Thomas Ray McWilliams was born August 18, 1859 in Knox County, Ohio to George Stevenson McWilliams and Martha E Rice. He died October 6, 1946 at 12:30 pm of a cerebral hemorrhage due to hypertension. He was 87. He was living at 328 Summit in Granville, Ohio at the time of his death. He was buried on October 8 at Wilson Cemetery in Newark, Ohio. He was a farmer.¹
Catherine A Bricker was born July 26, 1856 in Licking County, Ohio to Hiram Bricker and Melissa Bell. She died January 2, 1945 at 1:30pm of a coronary thrombosis. She was 87. She was a resident of 328 Summit in Granville, Ohio at the time of her death. She was buried on January 5 at Wilson Cemetery in Newark, Ohio. She was a housewife.² Her name on her death certificate is Katherine, her grave says Katharin, and Catherine or Catharine on numerous documents.
Ray and Catherine were married after the 1880 census and the 1890 census was mostly destroyed by fire. We first see the family on the 1900 census. They are listed as having had six children, all living, and all living at home. Both Ray and Catherine can read and write and they own their home and farm in Washington Township, Licking County, Ohio free of mortgage³. On the 1910 census, the farm is listed as being on Dry Creek Road in Newton Township, Licking County, Ohio. Four of the kids are still living at home and the number of children born remain six. The farm is still owned free of mortgage4. In 1920 they are still in Newton, though no street name appears on the census. None of the children are living with them but Ray’s mother Martha is living with them. They are still listed as farmers owning their own farm5. In 1930 they are living on Hog Hollar Road. They own their home and farm and own a radio set. The farm is listed as a general farm6. The last cenus the family is on is the 1940 census. Ray and Catherine still live in Newton and their house and farm is valued at $2,000. Both are listed as having completed an 8th grade education7.
Thomas Ray and Catherine were married on October 9, 1880 in Knox County, Ohio8. They had six children:
- Ottie Bell McWilliams (1881-1910) m. Harry H Tippett (1877-1953)
- Ora B McWilliams (1882-1942) m. Blanche D Price (1888-1976)
- Nellie Gertrude McWilliams (1883-1921) m. Arthur Ferdinand Oldaker (1878-1950)
- Elsie Jane McWilliams (1886-1962) m. Dudley L Miller (1890-1982)
- Reid W McWilliams (1888-1959) m. Alice Marie Weiss (1885-1985)
m. Oda Lee Winbigler (1884-1980) - Clarence Hall McWilliams (1896-1969) m. Olive Marie Finney (1898-1991)
m. Helen Marie Slack (1908-2006)
My Family Tree 