Person Page

     William N. Phillips was born in March 1849 in Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan.^4,5,3 He was married first, by W. H. Serviss, Clergyman, to Hannah M. Sickles on 28 July 1872 in Clarkston, Oakland Co., Michigan.⁶ He was married second, by Rev. W. S. Wilkinson, to Phoebe Artman, daughter of Adam Artman and Sarah Magdalena Poff, on 27 June 1880 at the home of William's sister Emily and her husband W. H. Ernsberger in Hastings, Barry Co., Michigan.⁷ He died on 16 April 1914 in Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan, at age 65 from valvular heart disease.² He was buried on 18 April 1914 at Oak Hill Cemetery (Block 1, Lot 194, Grave 2) in Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan.^8,2
     He and his second wife Phoebe lived in Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan, probably from at least 1900 to 1910. In 1910 their daughter Jessie and her husband Howard Town (listed by his middle name William in the census) and their family were living with them as boarders.^4,9 He worked as a farm laborer.^4,9,1

     Phoebe Artman was born on 10 March 1849 in Ashland Co., Ohio.^8,4,5 She was married by Rev. W. S. Wilkinson to William N. Phillips, son of Luke P. Phillips and Patience Simmons, on 27 June 1880 at the home of William's sister Emily and her husband W. H. Ernsberger in Hastings, Barry Co., Michigan.¹ She died on 3 July 1917 (Oak Hill Cemetery records have the date as 13 July 1917) in Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan, at age 68 from "softening brain" with apoplexy as contributory (i.e., a stroke).^8,9 She was buried on 5 July 1917 at Oak Hill Cemetery (Block 1, Lot 194, Grave 1) in Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan.^8,9
     No vital record has been found identifying the parents of Phoebe (Artman) Phillips, other than her death certificate, which names her father as Charles Artman. But that information is questionable. Phoebe's husband had died three years earlier, and the undertaker C. Brace supplied the information on the death certificate. Her mother is listed as unknown, so the undertaker was apparently not terribly familiar with her family history. And no other record has been found for a Charles Artman with a daughter Phoebe of the right age.
     However, known information about the family of Adam Artman and Sarah Magdalena Poff, combined with information from a photo album compiled by Phoebe's daughter Jessie (Phillips) Town, strongly suggests that Adam and Sarah Magdalena were Phoebe's parents.
     Adam and Magdalena appear in the 1860 census in Ashland Co., Ohio, with a child Phoebe, age 9. That census says Adam and Magdalena were born in Kentucky and Pennsylvania, which is consistent with Phoebe's listings in the 1900 and 1910 censuses. And, in the Ancestry database "California Death Index, 1940-1997," the entry for Phoebe's son Luke P. Phillips gives his mother's maiden name as Puaf. (Although his mother's maiden name was actually Artman; it was his grandmother whose maiden name was Poff.)
     In the photo album are several pictures from studios in Ashland Co., Ohio, including pictures of: "Aunt Jane, Phoebe Gercey, Fanny Gercey, Winnie Lavally," "Cousin Charles Gerkey," "Uncle Henry Artman and wife," and "Mother and Aunt Milly." Other pictures, with no studio identified, include "John Waters & Family of Hastings, Mich.," and "Lee Artman." The names of these people, and especially the information on their relationship to Jessie (Phillips) Town, is consistent with Phoebe (Artman) Phillips being the daughter of Adam Artman and Sarah Magdalena Poff.^8,6,7
     Phoebe and her husband William lived in Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan, probably from at least 1900 to 1910. In 1910 their daughter Jessie and her husband Howard Town (listed by his middle name William in the census) and their family were living with them as boarders.^4,5

     Earl D. Williamson was born on 4 March 1897 (the 1900 census says March 1898) in Cleveland Twp., Whitley Co., Indiana.^3,2,4 He married Daisy Greesley in 1918.³ He died on 28 March 1960 at his home in Montgomery, Hillsdale Co., Michigan, at age 63 of a coronary occlusion.³ He was buried on 31 March 1960 at South Whitley Cemetery (Section S, Site 16-13) in Whitley Co., Indiana. Funeral services were at the Miller Funeral Home, with Rev. R. T. Nevin officiating.^3,2
     He was living in Hillsdale, Hillsdale Co., Michigan, in 1956.¹

