William Brace Fonda (1879 - 1935)

Born 12 Feb 1879 in Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 7 Oct 1935 at age 56 in Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, United States

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Biography

William Brace Fonda was born 12 Feb 1879 in Nebraska to Ten Eyck Fonda and his wife Harriet, who had moved there from their native New York. In 1900 he was enumerated living with his parents in Omaha City, as a Salesman. He married Herberta Jaynes on 10 Jun 1903, probably in or near Omaha where they were both living. They moved to Grand Island, Nebraska by 1904 where they rented a house and where their eldest son Henry Fonda was born 16 May 1905. William and Herberta had two more children: Harriet in 1907/8 and Jayne in 1909/10, both born in Nebraska. Between 1905 and 1910 the family had moved back to Omaha, where they are enumerated in the Federal Census that year. Many years later, a newspaper article in which Henry talks about his father states "when he was six months old the family moved to Omaha". It's not a direct quote from Henry however, so it's unclear what the source is for this fact. Some biographers have given the impression that William Fonda moved to Omaha and opened a print shop; however, William's occupation in 1900 was "Salesman", and in 1910 it was "Salesman, Advertising Jobber". In addition, the 1910 enumeration states specifically that he was an employee, not working on his own account. When he registered for the WWI Draft on Sep 1918, William then lists his occupation as self-employed Printer. In 1920 still in Omaha, William Fonda is now a "Proprietor, Commercial Print Shop". However by 1930 William Fonda was a "Salesman" for "Oil Burner Company". Henry's mother fell, broke her leg and developed a blood clot which killed her in October 1934. "I felt so bad that she didn't live to see me move ahead", he said in his biography. "...his father died two years later", states Sweeney. Their daughter Harriet married a Mr. Peacock and stayed in Omaha. Peter Fonda mentions his aunt Harriet Peacock visiting him at the Barton School for Boys when he was six in 1946/7 (Don't Tell Dad, p22-25). He again mentions visiting he and his mother visiting Harriet, in Omaha the following year (Don't Tell Dad, p29).

William Brace Fonda (b. 1879), Henry's father was enumerated in the Federal Census in 1900 living, as a single man, in Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska with his own parents, and listed there as a salesman. On 10 Jun 1903, William Fonda married Herberta Jaynes (b. 1879), probably in or near Omaha, Nebraska. Moving to Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska, they rented a house, and it was in that house that their eldest child Henry Fonda was born 16 May 1905. They only lived there for six more months. William and Herberta had two more children: Harriet in 1907/8 and Jayne in 1909/10, both born in Nebraska. Between 1905 and 1910 the family had moved back to Omaha, where they are enumerated in the Federal Census that year.

William is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Omaha, Douglas, NE

Sources

• Findagrave # 37575599
• http://www.countyhistorian.com/cecilweb/index.php/The_Ancestry_of_Henry_Fonda
• "Henry Fonda on William B Fonda", 15 Jun 1975, News Journal (Mansfield, Ohio) : "The elder Fonda born in the mid-1880s, died in 1935. In 1905, when Henry was six months old, William and his wife Herberta moved from Grand Island, Neb., to Omaha, Neb., and set up a print shop"
• 1910 Census of Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska : "William B Fonda, head, MW, 31, married first time, 6 years ago, b NE/NY/NY, employee, rents home; Herberta J, wife, FW, 30, married first time, 6 years ago, b WI/WI/NY; Henry J, son, MW, 4, b NE; Harriet M, daughter, FW, 3, b NE; Herberta, daughter, FW, 6/12, b NE; Minnie STOUT, servant, FW, 22, single, b IA"
• 1920 Census of Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska : "William B Fonda, head, Owns Home, MW, 40, married, NE/NY/NY, Prop., Comm Print Shop; Herberta J Fonda, wife, FW, 40, married, WI/WI/NY, no occupation; Henry J Fonda, son, MW, 14, NE/NE/WI, Office Boy, Stocks & B; Harriett M Fonda, daughter, FW, 12, NE/NE/WI; Jayne H Fonda, daughter, FW, 10, NE/NE/WI"

Waterloo Evening Courier, 24 Feb 1926, page 13, "Lincoln of Stage Sinks All of Self in Soul He Plays"

• 1930 Census of Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska 9 Apr 1930 "William B Fonda, head, owns home, worth $7000, married, white, age 51, married first at 24, NE/NY/NY, Sales Department, Oil Burner Company; Herberta J, wife, female, white, age 49, married first at 22, WI/WI/NY, no occupation; Henry J, son, male, white, age 24, single, NE/NE/WI, actor, stage, unemployed (see line 9 Unemployment Schedule); Jane, daughter, female, white, age 20, single, NE/NE/WI, stenographer, election commission"
• 1900 Census of Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska

1910 Census of Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska World War I Draft Registration Cards : "William Brace Fonda, 433 N-39 Omaha Douglas Nebr, age 39, born 12 Feb 1879, Printer, Self-Employed, at 306 Patterson Blk? Omaha Nebr; nearest relative Mrs Herberta Fonda, signed W B Fonda; Tall, Slender, L Brown eyes, D Brown hair, no disabilities, registered 12 Sep 1918" 1920 Census of Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska : "William B Fonda, head, Owns Home, MW, 40, married, NE/NY/NY, Prop., Comm Print Shop; Herberta J Fonda, wife, FW, 40, married, WI/WI/NY, no occupation; Henry J Fonda, son, MW, 14, NE/NE/WI, Office Boy, Stocks & B; Harriett M Fonda, daughter, FW, 12, NE/NE/WI; Jayne H Fonda, daughter, FW, 10, NE/NE/WI" 1930 Census of Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska 9 Apr 1930 "William B Fonda, head, owns home, worth $7000, married, white, age 51, married first at 24, NE/NY/NY, Sales Department, Oil Burner Company; Herberta J, wife, female, white, age 49, married first at 22, WI/WI/NY, no occupation; Henry J, son, male, white, age 24, single, NE/NE/WI, actor, stage, unemployed (see line 9 Unemployment Schedule); Jane, daughter, female, white, age 20, single, NE/NE/WI, stenographer, election commission" "Henry Fonda on William B Fonda", 15 Jun 1975, News Journal (Mansfield, Ohio) : "The elder Fonda born in the mid-1880s, died in 1935. In 1905, when Henry was six months old, William and his wife Herberta moved from Grand Island, Neb., to Omaha, Neb., and set up a printshop