Ora L. (Williford) Thayer (1878 - 1935)

Born 28 Oct 1878 in East Fork, Montgomery County, Illinois

Ancestors

Wife of John H. Johnson — married 12 Jan 1901 (to 1904) in Effingham, Illinois

Wife of Elmer Ellsworth Thayer — married 1910 in Freeport Stephenson County Illinois

Died 28 Feb 1935 at age 56 in Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois

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Biography

Ora L. Williford was born in 1878, the daughter of Stephen Douglas and Sarah Angeline (Yarbrough) Williford, in Montgomery County, Illinois, where she was raised.

Ora would marry twice in her life. She married her first husband, John Hayden Johnson, the son of James Henry and Anna Maria (Ross) Johnson, on January 12, 1901, in Effingham County, Illinois. They had one child:

Donald Johnson (1901-1965)

It appears Ora and John divorced shortly after their son was born since he married again in 1904.

Ora married her second husband, Elmer Ellsworth Thayer, the son of William H. and Letticia A. (Kendall) Thayer, on March 3, 1913, in Winnebago County, Illinois. This was Elmer's second marriage as well and he had a son that stayed with his mother. Ora and Elmer would have no children of their own.

Elmer worked various jobs over the years to provide for his family. He lived to be 60 years old, passing away in 1932, while Ora lived three more years, passing away in 1935 at 56 years of age. Their bodies are buried together in the Oakland Cemetery in Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXVB-W93 : 24 December 2015), Ora Williford in household of Stephen Williford, East Fork, Montgomery, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district ED 144, sheet 210C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0237; FHL microfilm 1,254,237.

• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MS7T-NZK : 6 March 2015), Orie Wiliford in household of S D Wiliford, Douglas Township Effingham City Ward 1-4, Effingham, Illinois, United States; citing sheet 29B, family 641, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,240,299.

• "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFK8-GXN : 3 March 2016), John H. Johnson and Ora Williford, 12 Jan 1901; citing Effingham, Illinois, United States, county offices, Illinois; FHL microfilm 1,010,048.

• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKXT-9RW : 29 October 2015), Ora Johnson in household of Stephen D Williford, Freeport Ward 3, Stephenson, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 152, sheet 4B, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,374,340.

• "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9L-LKL1 : 3 March 2016), Elmer E Thayer and Ora L Williford Johnson, 03 Mar 1913; citing Winnebago, Illinois, United States, county offices, Illinois; FHL microfilm 1,914,057.

• "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJH1-6XC : 14 December 2015), Elmer Thayer, Freeport Ward 3, Stephenson, Illinois, United States; citing sheet 9A, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,820,397.

• "United States Census, 1930", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X3MJ-XZB : 8 December 2015), Ora L Thayer in entry for Sarah Williford, 1930.

• "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N35D-FWH : 25 April 2022), Ora Thayer in entry for Elmer E. Thayer, 1932.

• "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3PM-H7L : 8 March 2018), Ora L. Thayer, 28 Feb 1935; Public Board of Health, Archives, Springfield; FHL microfilm 1,754,241.

• Find a Grave Memorial for Ora L. Williford Thayer [1]