Grandma Violet and Grandpa Walter Over the Years

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

The sky is dark and heavy with clouds this evening as I type by the yellow glow of the lamp. I hear rain water moving through the gutters outside the front window. Behind me I see a sliver of light from the setting sun stretch across Utah Lake. The valley seems peaceful below. Rain has fallen for several hours now - light then heavy then light again. It can't seem to make up its mind.

Nothing profound tonight, just a comment on the the passing of time as seen through two photographs taken of my mother's parents, Violet and Walter Mattson. Both pictures were taken in California. The first shows a happy couple at the start of their married life.

The bottom shows the same couple towards the end of their married life. Its apparent how they changed over the years. The passing of years and the lessons of time changed them. They scratched out a living on a ranch in Montana. They raised three strong children and lost a baby on a cold winter's morning, and in the end their health failed them. There were good days and not so good days. Through it all they had each other and that's what I remember most about my grandparents.

So tonight we take a moment and remember two people that survived the best and worst life had to offer. And in the end they are remembered with fond, loving memories by a large and growing family stretching from coast to coast.


Simply,
Victor

Thanksgiving at Grandma Mattson's, November 1957

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Ah, my first Thanksgiving. These pictures were taken at the Mattson's home in Spearfish South Dakota on Thanksgiving Day 1957. I say this was my first Thanksgiving because my mother Luella was about one month pregnant with me so she was eating for two of us.

Click to Enlarge

The family was small then, just Luella and Charles and mustn't forget four month old Kim in all her glory. Don't know what she was wearing in the picture above. This picture brings fond memories of Grandma and Grandpa Mattson's home. It was taken from the living room looking toward the kitchen. Do you see the open dish washer? I remember visiting Grandma as a kid and being fascinated by that dishwasher. We didn't have one and I didn't know anyone that did, except for Grandma Mattson. I thought it was something right out of the Jetsons; a machine that washed dishes! We use to run up the outside cellar door and peer through that kitchen window.

You know I can almost still smell that kitchen. It had its own smell, as did the entry way right off the kitchen. It wasn't a bad smell at all - just its own smell. Blind fold me, put me in a time machine, drop me into that kitchen and in one inhale I'd nail my location spot on!

I loved everything there was to love about Grandma's house, especially the steep stairway leading to the attic room where Kim and I use to sleep when we'd spend a week with Grandma and Grandpa in the summers. I'll call that stairway "The Broken Neck Staircase" because if you fell down you're neck, back and legs wouldn't survive the tumble. Didn't have a railing either if my memory is correct. To get to the attic you opened a door off the bedroom nearest the kitchen, stepped up one step onto a landing, turned right and ascended one steep narrow step at a time. The attic was wood paneled. It was a perfect play area, except in the heat of the summer when it was just too hot to be up there. I remember laying on the bed in front of the attic window on a warm summer's night and listening to the sounds of the Spearfish Passion Play from up the hill.

Grandpa Mattson use to take Kim and I to work with him at the RV sales lot. He sold RV's and trailers and Kim and I ran around and played in them. What kid wouldn't love that?

Click to Enlarge

Again, we return to the Thanksgiving Feast. In this picture you see Grandma Elda, then Luella and finally Charles with fork and knife in hand working through the contents of his plate. Strange to see Dad eating and Mom just sitting (am I going to get in trouble for that one....?)

Don't know who that is with her back to the camera. I tried to zoom in to see what was on the menu, but no luck. Of course we all remember Grandma's piano. It's still in the family. If you're in the mood to play a piano last tuned during the Napoleonic Wars then make a trip to Jilane's house. The piano sits in their projector room. Kim and I learned to play the piano on that instrument so my memories of it are mixed as one would expect from years of exposure to a device that brought some joy and an equal amount of torture.

The door behind the piano led to Grandma and Grandpa's bedroom. Luella and Charles look young don't they? Mom was 18 and dad was 21 years old. Far too young to be married with one child and another on the way wouldn't you say? Mind you, I'm glad for just my being's sake that they decided to move ahead and not delay in the family department so I'll leave that as said and move along.

Simply,
Victor

King John of England. Our 24th Great Grandfather (Williamson Line)

King John, our 24th Great Grandfather on the Williamson Line, through
Margaret Ann Willis, wife of George Matthew Williamson

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

A Royal Dispatch!
Tonight, after much searching I'd like to introduce you to our 24th Great Grandfather (for my generation).

