Almon Bills (1849 - 1929)

Born 11 Sep 1849 in Inskter, Wayne County, Michigan, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Ara Ellen Elizabeth (Williamson) Bills — married 1873 in Cloud County, Kansas, United States

Descendants

Died 19 Apr 1929 at age 79 in Broken Arrow, Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Todd Murray [send private message]

Biography

Almon was born on 11 Sep 1849 in Inkster, Wayne, Michigan, United States. ^[1] He was the son of William Bills and Julia Bogue. ^[2] He passed away on 19 Apr 1929 in Broken Arrow, Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States. ^{[1] [2]} He is buried in the Park Grove Cemetery, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. ^[1]

Almon's first name is often misspelled in records as "Almond"; even his tombstone is misspelled. ^[1]

Residences

Almon is enumerated in the following locations:

• 1850 - Wayne County, Michigan ^[3]
• 1860 - Wayne County, Michigan ^[4]
• 1870 - Wayne County, Michigan ^[5]
• 1870 - Cloud County, Kansas ^[6]

Note that Almon is listed twice in the 1870 census and in the second mention in Cloud County, Kansas, he is living two households away from his future wife, Ellen Williamson.

• 1875 - Phillips County, Kansas ^[7]
• 1880 - Riley County, Kansas ^[8]
• 1885 - Riley County, Kansas ^[9]
• April 1889 - Tonkawa, Kay County, Oklahoma Territory
• 1900 - Kay County, Oklahoma Territory ^[10]
• 1905 - Sedgwick County, Kansas ^[11]
• Nov 1907 - Broken Arrow, Tulsa County, Oklahoma
• Jan 1908 - Marysville, Yuba County, California
• 1910 - Christian County, Missouri ^[12]
• Aug 1911 - Broken Arrow, Tulsa County, Oklahoma
• 1916 - Checotah, McIntosh County, Oklahoma
• 1920 - McIntosh County, Oklahoma ^[13]
• before 1929 - Broken Arrow, Tulsa County, Oklahoma

Vocation

Almon has been confirmed as a minister in Rock, Kansas, and Noble, Oklahoma, for the Methodist Episcopal Church. Sister Effie described him in her 1949 family memoir as "converted and preaching in Jesse James' time. . . a wonderful preacher [who] brought many souls to our God. Many times he was told by men to put his Bible up or they would shoot, but he went on preaching."

Almon was not much of a farmer by most accounts. For instance, the following legal notice was published in Cloud County, Kansas, in 1872:

SHERIFF'S SALE.

By virtue of a warrant to me, directed by David Heller Esq., Treasurer of Cloud County, Kansas, I will expose for sale at public out-cry, at the blacksmith shop of J. W. Joines, two miles north of Clyde, in Elk township, on Saturday, the 25th day of May. A. D. 1872, at 10 o'clock a. m., the following described property, viz: One breaking plow, 1 gang drag, 1 log chain, 1 hand corn-planter, 1 broom machine, and one clock, which were seized for non payment of taxes and will be sold as the property of Almon Bills.

J. M. WOODWARD

Sheriff Cloud county.

May 11, 1872. 4512

This was not the only legal woe which Almon had gotten himself into as several weeks earlier, Ary Ellen Williamson, filed a petition in Cloud County for breach of marriage and seduction. See Ellen's profile for more information. The couple reconciled as that lawsuit was continued and the couple presumably married as they spent the rest of theirs lives together raising a family.

Obituary

Another Pioneer Passes On. ^[14]

Last Friday, April 19, Almond Bills passed away at his home here at the ripe age of 82 years, 7 months and 8 days. Mr. Bills was born in Wayne county, Mich., Sept. 11, 1846. He was married in 1873 to Ellen Williamson in Cloud county, Kans., to which union 10 children were born, four of whom survive him. He became associated with the Methodist faith in 1862 and for 31 years has been a preacher of the Gospel, a man loved and respected by all that knew him. Surviving him are his widow, Mrs. Ellen Bills, two daughters, Mrs. Flora Coughlin of Tonkawa and Mrs. Elsie Ludwig of Broken Arrow, two sons, Ed of Covington and Wm. of Broken Arrow, five sisters and one brother in Michigan and two brothers in California. The funeral services were held in the Methodist church Sunday afternoon, Revs. Harry E. Crane, pastor, and Billy Emanuel, pastor of the Assembly of God conducting the rites. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of I.E. Fuson of the Kennedy funeral parlor.

Family

Almon married Ara Ellen Elizabeth Williamson presumably in 1873. To this union were born the following children:

• circa 1875 - Sarah
• 1876 - Edward William
• 1880 - Rosa B. (died in youth)
• 1881 - Florence Elizabeth
• 1882 - William Milon
• 1885 - Elsie

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Find A Grave: Memorial #10254128
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Death Certificate for Almond Bills", 19 Apr 1929, Broken Arrow, Tulsa County, Oklahoma, File #72-600, State of Oklahoma Department of Health, photocopy in possession of Todd Murray. Birth 11 Sep 1846, Retired Minister. Parents Wm Bills born New York and Julia Bogue, born Ohio.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF8R-978 : 4 April 2020), Abnor Bills in household of William Bills, Nankin, Wayne, Michigan, United States; citing family 218, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWDD-ZR8 : 19 March 2020), Almond Bills in entry for William Bills, 1860.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHCP-X5B : 19 March 2020), Almon Bills in entry for Wm Bills, 1870.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCJJ-6CV : 18 March 2020), Allen Bills, 1870.
7. ↑ "Kansas State Census, 1875," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL66-VFBL : 12 March 2020), A Bills, Phillips, Kansas, United States; citing Census, Phillips, Kansas, United States, 10, Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka; FHL microfilm 570,215.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF5V-WFM : 12 August 2017), Almon Bills, Manhattan, Riley, Kansas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 255, sheet 308C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,395.
9. ↑ "Kansas State Census, 1885," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQ3-CLN1?cc=1825188&wc=W81J-6XK%3A1597332355%2C1597342945 : accessed 21 October 2020), Riley > Manhattan > image 152 of 177; citing Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka.
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMGF-CSS : accessed 25 June 2020), Almon Bills, Owen Township, Kay, Oklahoma Territory, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 96, sheet 1A, family 8, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,338.
11. ↑ "Kansas State Census, 1905", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPZJ-M756 : 23 September 2019), A Bills, 1905.
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2TL-QGQ : accessed 25 June 2020), Almon Aills, Polk, Christian, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 43, sheet 8A, family 133, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 776; FHL microfilm 1,374,789.
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJMG-V4R : accessed 25 June 2020), Almond Bills, Checotah, McIntosh, Oklahoma, United States; citing ED 41, sheet 4A, line 41, family 69, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1471; FHL microfilm 1,821,471.
14. ↑ Broken Arrow Ledger, Thurs. April 25, 1929, p. 3, c. 3.