Clan William: Simmons Family in Society in Early Oklahoma City

Capt Thomas Munson > Samuel Munson > Samuel James Munson > William Munson > Samuel II Munson > Freeman Munson > Henrietta Munson > Sara Jane Vaughn > William Wallace Simmons m Alice Carpenter > Merle Phillip Simmons 

A long time ago, I talked about the Simmons family which had its roots in the family of the sister of my 2nd great grandmother, Mary Ann Munson Smith. William Wallace Simmons and his wife, Alice O. Carpenter, married in 1889, the same year the first White settlements started in Oklahoma City. In 1901, the couple and their only child, Merle Phillip Simmons made the trek from Iowa to Oklahoma City where they established their household. Oklahoma City was still young.

Alice Simmons opened up a bakery in 1913, which started by baking four loaves of bread per day. It grew over the course of time to a very large bakery serving the entire city. William Wallace Simmons died suddenly while on a business trip in 1915. Mrs Simmons kept on growing her business when WWI took her son for service in France. One of his letters home to his mother made the Daily Oklahoman paper.

OKLAHOMA CITY BOY DESCRIBES FRENCH FARMING
Mrs WW Simmons,
Oklahoma City

Received your Christmas box about three weeks ago. We have nothing to worry about

over here as we are comfortably located, have warm weather, and lots of work to do, a place to sleep, something to cat and no place to go, so why should we worry?

France is very interesting, especially are the quaint customs. The roads are of gravel and clay and are in fine shape for motoring as they are so smooth. There are no mud holes or ruts. All over France the roads seem to be the same. A hard sandstone lays just beneath the top soil. Timber is very scarce and as a result the people naturally build their homes of stone and whatever is built of this material lasts forever, it seems. All along the roads are stone walls, three to four feet high. They also surround the farms, which are small and irregular. If stone is not used, a thick hedge is grown. And when you look into the valleys from the hilltop, it is easy to pick out each individual farm. There is not much waste land as the farms are kept clean and in excellent condition.

 Grape vineyards appear to be plentiful as the French seem to be great wine drinkers. The Frenchman's wine to him is as necessary as beer to a German. The farm houses are large, built of stone, with a red-tiled roof which is usually covered with green moss. The house is usually two stories and connecting on one end is a barn and the other a porch or shed used for drying corn, beans, and the like. The farmer wears a loose-fitting work shirt which slips on over his head and is fastened with a draw string around his neck. He wears these instead of overalls. Wooden shoes are very popular.

On market morning the farmer and his family get into a two wheeled cart and go to town. There seem to prefer the carts. Geese and p*** are about all they bring to down now as it is spring and most of the cr**** have been marketed.

I guess we will be paid in a couple of days? We are all broke because we haven't been paid for two months. It is one way to save money, because when a fellow gets broke he can't spend and he can't find anybody to borrow from.
Merle P Simmons
The Daily Oklahoman
(Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, United States of America)
10 Mar 1918, Sun  •  20

Her reputation in the city for her business acumen was growing and her activities frequently made the society pages of the Daily Oklahoman. In 1925, she remarried Mr Horace W. Hakes. The divorce of the Hakes', which occurred during Mrs Simmons final illness in 1938, included a financial settlement of undetermined amount to Mr Hakes. Mr Hakes blamed his stepson, Merle, for his marital troubles. Merle had been slowly taking over the business the past few years and Mr Hake's opinions on the course of the business were ignored.

`1924 Ad for Mrs Simmons Home Bake Shop

Mrs Simmons passed away on 13 Mar 1939 from her long illness. She left her son, Merle and his wife Esther Day and their three boys, Merle Jr., William Wallace, and Robert Day. A daughter, Betty Lou, died at 17 months in 1923.

Two of Merle and Esther's boys, Bob and Bill's weddings made the society page. Son Merle Jr. worked with his father in the bakery business, but never married. The advertisements I found for the business ended about 1949.

Bob served as a pilot in the US Air Force. He later worked from Superior Oil and then with Prudential Bache Brokerage Firm, and then worked as an independent oil and gas broker. He and his wife, Sue Ellison, had four children. He died in 1997. Bill married Sarah Jo Durland and they had two children. I don't know a lot about him, but he for several years worked as the North Texas State University as associate director of admissions. He died in 1971 at the young age of 41.

Clan William: The Colorful Eddy's of New Orleans

Capt Thomas Munson > Samuel Munson > Samuel James Munson > William Munson > Samuel II Munson > Freeman Munson > Henrietta Munson > Amos Joel Vaughn > Adele Virginia Vaughn m Robert Stevenson Eddy III 

You can take a trip back in time by reviewing the journey of the Vaughn Family of Randalia, Iowa, here. Henrietta and John had a mess of kids, 13 all told, some of whom I know nothing about. But, son Amos Joel, the baby of the family had six of his own, including Adele Virginia Vaughn, who went by "Virginia." I don't know how she met her husband Robert Stevenson Eddy III, of the well-to-do New Orleans Eddy's, but she did. They married before 1918 and lived in New Orleans. Virginia's younger sister, Mary Isabel, 15 years old, moved to New Orleans to live with them in 1917 and got a job in a bank, but died unexpectedly of illness at just under 17 years old on 14 Aug 1918. She was buried in New Orleans.

The Eddy's had been in New Orleans for decades by the time our family connected with theirs. The original Robert Stevenson Eddy had been born in Ohio in about 1827 and married Clara Drake. They had three children, the eldest of which was Robert Stevenson Eddy Sr. He had been born in St Louis, Missouri. His parents came to New Orleans in the 1860s. Senior worked his way up to the top spot in in Adams, Beck, and Co., Ltd., a commission merchant of great distinction. Poor old dude died of complications of a gall bladder operation on 16 Aug 1929 in New Orleans, just before the start of the Great Depression.

