Geo. M., Williams Of Lineville, Dies

George M. Williams, 81, died Friday at his home near Lineville. Funeral services were held Monday at the Greenlee Funeral Home and were conducted by the Rev. Roy Donelson. Burial was in the McKinney Cemetery.

Mr. Williams, a son of Ewell (sic) and Mary Williams, was born in Mercer County Jan. 13, 1877. He and his brother, Ray Williams, made their home on the farm where they were born. Mr. Williams was never married.

In addition to his brother, Ray Williams, he leaves three other brothers, Samuel Williams, Oliver Williams and Joe Williams, all of Lineville; four sisters, Mrs. Edith Vinzant of Allerton, Ia., Mrs. Amelia Vaughn of Des Moines, Mrs. Mae Marolf of Clio and Mrs. Elizabeth McIntosh, Selah, Wash.

*******
George is buried in McKinney Cemetery. There is no monument. He lived most of his life at the family farm with his youngest brother, Raymond Christopher. George never married, although he was reportedly engaged once. He purchased a trousseau, including a wedding dress, for his fiance with the intent to marry her at a future date. When his mother, Mary, went into town for her Saturday trading, she overheard that this woman had used Te dress, trousseau, etc. and had married another man. She returned home and told George and he never married after that.

I never knew Uncle George. He died not to long before I was born, and he lived on the family farm just outside Lineville all his life. This was not his plan, but what was dictated to him by his heart.
Uncle George had apparently planned to marry when he was a young man. He and his bride-to-be made plans for their wedding. Uncle George went so far as to provide atrousseau for his intended by purchasing a trunk which he filled with clothing for her, along with paying for her wedding gown. The bride-to-be would have her dowry provided for her by her future husband, or so he had thought,
Shortly before their marriage, George's mother, Great Grandmother Mary Williams went into town for her Saturday trading. While there she learned that the young woman would not become her daughter-in-law. This woman had in fact taken the wardrobe and, using the wedding dress purchased for her by George, had married another man. Grandma Mary returned home and gave her eldest son this information. How Uncle George responded to the news is not known, but he never married, living his life as a bachelor farmer with his youngest brother, my Grandpa Ray.

Like my grandfather, Uncle George remained on the family farm his entire adult life. Even after Grandpa Ray married my grandmother, Uncle George continued to reside with his brother and new wiffe. For a time, Great Grandfather Euell Williams was also living with the newly married couple.

My dad grew up with his Uncle George livng with him throughout his life. As a result, Dad and Uncle George were very close. Dad spoke of his uncle fondly, telling of how they went unting together. Uncle George was also a fan of western movies. He and dad would come to Lineville regularly to see westerns.

George, the oldest son of Euell and Mary has been described as most like his father in behavior and mannerisms. This is probably true as George lived at home with his parents most of his life. There may have been periods when he was living away form home, but he always returned there.

Another interesting story regarding Uncle Goerge that was passed down through the family is another bit of entertaining, yet probably untrue folklore. My father often told me that Uncle George rode shotgun with Jesse James. Now, some of the pictures of Uncle George would give some credence to the story. There is also some truth in the fact that Jesse James was in the area. On June 3, 1871, the James-Younger gang robbed the Corydon Bank in neigboring Wayne County. The James home was in Liberty, Missouri, only about 100 miles south of Lineville. Odds are he traveled through the area regularly.

Now the story starts to fall apart. Uncle George was born January 13, 1877. The bank was robbed in 1871, almost 6 years before Uncle George was born. Uh, oh! Jesse James was shot to death on April 3, 1882. Uncle George would have been 5 years old. Suddenly a great story falls under the "tall tales" category. Knowing my own grandfather's pleasure it telling tall tales, I can't help but wonder if Uncle George enjoyed telling his own tall tales to his nephew, my dad.

by Bob Williams