Alice Matilda (Dilts) WILLIAMS

DILTS, WILLIAMS, MAURER, ELLIOTT, BAILEY, NEVINS, BETZER, BIRNIE, MEADOWS, DILTZ, OLDIDGE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/22/2014 at 17:24:56

December 3, 1872 --- March 22, 1951

Another link has been broken in the last pioneer family of the Troy Mills Community by the death of Mrs. Alice Dilts Williams in Mauston, Wisconsin, in the home of her son, March 22, 1951. This leaves three of the original family, Mrs. Margaret Bailey, 88, Tighlman Dilts, 86 and Jesse B. Dilts, 83. The subject of this sketch was born December 3, 1872, near Troy Mills. She was the youngest in a family of fourteen. Her parents were Peter K. and Elizabeth Maurer Dilts, the former a native of Mansfield, Ohio and the mother of Chester County, Pennsylvania. When they were young, both Peter and Elizabeth moved to Tipton, Iowa and were married 4 years later on December 18, 1850. With three small children they came to Troy Mills in 1854 locating on a farm in Buchanan county. In later years he was a merchant in Troy Mills. Mrs. Alice Williams, following in the footsteps of her father, began teaching after the death of her mother in 1890. Her father passed away in 1883. She lived with her sister, Mrs. J. F. Elliott, and later with another sister, Mrs. V. W. Bailey, until her marriage to P. G. Williams of Rowan, Iowa. He was a former resident of Buchanan county, She was married March 1893 at Independence, Iowa. Their first home was in the Dows Community until 1903. They then moved to Hampton where they lived for 25 years. After that they lived in various places in Iowa and Wisconsin. Her husband passed away in May 1942 at Mauston, Wisconsin. Early in life she was united with the Church of Christ in Troy Mills under the pastorage of Solomen Cross. Later she transferred her membership to the Church of Christ at Hampton, remaining always an ardent worker in the faith. One phase of her life was sharing her home and giving ever possible aid to young people who were anxious for eduction and a better way of life. She helped and generously assisting a half score or more. Some seemed to forget; others expressed their appreciation in may ways. The only payment asked for was their success. It certainly was proven by three--Mrs. Della Nevins, Miss Viola Betzer and Lynn Williams. When Mrs. Dilts broke her hip her daughter tended to her for 6 weeks and was then called away. Mrs. Nevins took over gladly and ably the job as nurse and except for 19 days when Viola Betzer was there, she remained in constant attendance throughout the year. She leaves to mourn one son, R. G. Williams of Mauston, Wisconsin; one daughter, Retha Faye Birnie of California; one granddaughter, Berna Faye Meadows of California; one grandson, Lynn R. Williams. 0ne great grandson, Mark Allen Meadows; one great granddaughter, Paula Faye Meadows, both of California; one sister, Margaret Bailey of Hampton, Iowa; two brothers, Tighlman Dilts, Independence, Iowa, and J. B. Dilts, Troy Mills, Iowa; a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Services were conducted in the Church of Christ, March 27, 1951, at Hampton, Iowa. Rev. Russel Casey, pastor of the church, officiated. Burial was in the Hampton cemetery. Six nephews, all formerly of Troy Mills, Iowa, were in attendance to act as casket bearers. Volney Diltz of Des Moines, Iowa; John Diltz of Estherville, Iowa; Charles E. Martin, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Garner P. Elliott, Leon, Iowa; Cecil Oldidge, Walker, Iowa, and J. C. Bailey, Superior, Wisconsin.