Eddy Bros. Furniture Co. 1932

Junior's oldest brother, James Harvey Eddy, took over Adams, Beck at his father's death after having been superintendent of the Swift & Co. fertilizer plants in New Orleans and Shreveport. Robert Stevenson Eddy Jr., having benefit of his father's hard work and acumen, also went into business. In 1904, he ran for city council in the Sixteenth Ward and won, but not before a protest was filed claiming he had not met residency requirements. Despite the fact his son RS III was born while he lived in Alvin, Texas, he claimed that the move had always been temporary. The challenge was overruled and he took his seat. Being a councilman didn't help him when he spoke out about police corruption and was beaten severely by blokes in a saloon as a nearby police officer watched. That police officer was later suspended.

Junior married Leila Janet Hathorn on 16 Aug 1897 in St Bernard Parish. They had three boys, R.S.

III, Fergus, and Thomas Godwin. When Martin Behrman was mayor of New Orleans (1904-1920, 1925-26), Eddy served as a member of the Commission Council. He first became associated with racing in the early 1920s. He served as GM of the Jefferson Park Race Track, president of the Business Men's Racing Association (which he was forced to resign from after accusations were slung at him regarding illegal gambling activities), and later as GM of the Fair Grounds Race Track. The Times-Picayune was full of articles during the 1920s about the two factions fighting for control of racing in New Orleans. I've posted a couple of those, but there are many more.

The acquisition of the Fair Grounds and Jefferson Park by Eddy's business syndicate was completed in 1934. Hit with financial problems, the tracks were to be sold in the early 1940s. The land was set to be sold for development, which would have ended racing in the area. A last minute purchase saved racing in New Orleans. Eddy then acquired an interest in Fairmont Race Track in Collinsville, Ill and owned one of the largest thoroughbred, harness, and saddle horse auction exchanges. After his first wife died, he remarried two years prior to his death. He died in Fort Lauderdale, 26 Jul 1965.

Junior also opened a furniture store on North Rampart in New Orleans. His sons would join him in this venture.

His son RS III grew up, married our Munson/Vaughn relative Virginia, and had two children: Robert Stevenson IV and Jolie Ann. III died on Oct 20, 1962 in New Orleans. Virginia survived until 03 May 1966. The children are both still living, so we'll save their stories for another day!

Clan William: Robert Lee Fox, Ph.D.

Capt Thomas Munson > Samuel Munson > Samuel James Munson > William Munson > Samuel II Munson > Freeman Munson >  Henrietta Munson > Charlotte Vaughn > Austin Fox > Robert Lee Fox 

Eleanor Parker Fox and Dr Robert L Fox

My 2nd great grandmother Mary Ann Munson's aunt Henrietta settled in Fayette County, Iowa, just down the road from where Mary Ann Munson and her husband William Custer Smith lived in Butler County. Henrietta had a large family who settle in Wisconsin and Iowa. Among those was Charlotte Vaughn, who was born 14 Jan 1853 in Ohio.

She married George W. Fox on 14 Jun 1869 in Fayette County and they had one child, Austin James Fox, who was born 22 Feb 1873 in Fayette County. Austin married Helen Carpenter Smith on 10 Dec 1902 in Fayette County and they had two children: Robert Lee and Karl George.

Robert Lee Fox led a very interesting life. He attended and graduated from Upper Iowa University in 1928 and went on to Columbia University where he received his master's and doctorate in Chemistry. He married Eleanor B Parker on 27 Dec 1931 in Fayette County (and married on 17 Dec 1931 in Manhattan as well). The couple had no children.

In 1934, years before the war started, he and his wife traveled to jobs at Roberts College in Istanbul, Turkey. Roberts is the oldest US college outside of the US, being a co-ed boarding high school established in 1863. Six years later, its campus would be built with the permission of the Ottoman Empire, in Bebek. Robert served as a professor of chemistry. After six years or so, they returned to the US, albeit via a very lengthy path just prior to the the US involvement in the  World War in 1941.

"They were delayed many times, and of course, due to the conditions In Europe were unable to take a direct route. Altogether it is estimated that they traveled between 13,000 and 15,000 miles, and by different means of conveyance. They were en route from July 8

Albert Long Hall/Hamlin Hall Roberts College

to Oct. 3, on which date They were en route from July 8 to Oct. 3, on which date they reached New York.

The attempt to secure visas and make preliminary arrangements began as far back as In May. About one month, after they left Turkey, was spent in "loafing" due to unavoidable delays at various places. Dr. and Mrs. Fox have been residents of Istanbul, as teachers for 7 years, and this is in a sense a sabbatical year for them, although their return to Istanbul depends on circumstances and future developments in world affairs, as well as their own inclinations. Dr. Fox has been instructor in chemistry at Robert College. and Mrs. Fox was teaching in a girls' school, both American institutions. Started Homeward July 8 They had left Istanbul soon after the school year ended, but were still in Turkey when they finally were able to get started, July 8, on the Ions homeward trip. By train, bus and car they traveled to Teheran, Iran (Persia) being on the road five days. From there "they traveled by car to a town on the frontier of India, and thence by train to Quetta, (military headquarters), where they were interviewed by military authorities. From there they went by boat to Bombay, where they waited three weeks for another boat. In forty days more they were in this country, the trip to New York from Bombay being around by way of Capetown, Africa.

Dr Harold Urey

Suspicion Rules in Turkey

Dr. Fox states that in Turkey there was no dearth of information regarding the war, radio broadcasts giving the communiques from both sides of the conflict. Seemingly Turkey  is favorable to the British, but there is an element there, as in other countries, which does not see eye to eye with the pro-British adherents. There is much suspicion, and arrests of suspected persons are quite frequent. Dr. Fox brought with him a photographic film, which he had kept for many months, it being unwise to have it developed there on account of the suspicions prevalent. On the return trip home it was not possible to use his camera, which at one time was taken from him and not returned until the end of that portion of the journey.

