The Willems Family weathers a Great Loss, and the Great Depression

Aloys holds Jude while Frank, Justin, and Anna Marie sit in the Willems family's school bus

The trip to school was always eventful for the Willems children.  Not only were there fights as described earlier, but name calling.  Some of the non-Catholic neighbor children would shout jeers as the buggy went by, calling the Willems children "Cat-lickers".  They replied by calling out "Baptizers!"  While some of this was done in fun, at times there was animosity in the taunts.   As Jude grew older, you never knew if the mule would lay down or stop to graze on the way to school.  When Margaret began first grade, about 1932, the older children were held up even more as she hated school and would jump down from the buggy to go off and play, delaying the trip as much as she possibly could.  She'd scream bloody murder when caught and was dragged into school still screaming.  The nuns would look on in disapproval as the lessons had already begun and the class had been disturbed. Without a doubt she was called into Papa's library for a "talk" after he heard about this.

Willems sisters Anna Marie and Margaret sit in wagon  with their
nieces Hermena standing on left and Mary Agnes sitting in Margaret's lap

An article appeared in the Southern Guardian newspaper circa 1930. My copy is very fuzzy, but appears to say:
Paris, Ark.--
John M. Willems, prominent member of the Arkansas legislature from Logan County, and a friend of The Southern Guardian, has purchased 100 acres of river bottom land for $55 per acre which he plans to develop into an additional farm.  The land, part of the Bryson Plantation is located a mile and a half from the Willems home in Clark township.  Before the recent presidential election Mr. Willems declared that if W. Wilson were defeated he would sell out and move to Mexico, but that if the Democrats won he would remain in Logan County and buy an additional farm.
Note:  Democrat Woodrow Wilson served as President from 1913-1921.  He died in 1924. Subsequent presidents Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover were Republicans.
That John M. Willems considered moving and starting a farm elsewhere would have come as a surprise if not for the family lore of John Martin Willems as a younger man going out west to Oregon to see for himself the possibilities of beginning a farming operation there.  

The stock market crash and following Great Depression hit the county differently than it would've had more people been invested.  It came as a slower realization that less cash flowing meant fewer jobs, and from a farmers point of view, cotton that at times brought as much as 30 cents a pound in Arkansas before the crash, plummeted to a mere nickel a pound.  At 5 or 6 cents a pound it certainly didn't pay to plant as it cost more than that for seed and labor.  That money was desperately missed especially when the bank holds a mortgage on a farm.  John M. Willems at least had the forethought to have some of his money at his home instead of in the bank.  His hiding place?  Inside the family's Crown pump organ!

Despite this, the Great Depression brought hard times to the Willems family.  Part of the reason was a mortgage that John M. Willems cosigned as a favor for a friend that nearly cost the family the ultimate price.  Frank Willems was about ten years old when he noticed Papa was acting oddly.  Papa had taken a pistol from his desk and took it outside walking towards the front yard.  Frank was afraid of what Papa would do and told Mama so.  Mama Anna Marie ran and told Frank's Grandpa Phillip who went out and talked to his son John, telling him how much he would be missed, how much the family needed and loved him.  Frank watched as the two grown men hugged and shed emotional tears over what might have been.  What a horrible blow to the family it would have been had John taken his own life.
To add more problems, after weathering the Great Flood of 1927 in which the Mississippi River and tributaries flooded ruining crops throughout the mid west, there came a drought. It wasn't just any drought either.  It was the worst drought Arkansas would have in the entire 20th century, causing crop failure and widespread hunger since even home kitchen gardens burned up in the dry heat.  The drought of 1930-1931 exacted it's toll on people who were already hurting.  That they coped with it and still helped their neighbors when possible shows the kind of resilience they had.  John and Anna's son Frank said that when his Papa was called upon by hungry coal miners on strike for better wages and working conditions he was ready to help. After hearing that their families had nothing to eat, Papa went and got some canned goods and potatoes from his cellar,  meat from the smokehouse, and flour from the pantry.  He helped local people get jobs, he helped sponsor distant family in Europe so they could migrate to the United States.  He was a help to so many.

1930 Ollie Willems among 8th graders graduating from St. Benedict's in Subiaco.
Ollie is the first boy on the left in the front row.

