Fances Williams Youker

Been awhile since I've written anything. So, decided I would pick up and introduce you to my great-grandmother, Frances Ida Williams-Youker. A very interesting woman. A woman descended from Shakers, Mayflower Pilgrim William Bradford, and Swiss immigrant pastor, Rev. John Henry Goetchius, a founder of Queen's College, now Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Frances, as a girl.

Frances Williams Youker

Frances was born in Stroud, Oklahoma on April 19, 1894 to James (my Grandpa Jim's namesake) and Caroline (Taylor) Williams. Her father, James was a civil war veteran, who fought in both battles of Bull Run and was injured during the second battle, and lay wounded on battle field for over 24 hrs. before receiving medical attention. He was not discharged from the hospital for 6 months. He ended up meeting Caroline (Carrie) during the Oklahoma Land Rush. Carrie was the daughter of former Shakers. Most people think of the Shakers as similar to the Amish, which in a way is true. They are/were plain people. Shakers also remained celibate similar to Catholic priests and nuns. Carrie's parents met, fell in love, and left the community. Shakers have always interested me, and as of today, there are only 3 Shakers left living in Maine. During the Civil War era there were close to 6,000 Shakers.

Caroline ("Carrie") Williams. Mother of Frances.

Carrie was an accomplished seamstress, milliner, dressmaker and passed this onto her daughter, Frances. James passed away in December of 1899, and Carrie and children relocated to Grawn, Michigan. Carrie herself being born in Coldwater, Michigan.
Frances graduated from Traverse City High School in 1912, graduated from Mt. Pleasant County Normal in 1915, and taught in many one room school houses in Grand Traverse County. In fact, she even taught my maternal grandmother, Alva Lou Harkins, at Canada school house in Grant Twp..
Frances met Elmer Youker and they were married on Christmas Eve 1917 at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Traverse City. Elmer grew up on Silver Lake in Traverse City and after marriage, the couple settled in on a farm a mile south of Monroe Center, now occupied by Jay and Donna Weber. Three children were born to them: Zelma, James (my Grandfather), and Mavis. During the Great Depression, the family relocated to Manton, Wexford Co., MI where Elmer took a job working for the County for about ten years. Frances was very social, very active in her community. She thought nothing of getting into the car and travelling across the state to visit family and friends.

Frances kneeling in back holding up bouquet with her County Normal classmates.

Canada School House. Grant Twp. Grand Traverse Co., MI

Frances also was a church organist, 4H leader, and wrote a small column in local newspaper. It was through 4H that my Grandparents, Jim and Rita Youker met. 4H meetings were held in the basement of the Monroe Center Methodist Church for the area children.
Frances was very eager to see Gone With The Wind when it opened in Traverse City in 1939. I believe this is probably because her father fought and was wounded in Civil War. She paid $4.00 for her ticket ($64.00 today!!)! Let's hope she enjoyed every minute of it for that price.

Elmer and Frances

Passing away of a heart attack in 1946, my grandfather, came home from his time in the Army, to the news that his mother had been dead six months already. News had been sent via letter but mail never caught up with him. I'm sure that was very difficult news to receive.