You’ve heard the tales of Robin Hood. You know that Robin Hood’s enemy was King John of England. King John was King of England from April 6, 1199 until his death. He was the younger brother of King Richard I. He was the youngest of five sons of King Henry II and Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine.

During his lifetime John acquired two epithets. One was "Lackland" because, as his father's youngest son, he did not inherit land out of his family's holdings, and because as King he lost significant territory to France. The other was "Softsword" signifying his supposed lack of prowess in battle. Not much of a warrior I guess.

Of course he is best know for his signature on the Magna Carta (think back to your history class). Our 24th Great Grandfather signed the document that first limited the power of English Kings. It was the one of the earliest steps in the evolution of limited government

The Magna Carta not only changed England, but also affected us today. America’s constitution is based off the idea of the Magna Carta. Each clause protects the right of the English people. The U.S constitution is made up of amendments to give legal rights to the people of America. The people today would not have those rights, without the idea of the Magna Carta; a document to be signed for the people

John's family life was tumultuous, as his older brothers all became involved in rebellions against his father, King Henry. His mother, Eleanor, was imprisoned by Henry in 1173, when John was about five years old.


Not the Nicest Man
Before his accession, John had already acquired a reputation for treachery, having conspired sometimes with and sometimes against his elder brothers, Henry, Richard and Geoffrey. In 1184, John and Richard both claimed that they were the rightful heir to Aquitaine, one of many unfriendly encounters between the two. In 1185, John became the ruler of Ireland, whose people grew to despise him, causing John to leave after only eight months.

During Richard's absence on the Third Crusade from 1190 to 1194, John attempted to overthrow William Longchamp, his father's Prime Minister so to speak, and the Bishop of Ely and Richard's designated justice. This was one of the events that inspired later writers to cast John as the villain in their reworking of the legend of Robin Hood.

In October 1191 the leading citizens of London opened the gates to him. John promised the city the right to govern itself as a commune in return for recognition as his father's heir. While returning from the Crusade, Richard was captured by Leopold V, Duke of Austria, and handed over to Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor, who held him for ransom. Meanwhile, John had joined forces with Philip Augustus, King of France, and they sent a letter to Henry asking him to keep Richard away from England for as long as possible, offering payment to keep Richard imprisoned. Henry declined their offer, and once Richard's ransom was paid by his mother Eleanor of Aquitaine (who had to pawn the Crown Jewels of England to do so), he was set free.

Of course John threw himself on the mercy of his father and pleaded for forgiveness from Richard, who granted it and named him heir to the throne.

So, there you have it. You've got royal blood in those Williamson veins! Now walk a bit taller tomorrow on your way to work but don't get too carried away. Asking your coworkers and friends to kiss your ring would be a bit 'over the top'.

Simply,
Victor

King John's Tomb

Charles at School. The Formative Years....

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Dad goes by different names to the different groups of people that know him. To his older relatives he is known as CB. To us he is Dad. To the people at WalMart he is Charlie and to the Grandkids he is Grandpa.
Oh, I forgot..... Mom has several different words for him depending on her mood or his mood. Some are as close to endearing as they can get considering their over 50 years of marriage and others not so endearing. They really know how to push each other's buttons when they are so inclined.

This is a post of Charlie, CB, Dad and Grandpa's early years in school. He attended school in Lead, South Dakota until his parents divorced. Then he and Grandma Elda moved to Belle Fourche where he attended Belle Fourche High School.

Click on the Picture to Enlarge

Here we have living proof that Dad attended Kindergarten. This is his official Kindergarten graduation photo. Dad is the boy on the far right standing. His ears give him away. He doesn't look too happy. Kindergarten may not have been easy, how could it have been considering there were 34 students in his Kindergarten class! Can you believe it?! Today's public would demand a school board's head if we had kindergarten classes that size today. Back then it was the norm. Teachers had a way of dealing with large classes back then. Teachers could paddle you then. You stepped out of line you got the ruler on your palms or the board on your backside. Oh, the good ole days......