     Jennie Williamson was born about 1903 in Indiana.¹
     She was living in South Whitley, Whitley Co., Indiana, in 1956.²

     Ona Hathaway was born on 18 September 1880 in Richland Twp., Whitley Co., Indiana.¹ She married Harley Williamson, son of Joseph Lawrence Williamson and Susanah Smith, on 30 November 1902 in Whitley Co., Indiana.^2,3 She died at 1:30 PM on 25 January 1968 at her home at 104 N. Main St., South Whitley, Whitley Co., Indiana, at age 87, after being in failing health for about three weeks.¹ She was buried on 27 January 1968 at South Whitley Cemetery (Section I, Site 5-30-2) in Whitley Co., Indiana. Memorial services were at the First Baptist Church with Rev. Vincent Bagley officiating.^1,4
     She and her husband Harley are listed in Cleveland Twp., Whitley Co., Indiana, in the 1910, 1920, and 1930 censuses.^5,6,7 She was a member of the First Baptist Church in South Whitley.¹
     She and Harley had no biological children, but a niece, Mabel L. Brubaker (born abt 1902 in Indiana), lived with them most of her childhood, and is described as a foster daughter in Harley's obituary and as a daughter in Ona's obituary.^5,6,3,1

     Daisy Greesley was born in 1896.² She married Earl D. Williamson, son of Rolla Williamson and Minnie Schannep, in 1918.¹ She died in January 1960.¹ She was buried at South Whitley Cemetery (Section S, Site 16-13-2) in Whitley Co., Indiana.²

     Merritt Eugene Williamson was born on 11 May 1915 (cemetery records say 1914) in Richland Twp., Whitley Co., Indiana.^1,2 He died on 11 June 1948 north of Tunker, Whitley Co., Indiana, at age 33. He was electrocuted while doing carpentry repairs at the home of Garland Kimmell. He was working on wet ground under the house, where he contacted a live wire.¹ He was buried on 14 June 1948 at South Whitley Cemetery (Section H, Site 5-16) in Whitley Co., Indiana. Funeral services were at the DeMoney-Hollingsworth Funeral Home in Columbia City.^1,3
     In his grandmother Melzene M. Williamson's will, dated 11 July 1921, he and his siblings Edna, Icel, and Dollie were left just $100, because "I feel that this is ample provision for my said grandchildren in view of the manner in which they have treated me in that none of them have ever manifested any particular affection for me." (At the time, he was just 6 years old.)^4,5
     He was a carpenter in Thorncreek Twp., Whitley Co., Indiana, north of Columbia City.¹ At his death, he had three sisters and a brother surviving: Mrs. Eugene Slagle of Argos, Mrs. Francis Brock of Detroit, Mrs. Charles Londt of Columbia City, and Chester of Columbia City.¹

     Dollie L. Williamson was born on 16 February 1908 in Cleveland Twp., Whitley Co., Indiana.¹ She died on 30 May 1924 at her home in Whitley Co., Indiana, at age 16 of tubercular spinal meningitis, about three months after contracting tuberculosis. She had initially responded to treatment, but started becoming worse about two weeks before her death.¹ She was buried on 1 June 1924 at South Whitley Cemetery (Section V, Site 4-10) in Whitley Co., Indiana. Funeral services were at the South Whitley Church of the Brethren, with Revs. Swihart and Blickenstaff officiating.^1,3
     In her grandmother Melzene M. Williamson's will, dated 11 July 1921, she and her siblings Edna, Icel, and Merritt were left just $100, because "I feel that this is ample provision for my said grandchildren in view of the manner in which they have treated me in that none of them have ever manifested any particular affection for me." (At the time, she was just 13 years old.)^4,5
     At the time of her death, she was a sophomore at Washington Center High School.¹