Martin Williams of Glenwood, esteemed fellow

Martin Williams

My granddad

Martin Williams did not live long enough to feel assured the U.S. would come out of the Great Depression. He died too young at age 53, victim of cancer. 

Martin of Glenwood was the grandfather of your blog host. My father Ralph was one of the five sons of Martin and Carrie. What a family this was, in the rural outskirts of Glenwood. I shall share further about Carrie at a future time. She lived until 1949. Her passing was at age 63. 

I have noticed a discrepancy in Martin's year of birth. Let's go with how it's reported on his marker, the image of which you'll see below. 

Ralph was the youngest of  Martin's five sons. Ralph was a Glenwood High School graduate in 1934. Those were John Dillinger times. 

Martin would have been so proud to follow Dad's progression through music studies at the University of Minnesota. Also, to follow Dad's adventures as a music director, much of which was here in Morris. 

You'll see at Glenwood Lutheran Cemetery a main piece of rock with "Williams" on it. It rather stands out. On one side are Martin and Carrie's resting places. On the other, Howard and Viola's. Howard was in the mix of brothers - what a group! My family was especially close to Howard and Vi. Our two families spent many holidays together.

A life cut short, yet he saw so much.

Below is the obit for Martin from a newspaper clipping. I took the final paragraph and switched it to the top, as it is a fine testament to my grandfather who I could never meet. I only knew one of my four grandparents and that was Hilda on Mom's side. I am hoping to meet the others in the afterlife.

Mr. Williams will be remembered as a man of sterling character and integrity. He was a man who was looked up to and respected by all who came in contact with him. He was a kind and devoted husband and father whose passing away will be sincerely mourned by all those who knew him. 

 

After a long and lingering illness, Martin Williams, prominent citizen of Minnewaska Township, passed away at his home at 4:30 Thursday, June 22. The cause of his death was cancer. 

Martin Williams was born at Bricelyn, Minn. on October 28, 1878. He was the son of Bent and Carrie Williamson. He grew to manhood in southern Minnesota. 

Thirty years ago he came to Pope County where he has followed his trade, that of a plastering contractor and mason. He was an outstanding workman in his line and was widely known for his ability. 

On May 15, 1908, he was married to Carrie Avdem. The following children survive their union: Clyde, Howard, Andrew, Joseph and Ralph. The funeral services were held Sunday afternoon from the home and the Glenwood Lutheran Church of which he was a member. The services were largely attended by their many friends and relatives who came to pay their last respects to a kind neighbor and friend. 

Mr. Williams is also survived by the following brothers who were present at the funeral: John, Christian, William of Minneapolis, Andrew at Stillwater and Joseph at Wellsburg, N.D. Others attending the funeral from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. Pete Peterson of Frost, Minn., Mrs. Anna Johnson and son, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Nygaard of St. Paul, Mr. and Mrs. Ted Johnson and family of Dalton, Minn. and also many friends from the surrounding country. 

 

Updade 4/21/24 : Thanks to Brent Gulsvig of Starbuck, I have supplemental information on the final rites for Martin. Presiding clergy was The Reverend J. Linnevold. The pallbearers were all acquaintances of Mr. Williams whom he had selected prior to his death. There were Tagner Olson and Colonel Gassman of Glenwood; Herman Anderson and Elan Hansen of Alexandria; and Emil and Victor Larson of Starbuck.

 

Emily Post advice

An advice column by Emily Post is preserved with Martin's obituary in our family's collection. Both items were inserted at the front of a family Bible. Emily Post shared thoughts on how best to conduct oneself at a funeral. She recognized the norms of 1930s culture. The headline for her column: "The bereaved prefer friend who is silent."

Emily Post

DEAR MRS. POST:

Words always fail me when I go to see someone who has been newly bereaved. My feelings are flowing over inside, but I can't express them as I would like. I'm always afraid I'll say the wrong things and probably cause more anguish, and I end by being tongue-tied and seeming very inept, I'm sure, to the person I mean to comfort. Will you tell me what to say at such times.

ANSWER: All people feel very much, I think, as you do. It may, however, encourage you to know that ability to speak easily at such a time is much more likely to give pain than comfort. Words from a clergyman are comforting, it is true, as is an expression of love from those who love the bereaved ones. But a look of sympathy, a handclasp, and silence - letting the bereaved person talk or be silent as his or her own impulses direct - is in most cases the best thing to do. Say something, if it is true, about the loveliness of the character of the person who has died or whatever qualification will be most missed either by yourself or by people in general. Say how deeply sorry you are and reply to what the other person says to you. In other words, when going to see a person in deep mourning you should adapt yourself as perfectly as you can to the mood of that person.

More on Ms. Post

Emily Post (1872-1960) was an American author, novelist and socialite famous for writing about etiquette. Post's books on etiquette served a need in America, what with the country's "exotic mix of immigrants and newly rich," wrote Dinitia Smith of the New York Times in a review of a biography of Post. "Men had to be taught not to blow their noses into their hands or to spit tobacco onto ladies' backs." 

Arthur Schlesinger wrote that etiquette books were part of the leveling-up process of democracy." Post's books had a quality of reading like short story collections with recurring characters.

 

Addendum: No person, no matter how esteemed, is completely without fault. So to humanize Martin, I'll recall a conversation I had with my cousin Robert, son of Clyde, several years ago. He recalled in general his parents not talking much about Martin. But it came out that Martin did like an alcoholic drink now and then! Bless his memory.

  

 - Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com