eyes.  Eleanore and young Frank also were reported to have brown hair and eyes. Frank's birthplace was listed as "Niedervampach" Germany, and Louise's as Hagnau, Germany. Both adults reported they initially came to the USA through the port of NY, though neither knew the name of the ship that brought them.  Frank stated he'd arrived from Europe in 1883, and Louise in 1885.
Their daughter Emma was omitted from the manifest since she was born in the United States.  They headed to Kansas.  When he was a young man Frank X. Willems worked selling cast iron stoves.  He journeyed through the prairies and farms selling them from the back of a wagon.  To protect himself from robbers he carried a handgun. Frank was awarded an engraved watch for his salesmanship.  

There is no record of Joseph's return from Canada as he also had been born in the United States. Joseph Earnest Willems was mentally ill. Anne Wagner Willems, a fine family historian who helped spark my interest in genealogy, once said she thought he was bipolar.  Whatever his illness, he, at least during part of his life, was able to hold a job and be productive. He settled in Missouri. 

The 1911 Canada Census

When the census was enumerated in 1911 only Phillip and Katherine were living on the original homestead that he farmed.  "Philip" , born February 1859, so was 52 years old, and Katherine, born October 1851, was 59.  Both were enumerated as being of German origin and Canadian nationality, having been naturalized in 1908. The census listed them plus all their neighbors as being Roman Catholic. They most commonly spoke German and English.

Next door, Alois and Elizabeth farmed their homestead.  The 1911 census revealed:
Alois Willems, born in April, 1888, was 23, his wife Elizabeth, born in April 1892, was 19, and daughter Mary had been born September of 1910 so was 8 month old.  They, too, were of German origin and Canadian nationality, speaking German and English, and were Roman Catholic.

Ignatius and Katherine (Willems) Loeffler were enumerated as follows:
Ignatius was 25, born September 1985, a farmer;  Katherina, age 19, born August 1892.
They are Roman Catholic though there were some on the same page listed as Protestants or Methodists. They have English speaking neighbors of English origin so Ignatius and Katherine also most commonly spoke English. They were literate.  

Nick and Mary (Willems) Glabus were enumerated on their homestead as:
Nicolaus Glabus, born July 1884, age 27.  He arrived in Canada in 1903 and was naturalized in 1908.  He was a farmer.  The common language was German and English. His wife Maria Glabus, April 1890, age 21, was naturalized, and baby Marcella Glabus, born January 1910, age 1. They were Roman Catholic of German origin and Canadian nationality. The adults were literate.