Click on the Picture to Enlarge

This is the actual graduation certificate. This was the start of what was to become dad's greatest asset - his sharp intellect (according to him). Oh, he also points out the fact that he was considered the best looking guy in the school. Mind you, that statement is a hard one to prove considering most of his classmates are either dead, lost to time or suffering from dementia and can't contradict his memory of the way things were. Of course there are those in our family of advanced years that remember Dad during his school years. I wonder what their memories of Dad are during his school years? Anyone want to share?

Click on the Picture to Enlarge

Here is a school picture of Dad when he was 12 or 13. That hair is what set him apart I'm sure. Didn't every boy back then want a flat top?

Cheers to ya Dad!

Simply,
Victor

Life on the Montana Ranch Continues. The Mattsons.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Its a warm Sunday in Pleasant Grove. The windows are open to let the cool valley breeze blow through.
Mother (Luella) brought a couple wicker baskets full of pictures upstairs for review. I had no idea there were so many old family pictures! Had I known I might not have started this blog! But I'm neck deep in it now and its too late to turn back. I'm committed to getting all the family pictures digitized and published so everyone can enjoy them and read the stories of "the old days on the ranch, or in Rapid, or in Utah....."

Today we gather around a patch of old dusty ground in eastern Montana, the site of the old Mattson Ranch, one mile from Piniele. There isn't much left of the ranch house except for the memories of the Mattson children that once lived there. So, with Luella at my side ready acting as tour guide (in her house coat no less - taking it easy on a Sunday) we start a walk through the past.

Enjoy your time spent on the Montana ranch. It was a happy place. "Everyone loved to come to the ranch. The coffee pot was always on and there was always something ready to eat. We had company morning, noon and night. The ranch was on the dirt road so anyone passing was obliged to stop, have a cup of coffee and a biscuit and visit. The house always had company. It is just the way we lived," Luella said as she clutched the photos you're about to see in her hand.
"Are you ready?" I asked.
"Yes, let's start," she replied. So, today its our turn to stop, have a cup of Great Grandma Ida's coffee and visit. Its a warm day so we'll sit outside to talk. Oh, and if you have to use the facilities, the outhouse is around back......


Picture 1. Mother remembers this picture was taken during the winter of 1949. It was one of the worst winters they'd had on the ranch. The snow was deeper than Great Grandpa Albert's head.

This was the trail on the way to the two hole outhouse. You can see the outhouse's top over the snow. The outhouse was in the back of the house. Mother said she was afraid of skunks near the outhouse during summer nights.
"We used the Montgomery Ward or Sears Catalog for toilet paper. The smell wasn't too bad. I used to go to the outhouse from time to time just to get away from my brothers and sister," Luella said. She hesitated to confess possible trips to the outhouse for a smoke as a teen but I got her to fess up that it was a distinct possibility. Naughty Luella.

Picture 2. This picture was taken in front of Roxy Jacobson's home in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. Roxy used to be the Mattson's neighbor in Montana before moving to Belle to open this boarding house. As fate would have it, Luella met her future husband CB (Charlie) in this home when she was eight years old and he was ten. Dad and his mother, Grandma Elda, lived in this boarding home after Elda and Grandpa Charles divorced. Mother said that dad would show off to her on his bike.

Grandma Mattson needed to come to Belle because of hemorrhaging. Luella was young so it was thought she should stay with Grandma Violet while she recovered. Luella and Violet stayed at Roxy's boarding house. Violet and Grandma Elda became friends. Mother remember this was the first time she'd used a proper bathroom with taps and running hot water. It was also the first time Luella remembers taking a proper bath in a porcelain bathtub. On the ranch they used a portable tin tub.

From left to right. Irene Jacobson, Luella sitting on her grandmother Ida's lap, Jens Jacobson,
Marie Simmons(?), Walter Mattson (Luella's father), Helen Lidman (Luella's cousin), Roxy Jacobson, and finally Violet Mattson (Luella's mother).

Picture 3. Walter Mattson (Luella's dad) is holding Aunt Linda. The other baby is Carlene Maus (a cousin). Taken on the Maus ranch near Hermosa South Dakota.

Picture 4. The entire student body of Piniele, Montana's one room school house taken in 1947. Mother hated the braids in her hair. Grandma made her wear them. It was either braids or curls.

Left to right. Harvey Cambell, Charles Gosslin, Luella Mattson, Jerry Rosencranz (with the baseball hat), Margaret Huff (above Jerry), Tommy Simmons (with cowboy hat), Billy Rosencranz (kneeling next to Jerry), Kathleen Landcaster, Keith Landcaster, and finally Francis Rosencranz.

