Eleventh Generation

93. Leslie Elsworth WILLIAMS was born on 16 September 1874 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^1,12,30,69 (He may have been born in Janesville. The 1920 Census erroneously listed his birthplace as Iowa.)

General Notes: Census: 6-2-1880, Taylor Township, Benton County, Iowa. Leslie E., was 5 years old, attending school, born in Wisconsin, father was born in New York and mother in England. Household # 16 Family # 17 Line # 21.

6-1-1900, Janesville, Rock County, Wisconsin, Ward 1. Leslie E. lived with his parents, wife, brother and half sister, was born in (unreadable month) 1875, was 25 years old, married for six months, born in Wisconsin, father in New York, mother in England, was a mason, and could read, write, and speak English. Household # 115 Family # 129 Line #.

4-5-1910, Rapids Township, city of Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa. Leslie and family resided at 1216 North 10th Street West, was head of the household, 34 years old, married, in present marriage for 10 years, born in Wisconsin, father born in Wisconsin, his mother and rented his house, not a farm. Household # 9 Family # 9 Line # 36.

4-19-1930, City of Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin-Part of Ward 3. Leslie was residing at 1811 Hodgebloom Avenue, was head of the household, owned his real estate, was valued at $4500.00, did not own a radio, did not live on a farm, was 55 years old, married, first married at 25 years, could read and write, born in Wisconsin, father was born in United States and mother in England, was able to speak English, was a laborer at a furnace company, and not a veteran. Household # 499 Family # 544 Line #

1920 It appears that since the 1910 was taken 4-15-1910 and Bertha Leona was born in Ladysmith, Wisconsin in May 3, 1910, that Leslie and Grace must have moved after the census and before Bertha Leona's birth. This was the year when this family moved from Ladysmith to Eau Claire, the year Leslie contracted small pox, and the year Harry was born. It was also the year when Grace's foster mother died in Crystal Lake. This triggered many trips to Crystal Lake in 1920 and a few years after, for prolonged stays to help Grace's foster father adjust.

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He appeared in the census in 1880 in Taylor Township, Benton County, IA.^12,31 He appeared in the census in 1900 in Janesville, Rock County, WI.³² He and his wife were living with his parents and his occupation was "Mason." Leslie appeared in the census in 1910 in Cedar Rapids, Linn County, IA.⁶⁹ His household was 1216 North 10th Street and his occupation was "Janitor, YMCA." He appeared in the census in 1920 in Eau Claire, Eau Claire Township, Eau Claire County, WI.³⁰ His household was at 611 South Barstow Street in the 3rd Ward and his occupation was "Supt., Furnace Co." He appeared in the census in 1930 in Eau Claire, Eau Claire Township, Eau Claire County, WI.⁷⁰ His household was at 1811 Hodgebloom Avenue and his occupation was "Laborer, Furnace Company." Leslie died in May 1964 at the age of 89.¹

Leslie Elsworth WILLIAMS and Grace Evelyn DIKE were married on 23 December 1899 in Woodstock, McHenry County, IL.¹

"December 23, 1899 THE WILLIAMS-DIKE MARRIAGE Wedding Ceremony Took Place in Woodstock, Ill., Today

In Woodstock, Ill., today, occurred the marriage of Leslie E. Williams of Janesville, to Miss Grace Evelyn Dike. The groom is the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Williams of 114 North Academy street, and is well and favorably known. The bride is the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Dike of Cary, Ill. and for the past few months has made her home in this city during which time she has won many friends.

Mr. and Mrs. Williams will spend a few days visiting friends in Chicago and other places, after which they will return to this city, where they expect to reside. Their many friends will join in extending to them most hearty congratulations."

Grace was the piano player and organist at the Methodist Church in Ladysmith, Wisconsin.

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Grace Evelyn DIKE, daughter of Edward E. DIKE and (Unknown) UNKNOWN (DIKE), was born in April 1880 in Illinois.^1,32

General Notes: Census: 6-1-1900-Janesville (Rock) Wisconsin. Grace was born April 1890 (incorrect), was 20 years old, married for six months, born in Illinois, father born in New York, mother in England, unreadable occupation, and could read, write, and speak English. She was living with her in-laws. Household # Family # Line #
4-15-1910-Rapids Township, City of Cedar Rapids (Linn) Iowa. "Gace E." was living with her husband and two children, 30 years old, married, in present marriage 10 years, did not disclose how many children she had born or how many were living, born in Illinois, her parents were born in the United States, spoke English, was unemployed, and could read and write. Household # 9 Family # 9 Line # 37
4-19-1930-City of Eau Claire (Eau Claire) Wisconsin-Part of Ward 3. Grace was residing with her husband and son at 1811 Hodgebloom Avenue, was 47 years old, married, first married at 17 years, was able to read and write, born in Illinois, father in United States, and mother in Sweden, could speak English and was not employed. Household # 499 Family # 544 Line #

Grace was adopted by Edward Dike following the death of both of her parents some time between the age of 1 and 5 years. Harry James was born about the same time that "Grandma" Dike died. It was this year that Leslie and Grace moved from Ladysmith to Eau Claire. "The evidence is strong that my mother, sister Leona, and I moved in with Grandpa Dike in Crystal Lake for two or three years." "Grandpa Dike" farmed in Washington County, Kansas in the period of 1880-1900. It was shortly before 1900 when he returned to Illinois, living variously in Cary, Elgin. This was the place where Leslie met Grace. He was there on a masonry job."

She appeared in the census in 1900 in Janesville, Rock County, WI.^12,32 She appeared in the census in 1910 in Cedar Rapids, Linn County, IA.⁶⁹ Grace appeared in the census in 1920 in Eau Claire, Eau Claire Township, Eau Claire County, WI.³⁰ She appeared in the census in 1930 in Eau Claire, Eau Claire Township, Eau Claire County, WI.⁷⁰ She died in December 1964 at the age of 84 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee Township, Milwaukee County, WI.^1,32

Obituary Notes: "Mrs. Grace Willliams, 84, of Hogeboom Ave., city died Thursday in a Milwaukee hospital. She had been visiting a son HARRY there.
Other survivors are a daughter, Mrs. George Ziehl, Eau Claire; 10 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Williams was a former resident of Ladysmith.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 1:30 p.m. from the Bethel Baptist Church here, the Rev. Robert Weigner officiating. Burial will be in Rest Haven Gardens. Friends may call at the Smith Funeral Chapel from after 2 p.m. today until noon Saturday and at the church one hour before services."

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Leslie Elsworth WILLIAMS and Grace Evelyn DIKE had the following children: