Will was the son of a Methodist minister in Pickaway Co, OH.
Residences & events:
6/14/1880 Monticello, Piatt Co, IL. The census recorded Wm J, 28,ins urance agent, with wife Martha E, 27, children Lulu May, 4, andRachel E , 2, and boarder Eliza Neal, 42, dress maker. Eliza wasMattie's aunt t hat raised her.
6/11/1900 Same place. The family had not changed since the previousc ensus. William, 47, had been married 25 years to Martha, 48, whohad b irthed 3 children but only 2 still survived. The girls werestill at h ome, Lulu at 24, Rachel at 21. Eliza Neal was still thereat age 65 bu t listed as servant, had been married but never had anychildren. Willi am was a post office clerk at that time, Martha workedin a millinery, a nd Eliza's occupation looks like land lover (?).
4/16/1910 S Chester St, Monticello, Piatt Co, IL. That year atcensus t ime William J was 57, married 31 years to Martha E, 58, with3 children , 1 of which had died. Lulu M, 31, was still there as wasAunt Eliza N eal, 75, widow. William had gone back to the insurancebusiness as an a gent and was the only working member of the family.
1/2/1920 E Washington St. By the next census everyone was gone butWm J a nd Martha E, both 67 years old. He had changed occupationsagain, this t ime to real estate agent.