It was an all grade school house with 5 year olds to teen age boys. Classes were called up to the teacher's desk one at a time for lessons. After the lesson you were given seat work and the next class would be called up to the desk. Most of the kids road horses to school. Mom and her brothers and sister walked the 1 mile to school. In the winter Walter took them in a sleigh. The school had a big pot belly stove for heat.
"In the winter we'd put our wet shoes near the stove to dry so the school always smelt of rubber," Luella said.

Grandma Violet (Luella's mother) was the school's room mother. She put on all the school's plays. After the school plays there were refreshments and then dancing. Everyone loved to dance. Luella used to stand on Louie Talcott's shoes when she'd dance with him.
"Thats how you learned to dance," she said. Grandma Violet always knew the latest dances. She'd drive all the way to Belle Fourche to learn them if she had to. Once she knew the dance she'd teach the boys and girls in the school house.

The girls sold basket lunches as a school fund raiser. The girls and their mothers prepared basket lunches (fried chicken biscuits etc) then sold them in an auction to the boys and their dads. The moms and girls were required to eat with the person that bought their lunches.

The Piniele students went to Brodus Montana for high school. Brodus was 32 miles from Piniele so Luella boarded with a family in Brodus along with her best friend Penny Thex. They shared the same bed. Grandpa Walter brought Luella to Brodus every Sunday night. On the way they'd listen to Gunsmoke on the truck radio. Walter picked Luella up every Friday night to bring her back to the ranch. Mom was 13 years old when she started school in Brodus. Mom liked being in town and being around other people. .

Mom and Penny smoked cigarettes in their bedroom downstairs. During her time in Brodus Luella needed spending money. She went to the cafe and got a job washing the cafe's dishtowels at her boarding house. She and her friends hung out at the movies and at the soda fountain in the drug store.

Picture 5. Luella and Linda on the ranch. Mother was pigeon toed for awhile. Her feet straighted out over time. Mother was seven. Linda was four.

Picture 6. Walter and Violet went to Belle Fourche and bought John and Marvin coveralls with matching caps. Of course the event required a photograph.
"That was the last time those outfits were that clean," Luella said.


Picture 7. We finish with Luella walking down the ranch road with her doll.

We must be careful not to stay too long and outlast our welcome so let's leave the Mattsons to their work and continue down the duty trail to the highway.

We live in a different time don't we. We are less inclined to stop in to visit neighbors and less inclined to ask for help. Our electronic world offers unique access to each other electronically but with that comes the cold separation of distance. Will we ever get that Mayberry, down home life again?

Perhaps its time to get in the car, or just walk across the street and have a 'Visit' with a good friend or relation.

Remember, the Fortress is always open if you are ever in Pleasant Grove. No front porch but there is a back deck with a wonderful view of a pleasant Utah valley.

Simply,
Victor

The Mattsons at Home in Lead, South Dakota, 1913

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Several posts today. Mother is in house with boxes of photos pulling them out by the dozen. I can hardly keep up so the more I talk the less I get posted. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a bottomless pit of quicksand and sinking deeper and deeper. The pictures are mounting and the stories so many to tell.......

In this post we have two pictures:

These are photographs of Albert John Mattson and Ida Thornburg Mattson with baby Walter (My Grandfather, Violet's Husband) taken in their home in Lead South Dakota in 1912. Albert worked in Homestake Mine. They also owned a few rentals. Walter was their only child.


Simply,
Victor

Mary Waters, A Williamson 11th Great Grandmother. A Remarkable Woman.

A Woman from our 11th Great Grandmother's Time in England.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
I'm back from my trip into deep space at the Space Camp! I'm tired but thats typical for a Saturday evening. This is going home and collasping on the couch time BUT before I do I wanted to introduce all of you kind enough to stop by our digital fire this evening to my 11th Great Grandmother on the Williamson side. So all you Williamsons out there, pull up a log, get out the marshmellows, get yourself a stick and conjure up a few smores while I talk. Nothing beats a viritual family get together does it? No mess, no planning, you come when you have a moment and leave when the kids become unbearable.

