Typed by: Kay Ward


WILLIAMS, WILLIAM LUTHER

Surnames: WILLIAMS, RITTER, MADRY, BEE, McCARVER, GILLIHAN, JOHNSON, CLANTON, LANCASTER, McELREATH, CLAY, METCALF, MILLER, RAILSBACK, JONES

William Luther Williams, b October 21, 1882 d July 13, 1962 (buried in Kosse Cemetery), was the son of John Attison and Elizabeth Caroline (Ritter) Williams. He was Baptized into the New Hope Baptist Church at Mustang Prairie August 10, 1902, at the same time as Mary Lee Madry, whom he later married.
In the fall of 1903, Luther's widowed father moved the family to the Indian Territory where Luther became a school teacher and farmer.
In December 1904, Luther returned to Falls County to marry Mary Lee Madry, daughter of Ed C. And America M. (Bee) Madry. Mary Lee, b June 17, 1887 in Giles County, Tennessee, d September 17, 1970. Luther and Mary were married December 28, 1904. The newlyweds went to the Indian Territory by train, where Luthers' siblings awaited their return. Luther had left strict instructions as to how things should be when he and his bride arrived.
After the birth of the first son, William Lester, near what is now Hugo, Oklahoma; Luther and his wife, infant son, and sisters returned to Falls County in the fall of 1906. Six more children were born to Luther and Mary in Falls County.
About 1925 Luther moved the family to Howard County where they remained until 1932, when they returned to Falls County. Luther purchased land and was a farmer in the Alto Springs community. He took an active part in church, school and civic affairs of both Alto Springs and Mustang Prairie.
Luther and Mary Williams had the patience of Job with their numerous grandchildren and, never knew to what extent they influenced their lives. Luther had the ability to make each grandchild feel special. He had a "tank" in the pasture and Mary sometimes like to fish. She would take whatever grandchild was around at the time, down to catch some fish for "dinner", which was the noon meal. The first step was bait, which could be almost anything from bacon to grasshopper, as long as it was "spit on" just before the hook was put in the water. Fishing in those days was done with a cane pole with a string or cord tied to it.
Luther and Arthur McCarver installed their own telephone system between their two homes, about a mile apart. This private system was a great comfort for the two wives who visited by telephone daily.
Luther gave each of his children nick names, which have been included. Children born to Luther and Mary Lee are:

William Lester "Buck" b January 7, 1906 married Juanita Gillihan in Howard County.

O.T. "Pat" b September 30, 1907 married Elaska Johnson.

Artie Edward"Shorty", b January 14, 1909, d 1960, married first, Opal Clanton; second Mrs. Myrtle (Lancaster) McElreath both in Howard county where they lived. He has two children,
Irene and Ronny Edward.

Lela Lois "Dutch" b August 18, 1911 married Richard "Dick" Clay. They live at Big Springs, and have one child
Helen (Clay) Metcalf.

Jewel America "Jack" b January 22, 1912 married W. Jackson Miller. They live in Odessa and have two sons,
Billy Duane and Eugene.

Lola Lee "Sam" b July 18, 1913 married Arvil William Railsback.

John Attis "Billy"; b August 2, 1915 married Ruth Jones.

Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing these bio of these Falls County Families to this Web page
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical Commission,
page 493-494, column 2 and column 1
Member of Falls County Historical Commission