On board ship, many of the passengers were frightened badly when an armed ship suddenly turned at right angles to Its course and came toward them, until it was found that the ship they were on was American. The curious vessel was British. No further Incidents of an alarming nature took place, although they were in waters where trouble had been experienced by other boats. While spending a few days in New York Dr. Fox was selected by Dr. Urey, head of the chemistry department of Columbia University, to take a position on his staff of defense research workers" 

Thursday,October 23, 1941 Fayette County Leader from Fayette, Iowa · Page 1

Dr & Mrs Robert Fox

In winter 1941-42, he assisted Dr Harold C Urey on the Manhattan Project. He was then commissioned as a captain in the Chemical Warfare Service and in 1946 he was separated from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel. He served as a reserve officer of the newly minted Chemical Corps with a Mobilization Designation to research  and development activities at Edgewood Arsenal from 1946-1963, when he retired. A number of very interesting things occurred at Edgewood and if you have time to read, check this out. He served in many capacities including as assistant director of medical research (1958) and also assistant to the commanding general of the US Army Chemical Corps Research and Engineering Command. 

He was active in a number of Chemical professional organizations such as the Armed Forces Chemical Association and held leadership positions in the organization and its Chesapeake chapter.

Old Cherry Lane Theatre, New York City

Mrs Fox was just as accomplished as her husband. She was a 1926 graduate of Upper Iowa
University. In 1928, she earned her master's in speech and drama at Northwestern University. She was awarded an honorary doctorate in 1975 by Upper Iowa University. From 1928-1933, she taught speech and drama and directed plays at a high school in Mount Carroll, Ill, at Illinois Wesleyan University and at Mary Baldwin College, Staunton, Va.

In 1933, she appeared in several productions at the Cherry Lane Theatre, New York City.

The next year, she moved to Istanbul, Turkey with her husband. She taught at the American College for Girls in Istanbul before they returned to the United States in 1941, shortly before they moved to the Baltimore area.

Robert's wife died 19 Mar 1988. Robert lived until 22 Sep 2002 and died in Towson, Maryland and was buried in Fayette County.

Clan William: Sarah Jane Vaughn Simmons Family

Capt Thomas Munson > Samuel Munson > Samuel James Munson > William Munson > Samuel II Munson > Freeman Munson >  Henrietta Munson > Sara Jane Vaughn m Joel Simmons

My 3rd great grandfather Amos Munson's sister Henrietta Munson Vaughn, can be read about here.

The Vaughn's had a total of 13 children, not all surviving until adulthood. Daughter Sarah Jane was born 28 Dec 1840 in Trumbull County, Ohio She married Joel Simmons in 1856 after the Vaughn family had removed to Grant County, Wisconsin.

Joel Simmons was born in Pennsylvania, but was raised in his formative years in Ashtabula, Ohio. His family later removed to Grant County and then, Joel and family moved to Dresden Township in Chickasaw County, where they farmed. In the early morning hours of Feb 12, 1877, Joel died unexpectedly at home, leaving his wife and five children to mourn him. He was only 37 years old.

Mrs Simmons forged on for many years. Jane's last several years were lived at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Alice Sinderson (second wife of William Custer Smith), where she died Jan 19, 1915.

Their children were:

George Craft Simmons, born 20 Sep 1857 in Wisconsin, he moved with his parents to Iowa in 1860. He married Martha R Hinkley in Frederika on 25 Dec 1882. They had five daughters and one son, who died at age 13 of typhoid. George lived intermittently in Waterloo. His wife died in 1932. He died in 1940 in Waterloo.

Clara Jane Simmons was born 06 Sep 1859 in Wisconsin. She married David Nathan Hinkley, 04 Jul 1877, in Chickasaw County. The couple had four children before David's death on 16 Mar 1888. Clara married Nelson B Ross on 08 Nov 1903 in Fredericka. He died 13 May 1917. Clara died in 1946. Two of Clara's sons, William Moon and Roy Robert, both died within six months of one another in 1925, at young ages. Roy was a sales manager for the Iten Biscuit Co. in Oklahoma City when he had a ruptured appendix and died of complications at the age of 41. William died at 38 of complications of the flu, on 10 Mar 1925 in Eagle Grove.

Alice Simmons was born Aug 1862 in Fayette County, Iowa. She married her cousin Mary Ann Munson's widower, William Custer Smith, on 20 Mar 1893. Smith died two years later, the homestead was sold to Smith's children by Alice, and she received $2,040.She returned to Frederika and then married Englishman Arthur J Sinderson on 16 Aug 1898 in Chickasaw County. Arthur was born 01 Nov 1855 in England and died 29 Jan 1935. He was a laborer and lastly worked as a janitor before his retirement. The couple lived in New Hampton during their marriage. Arthur died 29 Jan 1935 and Alice died 05 Dec 1937. She celebrated her 75th birthday with the family in 1936, just months prior to her death. The Sindersons had no children.

On Sunday August 16, the Simmons relatives gathered at the Frederika park to celebrate the 75th birthday of Mrs Alice Sinderson of New Hampton. The weather was ideal and to add to the pleasure of the occasoin the Littel German Band of Hawkeye played all the afternoon. Everyone enjoyed it very much.

Those in attendance were: Mr & Mrs Fred Simmons, Alice Sinderson, Mr & Mrs Guy Hinkley, Eagle Grove; Mr & Mrs Cal Thompson and daughters, Millicent and Mary, Mr & Mrs John Carney and sons, Robert and Max, Mr & Mrs Everett Hartson and daughter Betty, Mr & Mrs Lester Simmons and children, Edith, Eldo, and Ruth; Mr & Mrs Carl Smith, and sons, Max, Bruce, and Roger; Lowell Carney, Waterloo, Mr & Mrs Frank Sherman, daughter Imogene, Mrs Clara Ross, Mr George Simmons, Mr & Mrs Neil Simmons.