Her name was Mary Waters. Now there is a some dispute on the last name. Some records refer to her as Atwaters and others simply Waters. It may be something we never clear up, but for sure she is in our line. For me, my 11th Great Grandparent. Perhaps different for you depending on your distance from the 9 Williamson children we descend from. Here is the relationship chart so you can find where you are in relation to this awesome Great Grandmother.

Relationship Chart

11th Great Grandmother. Mary Atwaters b. 1520
Married Robert Esquire Honywood

to

Katharine Honywood b. 1546.
Married William Gent Fleet
to
Mary Fleet b. 1579.
Married William Willis
to
Henry Willis b. 1628
Married Mary Pease
to
John Willis b. 1667
Married Esther Brenton
to
John Willis b. 1691.
Married Abigail Willets
to
John Willis b. 1750.
Married Sarah Jones
to
Bennett Willis b. 1780.
Married Catherine Nosseman
to
Jonathan Willis b. 1807.
Married Anabella Phlegar
to
Margaret Ann Willis.
Married George Matthew Williamson
to
William J. Williamson
Married Effie Helen Victor
to
Vennie, Ima Della, Inez, Lillie Ethel, Josie, Emmett, Walt, Charles, Maurice.
to
Charles (my parent’s generation)
to
Me

What you are about to read is an account of her life written a few hundred years ago. You'll notice the oddities in the language. Play close attention to the sentences highlighted. I think when you finish you'll agree with me that Great Grandmother Mary was one awesome woman. Or, to use language more appropreiat to the time...... A Remarkable Woman.

Mrs. Mary Honeywood, was daughter and one of the co-heiresses of Robert Waters, esq. of Lenham, in Kent. She was born in 1527 ; married in February 1543, at 16 years of age, to her only husband, Robert Honeywood of Charing, in Kent England. She died in the ninety-third year of her age, in May 1620. She had sixteen children of her own body, seven sons and nine daughters, of whom one had no issue, three died young, and the youngest was slain at Newport battle, June 20,1600. Her grand-children, in the second generation, were one hundred and fourteen ; in the third, two hundred and twenty-eight; and in the fourth, nine. So that she could almost say the same as the distich doth, of one of the Dalburg family of Basil. " Rise up, daughter, and go to thy daughter; for her daughter's daughter hath a daughter."

Mrs. Honeywood was a very pious woman, but afflicted in her declining age with religious melancholy. Some divines once discoursing with her on the subject, she in a passion said, " I shall be as certainly damned as this glass is broken," (throwing a Venice glass against the ground, which she had then in her hand,) but the glass escaped breaking, " as credible witnesses," saith Derham, " have attested."

In Markshnl church, in Essex, on Mrs. Honeywood's tomb, is the following inscription:— " Here lieth the body of Mary Waters, the daughter and co-heir of Robert Waters, of Lenham, in Kent. esq. wife of Robert Honeywood, of Charing, in Kent, esq. her only husband, who had at her decease lawfully descended from her, 367 children. Sixteen of her own body, 114 grand children, 228 in the third generation, and nine in the fourth.
She lived a most pious life, and in a Christian manner died here at Markshal, in the ninety-third year of her age, and in the forty-fourth of her widowhood, May llth, 1620."

Markshall, located in the English Midlands Northeast of Cambridge.

Amazing wouldn't you say? The life expentancy of a woman in the 1600's was 40 years old at best. She lived to be 93 years old! I was interested in the statement that she was taken with religious melancholy in her old age. The word melancholy in those days described today's mental disorders which might now be classed as schizophrenia or bipolar disorders. It appears, according to the reading, that Grandmother Mary spoke to spirits. I'm not sure of the meaning of "Divines". Could this be spirits or perhaps churchmen? What's interesting is that we have something written that she actually spoke from all those years ago when she threw the glass to the floor and it didn't break thus proving she wasn't damned.

So here's to you Grandmother Mary! May you rest in peace knowing that your many many descendants have taken a small part of their day hundreds of years in the future and remembered you.

Now, to the most important part of the night. Who's got a Smore for me?

Simply,
Victor

A Letter Written in 1862 giving an Account of Joseph Phlegar's Injury

Joseph Henry Phlegar. Confederate Soldier

Relationship Chart

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
In an earlier post we read the story of our 2nd cousin four times removed, Joseph Henry Phlegar.

http://atropesend.blogspot.com/2010/04/joseph-henry-phlegar-confederate.html

From somewhere in cyberland the post was read by Melanie Crain, a distant Phlegar cousin. She sent the following information that I'd like to share with everyone tonight. First, thank you to Melanie for taking the time to type and send it.

