WILLIAMS, Joseph 1850-1942

WILLIAMS, SUMMERS, JUNG, FRISBIE

Posted By: Chris Tonn (email)
Date: 5/10/2006 at 13:53:05

[The Charles City Daily Press, March 30, 1942]

Death Claims Jos. Williams, Nonagenarian – Death claimed a Charles City nonagenarian Saturday evening when Joseph Williams passed away quietly at 7:00 o’clock at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Clifford V. Summers, 708 ½ Ferguson street. He would have been 92 years of age June 12.

His health was excellent until December, 1941. Since that time he gradually became weaker and had been confined to his bed for the past month.

Born at Carnuarvorshire, North Wales, in 1850, he came to the Untied States at the age of two, in company with his parents and two older brothers. The family settled in Wisconsin.

Mr. Williams voted for 64 years in this country before he became a citizen of the United States. He was naturalized at the age of 86. This unusual circumstances prompted Robert Ripley to give him nationwide publicity in the “Believe It or Not” column.

Mr. Williams was married to Lydia Olive Frisbie in 1878. Since his wife’s death in 1905 he spent most of the time with his daughter and made his home here with her for the past twenty years. Before coming to Charles City he lived in Lime Springs where he was a blacksmith for many years.

He was a member of Howard Lodge A. F & A. M. at Lime Springs and Joppa Commandery K.T. of Charles City. He was a staunch member of the republican party and an avid baseball fan and was well-informed on current events.

Surviving besides Mrs. Summers are one son R. D. Williams, railroad telegrapher, St. Regis Mont.; one granddaughter, Mrs. Leonard Jung, Minneapolis; two great grandsons, Jimmy Joe and Gary Lee Jung.

Funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. J. G. Morgan, pastor of First Congregational church Tuesday at 2:00 p. m. at Grossmann’s chapel. Interment will be in Pleasant Hill cemetery, Lime Springs beside his wife in the family lot there.

Joppa Commandery will have charge of ritualistic arrangements in Charles City, and Howard Lodge will have charge of committal services at the grave.