Fredericksburg News, Fredericksburg, Iowa
Thursday, August 20, 1936

William Wallace Simmons was born 28 Jan 1863 in Fayette County, Iowa. He married Alice Carpenter on 23 Oct 1889 in Buena Vista. They had one son, Merle Phillip Simmons, Sr., on 03 Jan 1892. A successful businessman, William died suddenly on the streets of Yale, Oklahoma on 19 Jan 1915  where he'd gone on business. He was a resident of Oklahoma City. His wife died 13 Mar 1939 in Oklahoma City.

Fred Simmons was born 13 Dec 1872 in Chickasaw County. He married May Clara Gardner in 1896. They had three children: Lester Ralph, Neil Arthur, and Veva Pearl. The Simmons had farmed for many years and in retirement in May 1936, they moved to Fredericksburg, but then moved back to the farm in Mar 1937. His son Neil had intended to take over the farm, but that didn't work out. Neil and his second wife, Mary, owned a variety of restaurants and bars in the Frederika area. They were both killed in a 1961 auto accident. Fred died in June 1948. May died in 1968.

Downtown Yale in the boom days

Munson Family Stories

THE ORIGINAL MUNSON IN AMERICA, CAPTAIN THOMAS MUNSON

Munson of New Haven, CT

From When We Come: Thomas Munson and the Pequot War

From Whence We Come: Thomas Munson Signs the Fundamental Agreement

SAMUEL MUNSON II
Samuel is the son of William. William is the first member of Clan William. The clans are made up of the great grandchildren of the immigrant Captain Thomas Munson. 

Samuel Munson 2nd Family: Calvin Munson and Family

CALVIN MUNSON
Calvin Munson Family: McAdams Murder of 1913

Calvin Munson Family: William Calvin Munson
Clan William: Calvin/Randil Descendants: A Legacy of Tragedy
Clan William: Calvin/Randil Descendants: The Mines of Platteville
Clan William: Calvin/Randil Descendants: Charles Munson's Civil War Death
Clan William: Calvin/Susannah Descendants: Clifford Benjamin Paul, Chauffeur to Katherine Butterworth
Clan William: Calvin/Susannah Descendants: Harry K. Newburn, University President

FREEMAN MUNSON
Freeman is the son of Samuel II.

From Whence We Come: Freeman Munson

AMOS MUNSON
Amos is the son of Freeman

Munson Family: Amos Munson

Mystery Muddle: The Amos Munson Family 1870 Census

MARGARET JANE MUNSON
Those Munson Girls: Margaret Jane Munson
LAMIRA MUNSON
Those Munson Girls: Lamira Munson
MARY ANN MUNSON
Clan William: Mary Ann Munson & William Custer Smith, Pt 1

Clan William: Mary Ann Munson & William Custer Smith, Pt 2

Clan William: Mary Ann Munson & William Custer Smith, Pt 3

The Family Farm of William Custer Smith and Mary Ann Munson
Connecting the Story: More on the William Custer Smith Farm
Smith/Munson Family: Minor Discoveries
The Gossip Mill  
CAROLINE AMANDA MUNSON
Those Munson Girls: Caroline Amanda Munson
The Newcomb Family of Montrose, Pennsylvania  
Munsons: The Newcombs and Mayflower Immigrants
HENRIETTA MUNSON
Poor Walter Woodington, Jailed Again
Woodington/Munson Line: When Things Go Really, Really Wrong
Scandal Sheet: My Father, My Husband; My Sister, My Daughter
Munson Descendants: Simmons Family in Society in Early Oklahoma City
JULIA A MUNSON
Those Munson Girls: Julia A Munson
The Newcomb Family of Montrose, Pennsylvania  
Munsons: The Newcombs and Mayflower Immigrants
FRANKLIN DAVID MUNSON
Amos Munson Family: Franklin David Munson
CHARLES FREMONT MUNSON
Those Munsons: Charles Fremont Munson  
Those Munsons: Clyde Amos Munson  
Those Munsons: Wayne Clyde Munson

HENRIETTA MUNSON
The daughter of Freeman

Munson Family: The Vaughns of Trumbull County
FREEMAN VAUGHN
Freeman and Orion Vaughn, 33rd Wisconsin Infantry, Company A
ORION SQUIRE VAUGHN
Freeman and Orion Vaughn, 33rd Wisconsin Infantry, Company A
SARAH VAUGHN
Mystery Muddle: Who is Alice Simmons?
Sarah Jane Vaughn Simmons Family
AMOS VAUGHN
Those Munsons: The Colorful Eddy's of New Orleans  
CHARLOTTE VAUGHN
Amos Munson Family: Robert Lee Fox, Ph.D.

MILES MUNSON
The son of Freeman.

The Munson's of Ohio: Miles Munson & the Humason Family
Those Munsons: The Much Married Olive Clawson  

MARIETTA "MARY" E MUNSON
The daughter of Freeman

JOHN R GENTHOLTZ
The Gentholtz Clan: John R. Gentholts & Clara Gentholts Gaither
The Gentholtz Clan: Arthur John Gentholts
Music Man: Charles Edward Gaither  
FRED GENTHOLTZ
Scandal Sheet: Fred Gentholtz Rape Trial

CLARISSA MUNSON
The daughter of Freeman

OTHER CLAN WILLIAM STORIES

MARTHA MUNSON

The daughter of William

Clan William: The Brilliant Scientist William Webster Hansen
Clan William: Seaman Asahel Knapp, PhD

Clan William: Gladys Pease and Archibald Ellsworth Minard

Clan William: Capt David Minard, MC, USN, MD
Clan William: Senator Jamse Rood Doolittle

Clan William: James Ralph Doolittle, WWI Flyer

Clan William: Marrying Up - William Edgar Mattison, Jr.

PETER MUNSON
The son of William

Clan William: Judge Warren Bristol and Billy the Kid

Clan William: Physicist DeWitt Bristol Brace, PhD

Clan William: Edith Minerva Brace, Teacher

WILLIAM II MUNSON
The son of William

Clan William: Munson Connection to the Tragedy of 9/11

Clan William: Charles Monson Jr. and the Wild Ride, Pt 1

Clan William: Charles Monson Jr. and the Wild Ride, Pt 2
Clan William: The Southern Contingent: The Stricklands

Clan William: The Southern Contingent: 1st Corporal Buren Strickland

Clan William: Chester Case Lord and Julia Elizabeth Munson
Clan William: Miles Standish Munson & Genevieve Mather

Clan William: Super Nerd Television Pioneer George Harvey Seward

WOODINGTON FAMILY STORIES

GEORGE WOODINGTON
George Woodington Heads to California
Side Road: Harry H Woodington, Longtime Empoyee of the Celery King
JOHNATHAN ALTON WOODINGTON
Trailblazing Women: Marjorie J Bennett, Army Nurse Corps
2Lt Clark Alonzo Teasdale Dies in Battle
HARRY S WOODINGTON
Sideroad: Harry S Woodington, Deserter

Clan William: Poor Walter Woodington, Jailed Again

Capt Thomas Munson > Samuel Munson > Samuel James Munson > William Munson > Samuel II Munson > Freeman Munson >  Amos Munson > Henrietta Munson > Walter Amos Munson

My 2nd great grandmother, Mary Ann Munson's sister Henrietta and her husband Moses, had six
children I could find. The baby, Walter Amos Woodington, was born 21 Aug 1880 in Cassville, Grant County, Wisconsin.

Elevated view of Eau Claire, WI

I found evidence that he did marry in Indiana on 02 Jan 1906 in Warren County to Minnie Kirkendall, who was born in Ohio. I know nothing about her beyond that. I believe she died prior to 1920, possibly in South Dakota. In 1910, the Woodington's were living in Firesteel, Aurora County, South Dakota. Many people had headed to South Dakota for the free land grants, but many returned quickly as the life was hard and rarely prosperous.

There is evidence to suggest that upon his return to Wisconsin, which occurred by at least 1915, that he had a serious alcohol problem. In June of 1915, he received a 30-day sentence for being a drunken vagrant and panhandling. His job in the article was listed as "farm hand."

In May 1916, he was caught up in a sweep by police of chronic panhandlers and drunkards, and received another 30 days.

The only positive thing I found in news articles was on July 18, 1920, he sold Lots 46, 47, and 48 in the Lincoln Park addition in Eau Claire to John Goulette for $150.

The 1920 census has him listed as age 42, widowed, working as a laborer in a rubber company, and living with his brother George in Eau Claire. The place he worked was most likely the new Gillette Safety Tire Company that had opened in 1916 in Eau Claire. I can't imagine he held the job for long.

The Eau Claire Leader published on 18 Aug 1921 that Woodington was again arrested. This time for 90 days in County jail after just coming off a stint of 10 days in jail.

The judge said, "Well, you're not much of a stranger, are you," as Woodington greeted him upon entering the court room. Woodington was by then drinking wood alcohol.

I don't have any proof of death, but the articles end around this time and I would guess he did not live much longer. I'd be interested in any proof of what happened to Walter after that time.

Clan William: Mystery Muddle: Who Is Alice Simmons?

Capt Thomas Munson > Samuel Munson >
Samuel James Munson > William Munson > Samuel II Munson > Freeman Munson > Amos Munson > Henrietta Munson > Sara Jane Vaughn > Alice Simmons m William Custer Smith 

and...

...Freeman Munson > Amos Musnon > Mary Ann Munson m William Custer Smith 

Sometimes, if you work the brain too hard, it just shuts down. I've been working on trying to figure out who the mysterious Alice Simmons, second wife to William Custer Smith, was and where she came from. Yesterday, I accidentally ran across the solution to this mystery muddle in my very own family tree. Time, and perhaps a couple more county courthouse trips may bear me out.

Read about WC Smith's land here. Read about Amos Munson here (Mary Ann's father). And read about John Lorin Vaughn and Henrietta Munson (sister of Amos) here.

So, nutshelling my solution, it goes down like this: WC Smith's wife, Mary Ann Munson, daughter of Amos Munson and Mary Ann Kearney died in 1888 at the young age of 51. WC married again, but not until 1893 (still seeking marriage license) and he died in 1895. He married Alice Simmons.

Click image to enlarge

 I was unsuccessful in locating any Alice Simmons in Bremer or Butler counties during this time. I'm thinking widow woman with kids based on WC Smith granddaughter Alyce Smith Rasmussen's note. Maybe not so much old widow woman, but young spinster with no other options in front of her.

Amos Munson's sister, Henrietta Munson Vaughn, had a pile of kids and her daughter Sarah Jane married a fellow named Joel Simmons. Joel and Jane married in Grant County, Wisconsin, then Joel up and died at age 37, leaving her with at least five kids. Among those children was Alice A Simmons. They all lived in rural Chickasaw County around that time, near Dresden. Chickasaw, Butler, and Bremer counties all abut one another.

Alice was getting pretty long in the tooth and was single at age 31, which would have been her age at the time of marriage if indeed she was the bride. WC Smith, at that time, would have been 62. Not unheard of - old maid marries older gent.  They were cousins-in-law. And, after WC's death, she sold the farm to his kids and walked away with a nice settlement of $2,040. 

