Delta County Texas — Welcome

James O. Williams and Mary Jane Blair Williams and their family came to Klondike, Delta County, in about 1887, possibly a little earlier.
The family was previously in Crawford County, Missouri, according to the 1880 census of that county. They are next listed in the 1900 census of Delta County.
James was born in England, probably in Cornwall County, in April, 1841. His father was John Williams and his mother was Loveday Lavina Oram.
John Williams was a miner and came to the mining area of Morris Co., New Jersey, sometime around 1845-1850.
He is listed in the census of 1850 Morris Co. New Jersey:
John Williams , 29, born England, miner
Lavina Williams , 25, born England
James Williams , 9, born England ( this is James O. Williams)
Elij. J. Williams , 7, born England
Elizabeth Ann Williams , 4, born England
John H. Williams , 7/12, born New Jersey
Mary Jane Blair was born Dec, 1845, in Missouri to Jesse Walker Blair and Emeline Sullivan Blair. She and James O. Williams were married in Crawford Co., Missouri, about 1863.
Jesse W. Blair died before 1850. Emeline, along with Mary Jane , lived first with her parents, Stephen and Dorcas Sullivan, in Crawford Co. , and later with other children. She later moved to Delta County. She died Oct. 30, 1897 at 80 years of age. Emeline is buried in the Old Klondike Cemetery.
Two of James and Mary Jane's children were born in Missouri. These were Lovdie E. Williams, abt 1866, and Laura E. Williams, 1869.
James and his family moved to Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania after the death of his father. They may be found in the 1870 Scranton, Luzerne Co. Penn. census living next door to his widowed mother, Loveday Lavina Williams. James is listed as a miner.
Additional children born to James O. Williams and Mary Jane in Pennsylvania:
Lottie A. Williams, April, 1871
William W. Williams, May, 1873
James Francis Williams, June, 1875
Joseph Ed Williams, Feb. 1878
The Williams family moved back to Crawford Co., Missouri, where they are listed in the 1880 census of that county. They then migrated to Delta Co., Texas, and are shown in the census of Delta Co. in 1900.
The family of James O. Wiliams and Mary Jane:
Lovdie E. Williams, married Andrew J. Futrell on August 5, 1888, Delta Co.
Lottie A. Williams, married Tom Wallace on January 15, 1893, Delta Co.
Laura E. Willaims, married James England.
William W. Williams , married first Ada Anderson on Sept. 22, 1892 and second to Alice Netting
James Francis Williams married Malinda Chumbley on June 23, 1901, Delta Co.
Joseph Ed Williams married Annie Chesser on August 13, 1899, Delta Co.
James O. Williams died at Klondike in November, 1917. A court document says he died Nov. 15 or Nov. 17. However, a death register of Delta Co. says he died November 11, 1917 of Typhoid Fever.
Mary Jane Williams died also at Klondike on August 17, 1931.
Her obituary was in the Cooper Review dated Friday, August 21, 1931. It reads as follows:
"On last Monday morning at 3 o'clock the death angel knocked at the door of the Wallace home and claimed for its own the mother of Mrs. T.B. Wallace, Grandma Williams. Mrs. Williams was 85 years of age . She leaves five children , 3 sons and 2 daughters, and a number of grandchildren and friends to mourn her passing. She had made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Wallace for several years. Her husband departed this life several years ago. Her health had been very feeble for several months. She was not permitted to visit much but was always proud to see old friends come in and talk with her , always so proud to see old friends come in. She expressed that she was ready to go and requested a few days before passing away that she wanted C.W. Bledsoe to carry her body to its last resting place in the wagon as he had done for her husband who passed on several years ago. This request was granted. Funeral services were held at the M.E. Church Monday afternoon at 4 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Scott. Pallbearers were E.J. Stokes, L.W.Madden, R.F. Meadow, Guy Davis, Merick Edwards, and Claude Edwards.
The body was placed beside her husband under the sweet flowers placed by loving hands of those who loved her deeply to await the coming of our precious Lord on high. "
The burial place of James O. and Mary Jane are not known for certain. However, I think they are most likely buried in the Old Klondike Cemetery, possibly next to one of their daughters, Lovdie Williams Futrell, who died Oct. 20, 1899.
This writer has additional information on the above families and would be happy to share with those interested.
Orval L. Wright
722 Ashland Creek
Victoria, Texas 77901