When Anna's health deteriorated to where she needed one, John M. Willems hired a nurse to come and look after her.  But while the nurse attended to Anna Marie, the house still needed cleaning and a cook, and the small children needed looking after. That is how Hannah Armstrong came to work in the Willems household.  Back in those days Hannah would be referred to as "colored" or "negro". While Hannah cooked and assumed the role of housekeeper, her husband Jim worked the fields as a hired hand for John M. Willems. She was a wonderful and capable cook, and though everyone preferred Anna was well enough to prepare the family's meals as usual, they appreciated Hannah.  Young Anna Marie remembered her admonishing the children to be quiet as their mother had a "Headyache".

A painting of John M. Willems homeplace- the home had 7 bedrooms, a library, parlor, large kitchen
 and dining area. Later part of the large pantry was made into a bathroom so occupants no longer need use the double outhouse.  A laundry room was updated over the years. 

During the 1920s the farm used a Delco battery for lighting. By the 1930s it was not reliable and needed to be replaced, but with news of REA coming to the county soon, the Willems farm and house relied on kerosene lamps.  As it turned out it wasn't too soon but was about 1938 when the house was finally lit with electric lighting.  The kitchen, out of necessity had two stoves.  When cooking meals for the large numbers that gathered around the table both were often in use.  The Willems household took advantage of every innovation getting indoor plumbing and other things we think of as necessities well before the surrounding houses. 
After Catherine and Elizabeth were married, each brought her husband and children to the long kitchen table every Sunday for dinner. A crowd of 14 to 18 during those days wasn't uncommon.

Visitors were frequent.  Ollie Willems was a boy when his Grandpa Phillip's brother Mathias Willems visited with his wife Dorothea and sons John and Joe from Mission, Texas.   Uncle Math was a very religious man.  When he encountered young children he'd place a hand on the child's head and say a blessing in German. Math, like his brother Phillip wore a mustache and was ususally pretty easy going.  Because of a skin condition Math bathed more frequently than most folks.  One day he heated water for a bath and also heated water to rinse.  As he bathed he prayed and sang hymns. Fritz snuck in and quietly exchanged cold water for the warm rinse water.  Fritz and Ollie waited... Math poured the rinse water, and to put it as Ollie did, "he began praying for the other side!" 
Life on the farm meant jobs for everyone.  When Anna Marie was young she was showed how to feed ears of corn into the corn sheller as she turned the crank.  She was told to fill a coffee can to the top with the shelled corn to feed the chickens and draw fresh water from the well for them.  The chickens made Anna Marie nervous and she was especially afraid of the rooster who'd peck and flap his wings at her.  One day at supper Papa remarked that he hadn't seen his rooster lately, and wondered if anyone had seen him.  Anna Marie said she'd seen him alright.  He was tangled up in the fence behind the chicken coop, and though afraid to free him, she'd fed him some corn.  Poor bird wasn't given water though, so Papa unfortunately had to get another rooster!

Phillip was in his early 20s and longed for some privacy.  Papa allowed him to cut timber and mill it with his brothers help.  He built a house for himself across the meadow from his parent's home.  Phillip, they said "was batching it".  The Willems house had seven bedrooms.  Sleeping arrangements depended on how many people lived in the house at the time and could get quite crowded when extended family came for long visits.  

In the Spring of 1931 word arrived from Annaheim, Saskatchewan of the death of John's brother Alois.  He died May 4, 1931.  Alois John Willems was laid to rest in St. Ann's Cemetery in Annaheim.  He was only 43 years old.  Alois and Elizabeth had been married 21 years during which they had eleven children together:Marie, Hilaria, Angeline, Alfred, Raymond, Arnold, Hartman John, Evelyn, Ann, Bernard, and Edward.

1932 Willie Willems front and center of the High School graduates of St. Benedict's at Subiaco



Willie Mathew Willems

 Christmas was celebrated with a candle adorned tree. When these candles were lit it was a lovely sight, one to be remembered.  The parlor of the house was used on Christmas, Easter,  and"state occasions" when priests and other dignitaries visited, and sad occasions when there was a death in the family.  It was furnished with a piano, and a large horsehair sofa that was difficult to sit on if you were a young girl wearing a dress or young boy in short pants.  
In 1932 John M. Willems campaigned on the Democratic ticket for a seat in the Arkansas legislature.  He won the election to Arkansas 49th general assembly  which met from January 3rd to March 9 of 1933.  Once again John stayed at a boarding house and drove home on the weekends when possible.  Most all members of his family went with him at least once while the House was in session and were recognized from the floor. Hermena Werner Pinter even recalls going with her mother, Elizabeth, and little sister, Mary Agnes.  They drove to Little Rock with Papa, and all stayed in the same rooming house. (Hermena found out much later that the rooming house was owned by the aunt of her future husband.) While in office John M. Willems worked hard for his constituents.  He was instrumental in getting bills passed to end the seasonal flooding of the rich bottom land along Six Mile Creek and the Arkansas River.  While it may seem a bit self serving, many of his constituents were farmers as well, so being in their shoes he could see what needed to be done. He served on the McClain Bottoms Levee Board for decades which negotiated for levees along the Arkansas River to protect the land from flooding.