In 1898, THIS Alice Simmons, who is the daughter of Joel and Sarah Jane, is listed in the marriage record of Chickasaw County as Alice Smith. She married Arthur J. Sinderson, an Englishman. They lived in New Hampton for the remainder of their lives and had no children. Score, case solved.

1898 Marriage to Arthur Sinderson; has Alice Simmons Smith listed as name of bride

UPDATE: Written proof of the marriage of Miss Alice Simmons and Mr. William Smith was finally located in this brief item in the Waverly newspaper (a like item was also published in the Waverly Democrat the same day):

Clan William: Woodington/Munson Line: When Things Go Really, Really Wrong

Capt Thomas Munson > Samuel Munson > Samuel James Munson > William Munson > Samuel II Munson > Freeman Munson >  Henrietta Munson > George Woodington > Clyde Woodington > Neil Woodington

Neil Woodington, right, the day he was convicted

Madison Wisconsin State Journal August 5, 1965

My 2nd great grandmother, Mary Ann Munson's sister Henrietta married Moses Woodington who had left Pennyslvania to move to Wisconsin and pioneer. Generations later, their great grandson, Neil Allen Woodington, who had such an awesome start in life, would bump up against life-changing problems.

He was born 03 Apr 1927 in Altoona, Wisconsin, to Clyde Woodington and his wife Grace Murn Bradley, Clyde was a long-time locomotive engineer of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad.  Neil attended school in Eau Claire County and was a good student. In 1945, he was awarded a $200 scholarship by the Eau Claire Elks Lodge. He also won the Elks Americanism Essay contest that year.

First divorce

He attended law school at the University of Wisconsin and graduated first in his class in 1950. The guy who graduated second, Robert C. Kelly, would go on to become his business partner and co-defendant at his criminal trial.

He married his first wife, Jeanette M Hall in 10 Sep 1949 in Lamatine in Fond du Lac County; they took out a license on September 4th. Jeanette filed for divorce and it was granted in March 1963. Woodington was ordered to pay $1,100 per month in alimony and child support for their five daughters.He was also ordered to maintain life insurance to benefit the daughters.

His second wife, Betty J. Nedlose, married Woodington on 08 Apr 1963 in Miami, Florida. They had one daughter together. They divorced in 1971.

In the years 1964-1968, Woodington would face his greatest challenges. Two of the companies he ran, Madison American Guaranty Insurance Co. (MAGIC) and Allied Development Corp.found themselves under investigation for potentially filing false statements relating to a stock offering. Those companies later went into bankruptcy. The details of the trial and the ultimate conviction are located below. Woodington, as president, was found guilty of filing a false or misleading financial statement and sentenced to three years in state prison. His partner, Robert Kelly, who was reportedly portrayed by his lawyer as yet another victim of Woodington, was also convicted and sentenced to probation. Woodington stated repeatedly he thought that the investigations started by then Attorney General George Thompson before the election of 1964 was politically motivated. Thompson was a Republican and MAGIC general counsel Clarence Bylsma was a prominent Democrat. Thompson lost the election. Investors and other creditors in the companies lost about $8 million.

Woodington appealed to the State Supreme Court, and while his conviction was upheld, the Court made comment on the harshness of the sentence. Woodington's subsequent appeals failed and he was sent to Waupun State Prison in 1967, shortly thereafter being moved to Thompson Prison Farm in Cambridge. There, he was ultimately granted work release, where he worked as a "financial advisor" for a company set up by Clarence Bylsma in Madison.

Both Woodington and Kelly were disciplined by the State Bar in 1968. Woodington was disbarred for life and Kelly was suspended from practice for six months. An attorney, Jack McManus, who stated he'd provided counsel and advice to Woodington related to his disbarment proceedings, sued him in Nov 1967 for $11,500 in unpaid fees. The fallout from the original trial was significant, driving other litigation such as this regarding the players.

After his release from prison on May 9, 1968, Woodington became what his second wife called, "a promoter." He had moved to New Brighton, Minnesota and was involved with a number of interests such as the Diesel Driving School as well as restaurants co-owned with Fuzzy Thurston, former Green Bay Packer, both in Wisconsin. The restaurants were put under court control and the owners, including Neil Woodington, were barred from entering the restaurants. Woodington was accused of "wrongfully taking money from the corporation, issuing bad checks to employees and suppliers, and grossly mismanaging corporation business." Madison Wisconsin State Journal November 12, 1979

Woodington married Carole McFarland in 1976 in Reno. They divorced 29 Dec 1980. Also in 1980, Woodington moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. He had other business interests under the auspices of The Woodington Group which included such businesses as Dollars and Sense, a direct-mail publishing venture he ran in Colorado. That company would be taken over by several of his children and run into its own legal and criminal issues in the 1990s.

Woodington died on 15 Jul 1989 at his home in Scottsdale at the age of 62.

