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Alice Woodhurst was born at Sittingbourne in 1881 [Birth Index: Milton 2a 849, 1881 (June)] of parents Daniel Woodhurst and Priscilla (nee) Hales. Descendants state that she was born on March 13th.
In 1884 she emigrated with her mother and siblings to America, sailing from Liverpool on the RMS City of Montreal and arriving at Michigan on July 26th 1884.
She married Orlo "William" Everett Williams on December 24th 1899. The register of Marriage Returns describes him as aged "26", born in Blackman township and occupied in farming, and her as aged "18". Both were residing in Summit township, Jackson Co., Michigan. His mother's maiden name was given as Hill.
His true forenames are uncertain, varying through the censuses: "Wm. O." in 1900, "Orlo William" in 1910, "Orlo W." in both 1920 and 1930 and "Orlo E." in 1940. He is believed to have been born on November 16th 1871 in Blackman township. He is referred to henceforth as "William".
The US 1900 Census finds them living in Summit township. William was working as a labourer. The record states that they had been married for less than a year and that Alice had immigrated in 1883 (but actually 1884).
The US 1910 Census finds them and their first two children living in Summit township. William was working as an odd-job labourer.
The US 1920 Census finds them and their same two children living in Concord Village, Jackson Co. William was working as a farm labourer. However, Ethel had married William R. Donnem the year before and he too was in the household, likewise working as a farm labourer.
The US 1930 Census finds them living in Concord Village in the household of their daughter Ethel who had by now remarried to George C. Hardt and by him produced two sons. William was still occupied as a farm labourer.
The US 1940 Census finds them living in Concord Village together with their unmarried son Orlo. William was not working but the son Orlo was a wood cutter on a farm.
William died aged "77" on May 24th 1949 and was buried in the Woodland Cemetery, Jackson City.
Alice died on June 29th 1967 in Leoni township, Jackson Co. and she too was buried in the Woodland Cemetery. Her gravestone ascribes to her a middle initial "H" presumed to denote "Hales".
Ethel's birthdate is given in the American Social Security Index as October 4th 1900. She firstly married in Concord on November 20th 1919 to Wilhelm ("William") Roland Donnem. The register of Marriage Returns describes him as a mechanic aged "23" born in Illinois of Norwegian parents. His mother's maiden name was entered as "Rendall" [actually Brynhild Rendahl] and his father's forenames as "Ole P." [actually Olaf Pedersen]. Ethel is described as aged "19" and residing in Dallas, Texas.
This marriage was actually bigamous as Wilhelm had already married earlier that year. The marriage certificate for that occasion states that he had married in Spokane, Washington State on June 18th 1919 to Mabel G. (nee) Thompson aged "20"; he is described on that document as a truck driver aged "22" of Norwegian parents "Ole Donnem" and "Bryland Rendahl". Thus, there can be no doubt that the man who married Ethel was the man who was already married to Mabel.
Wilhelm was baptized on March 19th 1899, as recorded in the Baptisms Register of the Zion Lutheran Church in Chicago. His entry there names his parents as Ole and Brynhild Donnem residing at 1035 W. 21st Place in Chicago and gives his date of birth as November 20th 1898 (in precise agreement with the birthplace and birthdate cited by Wilhelm over forty years later on his WWII Draft Registration card).
At the time of the 1910 Census Wilhelm was living with his parents in Day Precinct, Spokane, his birthplace given as Illinois. His father, a furniture finisher, had immigrated in 1893 and his mother in 1895.
The 1920 Census finds Ethel and Wilhelm - now a farm labourer - living with her parents in Concord.
On August 16th 1921 Mabel filed for divorce from Wilhelm on the grounds of "extreme cruelty and non-support" which was granted on November 22nd 1921.
On September 6th 1924 Ethel filed for divorce from Wilhelm on the grounds of "desertion" which was granted on February 2nd 1925. Soon afterwards, on March 14th 1925, she remarried to George C. Hardt.
The 1930 Census finds Wilhelm living in Seattle with a new partner Mary Louise Hughes, described as his wife but for whom no marriage record has been found; he was occupied as a machinist in an aeroplane factory. He and Mary had produced a son named Roland.
Ethel died on July 22nd 1997 in Kalama, Cowlitz Co., Washington State. She and George were buried in the Woodland Cemetery, Jackson Co., Michigan.
Orlo E. Williams was born on January 3rd 1902 and appears never to have married. The American Social Security Death Index states that he died on February 26th 1992 and had been residing in Spring Arbor, Jackson Co.
Geraldine was stillborn on August 8th 1916. Her death certificate gives the cause as "stillbirth due to strangulation from [umbilical] cord". Her father was the informant.