Secondly, you'll notice that this was typed just as the soldier wrote, misspellings, run on sentences and all. This gives you the flavor of the times. It was written by someone that fought beside Joseph Henry Phlegar. It was a letter written by a Mr. William Walters home to his wife with an account of the battle that took Joseph's arm.

Melanie wrote:

With the compliments of Robert Phlegar, dec'd, one of our family's (Phlegars) avid genealogists and a close cousin of mine. "Bob" discovered this letter by belonging to the military group which today honors the Stuart Horse Artillery. I don't know if the group is still active.

And now the letter dated December 17, 1862


Caroline County Va.

December the 17th 1862 Dear wife it is withe the greatest pleasure I have this oportunity to write you a few lines to inform you that I am harty but am vary near layed up with the rumates I have not bin able for duty for 2 days I can inform you that we had a hard fite saturday 13 of this month at fredricksbirg our batery was in all day and our loss was severe we had 2 men ciled [illed] and 8 wounded there were 3 floyd’s [Floyd County] boys wounded Joseph phleager Samuel Ivins and henderson Boothe the other 5 was all slitely wounded but 1 man lost his arm pheager lost his rite arm Ivins was struck on the breast the docktor dont think he will eaver git well boothe was struck on the shoulder but not brake the skin it was a hot fite the canons at day lite and went on till dark bothe sides stood there ground we was under a shour of shells all day our loss was greater than all our loss before since last spring put to geather our company has bin in many hard places before but all ways come out safe before but we art to be thankfull that we come out. [Four words illegible because of crease in paper] for it looked to me like there was canon balls a nuff [enough] shot at us to cill [kill] the hole army the shells few as thick as haill--burse all around me but but thank god they never struck me yet. they struck so close to me that several times they threwed my fase full of dirt we had 14 horses ciled [killed] 2 of them was ciled in 3 or 4 feet of me there aint no fun in this sort of wirk [work] so I wont say any more about it and I expect this is more than you want to heare the yankys has gon back on the other side of the river again and we moved 15 milds [miles] down the river to port royal the yanks and longstreet are shelling one another every day across the river the yankys has nocked fredricks. [Fredericksburg] all to peases and burnt it vary near all up. you all must do the best you can and I will try and git a furlow and come home this winter it is vary cold to day I think it will snow before nite so no more at present but gave my love and respects to all tell molly and sis that I want to see them vary bad hoping these few lines will find you all wel I will quit for this time I remain your loving husband till death excuse my pencil for I have no ink
Wm. P. Walters

Taken on the Union Side during the Battle of Fredricksburg

Our Great Grandfather Mattson's Act of Naturalization, 1904.

John Albert Mattson (born 1873). Started life as a Swede. Ended an American.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
You all know I enjoy history. With that comes an interest in historical documents, especially ones relating to family history. Tonight as we talk around our digital campfire I'd like to show you my Great Grandfather John Albert Mattson's Record of Naturalization, dated 1904. The paper is yellow with age and quite delicate. One thing I think is interesting is the name he used.
He was born John Albert Mattson but changed his name to Albert John Mattson because he thought there were too many Johns in America. So, instead of calling myself Victor Alan Williamson I think I'll change it to Alan Victor Williamson........ wait...... that won't work. There are far more Alans in this country than Victor's. I'll just stick with Victor.

Simply,
Victor

Click to Enlarge. This is the top of the form. It was too long for the scanner and I didn't want to leave anything out.

Click to Enlarge. The lower half of the form. Interesting that he had to swear allegiance to the United States and remove his allegiance to Oscar II King of Norway and Sweden.

Click to Enlarge. This is the back of the form.

History, ya gotta love it!

Links About Woody Williamson

Woody Williamson's Graduation Picture, Deadwood High School

Hello Everyone,
Pat sent the following information about Woody from the Deadwood High School Historical Web Sites:
http://dhsclassmates.blogspot.com/2010/04/walter-woodie-williamson-is-shown-here.html http://dhsclassmates.blogspot.com/2009/08/blast-from-past-from-woody.html

Simply,
Victor