Sources:
Marriage Licenses; Madison Wisconsin State Journal September 4, 1949
News Notes: Birth of Daughter, Madison Wisconsin State Journal October 5, 1950
Woodington is Divorced; to Pay $1,100 a Month; Madison Capital Times, March 28, 1963
Woodington Given 3 Years; Kelly Placed on Probation, by James D Selk, Madison Wisconsin State Journal August 5, 1965
Appeals to Knowles; Woodington Seeks Reduced Sentence; Madison Capital Times December 31, 1966
Outside Work Permit Granted; Woodington Denied New Trial; Madison Wisconsin State Journal October 19, 1967
In State; Journal: Libel Trial Bylsma Says He Didn't Know of MAGIC Moves; Madison Capital Times February 12, 1968
Woodington Wins Parole on May 9; Madison Wisconsin State Journal May 2, 1968

Five Describe Loans in Atty Bylsma Case; Madison Wisconsin State Journal October 16, 1968
25 Years Ago, Eau Claire Leader Telegram July 17, 1970

Wife Seeks Divorce from Woodington; Madison Capital Times July 8, 1971

McManus Sues: Asks Big Woodington Fee; Madison Capital Times September 11, 1973
Salesman Wanted; Classified Section, Eau Claire Leader Telegram, February 16, 1978

Restaurants Under Court Control; Madison Wisconsin State Journal November 12, 1979

Business News: Dollars and Sense of Colorado...; Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph June 20, 1982
40 Years Ago, Eau Claire Leader Telegram October 16, 1985
Obituary: Woodington, Neil Allen; Madison Wisconsin State Journal July 19, 1989
Daughters Follow in Dad's Crooked Footsteps; Madison Capital Times May 7, 1997

Wisconsin Divorce Index, 1965-1984

Nevada Marriage Index, 1956-2005
Florida Marriage Index, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001

Clan William: The Vaughns of Trumbull County

Trumbull County

Capt Thomas Munson > Samuel Munson > Samuel James Munson > William Munson > Samuel II Munson > Freeman Munson >  Henrietta Munson m John Lorin Vaughn

and...

James VAUGHN m Olive CABLE > John VAUGHN > John Lorin VAUGHN m Henrietta MUNSON

This is in relation to the sister of my 3rd great grandfather, Amos Munson, both children of Freeman Munson.

John Vaughn and his wife Betsey Burr (who is distantly related to Aaron Burr) were descendants of some of the earlier families of Fairfield County, Connecticut that included the Timothy Wheelers, the Andrew Cables, the John Burrs, and the Samuel Wilsons. Little is known about the origins of James Vaughn, John's father.

Olive Cable was married to William Jackson Meeker and had a number of children before his death in 1777. Olive remarried James Vaughn, with whom she had at least five children before his death in Fairfield County, Connecticut in about 1787.

John Vaughn, son of James and Olive, along with several of his half-siblings, sons and daughter of William Meeker and Olive, left for some fertile new farming land in Fowler, Trumbull County, Ohio in 1806:

     This township formerly known as Westfield, contains 16,500 acres.  It was purchased from the Connecticut Land company by Samuel Fowler, of Westfield, Massachusetts, and sold to settlers under his direction.  Titus Brockway was granted power of attorney to dispose of 10,000 acres.  Abner Fowler, brother of the proprietor, in consideration of services rendered in surveying this land, received 100 acres at the center of the township.
     The township was purchased by Mr. Fowler in 1798, for less than fifty cents per acre.
     Only five families settled in the township before 1805.  These were the families of Levi Foote, already mentioned; Lemuel Barnes, who lived one-half mile north of the center; John Morrow, at the center; Hillman Fisher, and Drake, who lived on the ridge.
      In 1806 seven families arrived from Connecticut, having left that State in the fall of the same year.  A month or six weeks later they arrived in New Connecticut.  These emigrants were Elijah Tyrrell and wife, nee Clarissa Meeker, with her brother, Justus, Daniel, Lyman, and William Meeker; John Vaughn and Wakeman Silliman.  They all settled in the southeast of the township in the vicinity of Tyrrell Hill or Tyrrell corners.

History of Trumbull & Mahoning Co., Ohio, Vol. II published by H.A. Williams & Brother, 1882; Trailing Through Tyrrell, 125 years Ago by the Tribune Trailer, & taken from Western Reserve Chronicle, Sept. 25, 1878  

John married Betsey Burr, daughter of  Jesse Burr and Sarah "Sally" Wilson, had their bans of marriage read on 07 Mar 1805 at Trinity Church in Southport, Connecticut. (And, yes, Betsey is distantly related to former US Vice President, Aaron Burr through the immigrant, Jehu Burr)

Once they arrived in Fowler, they all set about cutting roads and building homes in the southwest corner of the township at Tyrrell Hill or Tyrrell Corners (named for Clarissa Meeker's husband Elijah Tyrrell) while their wives and children spent their time at the home of  Joel Hummason in Vienna. One of Joel's relatives later married John's son Miles Munson. Once established, this group was integral in the early development of the town.  The first school was taught in the cabin of Wakeman Silliman. Clarissa's husband Elijah built the largest cabin (a full 18 x 24 - colossal by the day's standard) and produced scythes. Daniel Meeker was one of two men who built the first mill in 1807. Justus was the first miller when the flour mill was built.

John Vaughn and Betsey had at least nine children. Among those children was John Lorin Vaughn. John Lorin married Henrietta Munson, of neighboring Vienna, Trumbull County and daughter of Freeman Munson and Margaret Gregory in 1833.  In 1850, the Vaughns lived in Pierpoint in  Ashtabula County. At that time, they had seven surviving children. Sometime between 1853 and 1856, they moved on to Platteville, Grant County, Wisconsin. Their youngest surviving child, Amos Joel was born in Platteville in 12 Nov 1856. Sons Freeman and Orion remained in Wisconsin and ultimately went to war as volunteers with the Wisconsin 33rd Infantry Regiment beginning in 1862. Read about them here.

John Lorin and Henrietta Munson moved to Fayette County in 1863. And, this would be there home for the remainder of their lifetimes. 

Children of John Lorin Vaughn and Henrietta Munson:

1. Corporal Freeman F Vaughn, born abt 1834, Trumbull County, Ohio; died 26 Aug 1864 at Jefferson Barracks, St Louis, Missouri of injuries received in battle. 

2. Rose Anna Vaughn, born abt 1836, Trumbull County, Ohio; died unkown

3. Corporal Orion Squire Vaughn, born 09 Jan 1838 in Trumbull County, Ohio; died 03 Mar 1920, Winneconne, Winnebago, Wisconsin. 

