John Williams

 John was said to be born 15 Sep 1874 in Chesaning, the son of Aw-be-me-quaw (Elizabeth). He joined half-sibling Mary, said to be born in 1867.

John's mother, Elizabeth, was the daughter of Paw-ge-to-go-quay and her 1st husband (possibly Albert Newton). Siblings were Ne-Zette Compaux, James Norton, Richard Alberts and William Newton (who served in the civil war). Half-siblings (by Paw-ge-to-go-quay and her 2nd husband) were Mary Louis, Maw-ge-aw-quo-do-quay, James Mitchell, Susan Mitchell Koon, and Ah-qua-she Fox.

John married Nancy Pontiac, daughter of John Pontiac and Elizabeth Bailey.

There first known child, son Pontiac was born 8 May 1896 in Elbridge

Son McDosha(?) was born in June 1899. Sadly he died 27 Nov 1899 in Elbridge at the age of 5 months of pneumonia.

Son Alexander was born 12 Feb 1901 in Hart. [From his social security application]

Son Joseph was born 10 Jul 1902 [From his death record]

Son Henry was said to be born in 1905

Daughter Poc-to-go-quay (Cecelia) was said to be born July or August 1907. [From the 1908 Durant roll. She was also called Sarah in the 1910 census].

1908 Durant Roll Field Notes

page 61B line 7 under Chief Maish-ke-aw-she

Aw-be-me-quaw, 69, first husband dead; 2nd husband Set Wright dead

child 1 Mary, 41, husband George Ching-gwon, see 2/50

child 2 John Williams #2, age 36

wife Nancy Pontiac, see 7/65, 2/61B, 3/52

    child 1) Pontiac, 13

    child 2) William, 11

    child 3) Joe, 6

    child 4) Henry, 4

    child 5) Poc-to-go-quay / Cecelia, born Jul or Aug 1907.

page 61B line 2 [John's uncle]

Kay-gway-daw-sung, dead, wife and children dead. Uncle of John Williams, only child of parents, but has 1/2 sister on mother's side, mother living, see 3-52

page 52 line 3 [John's mother Elizabeth and grandmother Paw-ge-to-go-quay]

Paw-ge-to-go-quay - dead

1st husband dead

child 1 Ne-zette Compaux

child 2 Elizabeth Williams, 68

child 3 James Norton, 60

child 4 Richard Alberts

child 5 Wm Norton / Wm Newton

2nd husband name not given

child 6 Mary Louis, 57

child 7 Maw-ge-aw-guo-do-quay, 55, husband name not given

child 8 James Mitchell, 53

child 9 Susan Mitchell Koon

child 10 Ah-qua-she, husband Joe Fox

page 65 line 7

Pontiac, dead; wife name not given, dead

child 1 Henry P. Pontiac, 49

child 2 James W. Pontiac, 46

child 3 Jane Williams, husband Lyman Williams, Saginaw Indian

child 4 Nancy Pontiac Williams, 32, husband John Williams #2, see 2-61

Daughter Rose Elizabeth was said to be born 19 Jul 1908, but she was not listed in the 1910 census.

1910 Federal Census - Elbridge, Oceana, Michigan

John Williams, age 36, married once, married 17 years, laborer at odd jobs

Nancy, wife, 34, 10 children born, 5 children living

Alexander, son, 9

Joseph, son, 7

Henry, son, 5

Sarah, daughter, 3

Elizabeth, mother, 80, widow, two children born, two children living

Daughter Eunice was born in Jul 1910. Sadly she died 17 Oct 1910 in Elbridge, at the age of 4 months, of colitis.

Son James was born 31 Jan 1913. Sadly he died 7 Feb 1913 of cholera.

John's mother, Elizabeth, died 20 May 1913 in Elbridge, of old age. 

John's obituary says wife Nancy died in 1913. Death record not yet found.

Son Pontiac joined the Army. As part of Company K, 125th Infantry, 63rd Brigade, 32nd Division he sailed on 10 Feb 1918 from Hoboken, New Jersey. Pontiac listed his aunt, Mrs. Mary Chingman, as relative.

Son Joseph died 14 Apr 1918 in Bay Shore, Charlevoix, Michigan

                                        

Son Pontiac had his photo taken on 23 Jan 1919 while serving in the Great War.

Son Pontiac sailed 7 Mar 1919 aboard the ship Noordam from Brest, France. He listed his father, Mr. John Williams, of Bay Shore. Arrived at Hoboken, New Jersey 18 May 1919

The 1920 Federal Census has not been located for John's family.

1930 Federal Census - Hayes, Otsego, Michigan

John Williams, 56, widower, first married at age 20, laborer at wood camp

Pontiac, son, 32, no occupation

Henry, son, 25, laborer at wood camp

Son Pontiac was married 15 Aug 1936 in Gaylord to Rosemary Copland.

Son Alex applied for social security - 22 Apr 1937 while working for the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad in Chicago as an extra gang laborer. He gave his age as 36, birth as 12 Feb 1901 in Hart, Oceana, Michigan, parents as John Williams and Nancy Pontiac.

Son Alex died 26 Mar 1942 in Acme, Grand Traverse, Michigan

John died 16 Jun 1954 in Charlevoix. His obituary was printed in the Petoskey News-Review on 17 Jun 1954. 

Son Pontiac died 1 Apr 1969 in Grand Rapids.

Copyright (c) 2020 Vicki Wilson