Finally on June 1, 1933 Anna succumbed to her battle with Bright's disease. As she weakened Anna was attended by Dr. Thompson.  Her health was dealt another blow when she acquired pneumonia.  Knowing that she likely wasn't long for this world Anna asked that her children come to her bedside.  They came a few at a time to see their Mama to hear her tell them how she loved them and wanted them to be good, to do good.  Her grandchildren filed in to see her too, there were seven of them at the time.  Though her passing was hard on everyone, it was her youngest children who didn't have the maturity to understand and were told it was God's will.  All members of the family carried with them memories of that terrible time.  As was the tradition, Anna's remains were laid out in the parlor where the rosary was said, and friends and neighbors came to pay their respects, what now is termed visitation.  The coffin remained there until time for the funeral.  John Martin and Anna Marie had been married 30 years.  Though in a different house, Anna Marie Guenther Willems died on the same farm where she was born. She was laid to rest at St. Joseph's Cemetery, not far from her parents resting place.  In addition to her husband, all twelve children, and seven grandchildren.   Anna's children were certain their dear Mama had gone to heaven since she'd been a saint on earth.

Death Certificate of Anna M. Willems-click to enlarge

In September of 1933 came the news of another death in the family.  Mathias "Math" Willems died in Mission, Texas on September 29, 1933.  Son John was particularly taken aback by the death of Math and sent out word by telegram of Math's eminent death.  No one from Streator or Arkansas made the trip to Mission, Texas for the funeral. Math was laid to rest in Mission, Texas at the Laurel Hill Cemetery.
   

Math Willems death certificate-click 0n image to enlarge

On December 5, 1933 Prohibition ended. the Willems family began to make more wine and other alcoholic beverages, mostly for their own use, but they did at times sell to neighbors. John S. Willems recalled a time late one summer when a local man in need of a drink bought the settlins, as that was all that was left of the wine.

John Martin and Zola Mae's marriage license

John and Zola Mae on their wedding day

Not long after Anna's death, the youngest children went to live with older sister's Catherine and Elizabeth's families.  The plan was one of necessity, and didn't work out terribly well.  They ranged in age from Anna Marie age ten, seven year old Margaret, and five year old John. Though all were fond of their sisters, brothers-in-law, and cousins, they were uprooted from the rest of the family and their everyday normal routine.  Papa was beside himself and though many considered his looking for a new wife disrespectful to the deceased, he searched the area for a suitable woman.  It would take a special person to fill the requirements, someone who had the capacity to raise children, was Catholic, and strong enough to take on the work of a planter's wife.  He found several prospective brides and introduced them one by one to the older children as their "cousin".  After the woman was returned to her home, he'd ask his children's opinion.  Finally he settled on the widow of Adron Young Manus.  Her maiden name was Zola Mae Stanley.  She was younger than Anna Marie by almost 12 years, a lively woman with five children (she'd given birth to a daughter in 1926 that lived less than a day.)  Though not Catholic she converted to Catholicism and went on to be  a leader in church organizations.  Zola Mae was a nurse just a few requirements from being a registered nurse and had worked at the Tuberculosis Sanatorium in Booneville and the hospital on the hill in Paris.
They were married on February 12, 1934 in Little Rock.  Before the wedding John purchased a new 1933 Chevy sedan.  They would need a dependable car for their honeymoon trip to Canada where John planned on introducing his new bride to the Canadian branch of his family.  John enlisted his son Willie to drive the couple so the newlyweds could enjoy the scenery.  This union wasn't welcomed as much by some of the older children as it was the younger ones.  In later years several remembered how they'd resented Zola Mae or held a grudge against Papa for remarrying so quickly.  In the end though, "Mae", "Mother" for the children who'd called Anna Marie "Mama", or for the next generation, "Grandma Mae" worked her way into the heart of everyone.  