4. Sarah Jane Vaughn Simmons, born 28 Dec 1840, Trumbull County, Ohio; died 16 May 1920, New Hampton, Chickasaw, Iowa. 

5. Elizabeth A Vaughn, born abt 1841, Trumbull County, Ohio; died between 1912-1920 (there is some indication that she had some type of disability)

6. Arminda, born abt 1846, Trumbull County, Ohio; death unknown

7. James Lester Vaughn, born 03 Jan 1849, Trumbull County, Ohio; died 14 Dec 1918, Randalia, Fayette, Iowa.

8. Frederic Vaughn, abt 1851, Trumbull County, Ohio; died unknown

9. Charlotte Vaughn Fox, born 14 Jan 1853, Trumbull County, Ohio; died 21 Sep 1934, Buchanan, Iowa, USA

10. Amos Joel Vaughn, born 12 Nov 1856, Platteville, Grant, Wisconsin; died Sep 1947, Randalia, Fayette, Iowa.

11-13. Unknown Vaughns who either died as infants or as young children between
census reports (3). 

Note: At the time of Henrietta's death, seven of her children were living. I have information on Orion, Sarah, Elizabeth, James, Charlotte, and Amos being alive, but am unsure who the seventh living child would have been. 

John died on 05 Aug 1887 in Fayette County. Henrietta lived on until 07 Apr 1905 where she died at the home of her son James in Randalia.

The mystery of their burial is most likely solved. The obituary for Henrietta indicates she joined her husband and two of her children at the Lima, Iowa cemetery. According to the sexton for the cemetery, the records indicated that there were six plots bought in the name of Vaughn & Yaste (searches have not located anyone with the Yaste name in the area). The six plots are in line but there are no stones. Sexton believed that there might have been stones at one time, but during that era, stones were often made of limestone and wore down and broke frequently and could have been removed. The cemetery records are full of holes, so there is no actual record of their burials. I believe, however, with strong certainty, that they are buried there.

Lima, Iowa Cemetery. The entire line in front of the bush is Vaughn-owned plots

Clan William: Freeman and Orion Vaughn, 33rd Wisconsin Infantry, Company A

Battle of Vicksburg

Capt Thomas Munson > Samuel Munson > Samuel James Munson > William Munson > Samuel II Munson > Freeman Munson >  Henrietta Munson > Freeman and Orion Vaughn

Freeman Munson, a one-time war deserter and farmer who resided most of his life in Trumbull County, Ohio, fathered at least five children that I've found. Among them was my 3rd great grandfather, Amos (the eldest) and Henrietta, the oldest girl, born in 1815. Henrietta married John Lorin Vaughn in 1833 and to them were born ten children.

The eldest was Freeman, born about 1834, who was named for his grandfather. The second boy was Orion, who was born in 1838. Both were born in Trumbull County, Ohio and eventually moved on to Grant County, Wisconsin.

When the Civil War rolled around, Orion was the first in the family to join up with the Wisconsin volunteers on 8/14/1862. His older brother, Freeman, joined  a week later on 8/21/1862. Pulled together in Racine, Wisconsin in October 1862, the two were assigned to the 33rd Wisconsin Infantry, Company A. A fascinating journal of the activities of this company is detailed in William S. Parr's diary here.

This excerpt from a chronicler of the 33rd

"The 33rd Wisconsin Infantry was organized in Racine during October,1862 the regiment served with distinction throughout the war. Originally, the Regiment received great attention from the letters sent home by the soldiers. As the active campaigning continued, the letters slowly dwindled and so did the press and fanfare The 33d Wisconsin served in the western theater, under General Ulysses S. Grant, Gen. William T. Sherman, General Nathaniel Banks and Gen. George Thomas — participating in major battles and numerous small but, deadly engagements that received little attention in history books about the war.

Constantly called upon to act as a rear-guard or to rescue the predicaments caused by the poor decisions of others, this Wisconsin regiment is very representative of the bulk of Wisconsin regiments the state sent to the war: most such regiments served in the Western Theater; most were involved in gritty, sweaty, long-range summer campaigns; most were involved in a myriad of smaller actions, marches and skirmishes that have escaped the attention of both contemporary and modern chroniclers of Wisconsin's Civil War experience."

Civil War Wisconsin

A. J. Smith

Freeman and Orion both attained the rank of corporal during their service. Freeman and his brothers in arms fought in many skirmishes and battles, including the Battle of Vicksburg, the list for which can be found here and here. The 33rd was placed under Andrew Jackson (A. J.) Smith's division of XIII Corps during Vicksburg and his division of XVI Corps for the Red River Campaign. Smith was an 1838 graduate of West Point and graduated 36th of 45, yet had a successful volunteer and regular Army career before retiring in 1869.

Freeman was injured in battle at Tupelo, Mississippi, on July 14, 1864. Later in August, the Madison Wisconsin State Journal made a report of the sick, injured, and dead. It indicated that Freeman had been transported aboard the hospital transport ship, D. A. January from Memphis, TN to the US General Hospital at Jefferson barracks, in St Louis. He was then reported to have died on August 26, 1864.

The U.S. Army Hospital Steamer D. A. January was a side-wheel steamer that served as a floating hospital. Outfitted to allow for the best in patient care, it contained a surgical suite, baths, a kitchen, nurses quarters, hot and cold running water, and an ice water cooler. Windows circulated air through the wards, which held nearly 450 beds. During its four years of service, the D. A. January transported and cared for more than 23,000 wounded men. (Source: U.S. Army Medical Department, Office of Medical History) 

Orion made it out alive and was mustered out on August 9, 1865. The regiment was decommissioned and all went on to live their lives. Orion would marry in 1870 and died in 1920, being buried in Winnebago County, Wisconsin.