Circa 1934, Ophelia Manus and step siblings Justin, 
Margaret and Anna Marie Willems Solemn Communion

The family wasn't particularly musical, though there were some that could play instruments or had fine voices for singing.  John M. Willems especially enjoyed turning out renditions of German tunes. Papa, had been an organ drummer back in his younger days and could play the family's piano, organ, accordion, and violin.  Whether the organ was one the Guenther's bought from him remains a mystery.  Willie played the guitar and was blessed with a fine voice for singing. Anna Marie took piano lessons, but her heart was never in it. Her mother and father had played, and at the piano teacher's insistence she practiced classical arias and not the popular music of the time that she was interested in.  After the exasperated teacher whacked her hands for a mistake, young Anna Marie quit and told her father she wouldn't be taking any more lessons.  That was fine with him.  The lessons did come in handy later though as the local theater allowed anyone who performed in the talent shows before the movie feature free admittance to the show.  With Anna Marie playing the piano(badly) and stepsister Ophelia singing(also badly-at least in Anna Marie's opinion) the pair got in to see the movie for free. They performed such songs as "Glow Worm" for the audience. So the piano lessons paid off in the end. Several of the grandchildren learned to play the piano or organ.  Granddaughter Mary Agnes worked out a deal with "Papa" to mow the front yard in exchange for practice time on the piano. 

 

This clipping appeared in the September 20, 1934 news.

Willie performed at the theater also and is said to have been quite talented.  Frank, Willie and some of the other children performed in school plays or did recitations at school functions.  

Phillip Willems continued his habit of wintering in Arkansas and summering in Canada with his daughters. A huge trunk made it's way with him on the trips.  One spring day while packing for the return trip, Phillip was alarmed as he could not find his "Pass a Port."  An extensive search was made.  Finally someone thought to look in his trunk and there it was!

Fred and Cecilia's marriage license

1935 was, if anything, the year of the wedding. It began the second day of January when twenty year old Fred Willems, also known as "Fritz" married an 18 year old local girl named Cecilia Albertine Schoen.  Cecilia, the ninth child of Albert and Cecilia Schoen, was named after both of her parents.  This was a bittersweet affair, as on the day of their wedding the lovebirds left for Amarillo, Texas.  They left so as not to shame the family as Cecilia, known as "Ceil" was in a family way.   Zola Mae Willems was sick in bed the day Cecilia and Fred were married at St. Benedict's in Subiaco.  After the wedding there was a small celebration followed by much sobbing as the newlyweds left to make their life in Amarillo, Texas.  Cecilia's sister Katie, who was maid of honor at the wedding, lived in Amarillo and had a job cooking and keeping house there for a priest.  Willie, Fred's brother, and best man was also living and working in Amarillo at the time. Fred took a job at a machine shop wiring electrical armatures for $9 a week.  After 3 or 4 years Fred's boss closed the factory and relocated to Albuquerque with the Willems family in tow. In Albuquerque Fred repaired electric motors that his boss resold.

Fred and Ceil with best man Willie and Cecilia's sister, Kathryn Shoen

On April 26, 1935 Phillip married his sweetheart Martha Irene McKinney. Irene, as she was called, was the eldest child of Robert and Martha McKinney. Though the 26 year old wasn't raised Catholic, she converted to Catholicism.  Phillip, also 26, and Irene were married at Subiaco. Afterward they lived in the house across the meadow from his Papa's home that Phillip and his brothers had built several years prior. Phillip,  a very hard worker, farmed during the day and mined coal at night from mines near Paris.

Phillip and Irene Willems

Best man Aloys, Matt & Tince Willems, and Peggy Jasper

Matt, 24 had been courting Tince Lievsay.  She was a 17 year old local girl, the daughter of Walter and Sarah Lievsay.  Tince was a twin.  She was given the name Esther when she was born, and her twin, Estelle.  When they were young girls Estelle decided she didn't like her name and talked her sister into exchanging names with her.  So Esther became Estelle, and vice versa.  It hardly mattered anyway as she went by Tince (rhymes with 'pints') mostly anyway.
Matt and Tince married on November 26, 1935.   That night after their wedding they had a shivaree with banging, shouting, and all kinds of carrying on.  Matt and Tince also lived near the John M. Willems homeplace where they farmed and operated a dairy.  

Matt and Tince Willems on their wedding day

Contact me at mhlady31@gmail.com for corrections or comments.  
Stories from Frank, Aloys and Anne, Anna Marie, and John Willems, and Hermena Werner Pinter.

Information regarding flooding, drought and cotton prices from Encyclopedia of Arkansas.