William Anderson (1918-1994) - Week 1

William Anderson - Date Unknown

Taking a look at one ancestor a week, my first pick is my grandfather William Anderson; the only grandfather I actual knew growing up.

The first mention of my grandfather is from his birth certificate provided by my grandmother born on February 13, 1918. At the time of his birth he had not been given a name, not uncommon at that time. No pictures exist of this time except for the one below. It's not even know if this is of him with a nurse or not.

William Anderson baby photo with Salvation Army nurse (?)

Tracing back his whereabouts after his birth I find him in the 1920 United States Census in St. Paul, Minnesota. There he's listed as an "Inmate" at the Children's Home Society and is only 1 year and 10 months old. First I must explain why he was here before I delve further into what he's done since.

William's (hence for Bill) mother was Wilhelimina "Minnie" Sophia Gear (nee: Anderson), when she got pregnant with him, she was not married; back then being pregnant before marriage was not looked upon favorably. The story goes, as told from my grandmother, is that Wilhelminia's (hence forth Minnie) parents sent her to the local Salvation Army Booth Brown House on 1471 West Como Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota; the home was for unwed mothers and their children.  Her parents told friends and family that Minnie was away visiting people/friends/family and that was that.

Salvation Army Booth Brown House - 1471 West Como Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota
Photo by: Hooverjp on http://www.placeography.org

Minnie stayed at the Booth Brown House until she had Bill upon which time she surrendered him to the facility for foster care and returned home. For years Bill transferred from foster home to foster home, for some reason his mother didn't want him or could not take care of him.

Wilhelimina "Minnie" Sophia Gear

In 1924 Minnie married Bill's step-father George Richard Gear and together they had two daughters; Charlotte "Babe" Sophia Ranweiler (nee: Gear) and LIVING "Dolly" (nee: Gear).  According to my grandmother, my grandfather never had a good relationship with his step-father, whether he just didn't like him or perhaps his step-father didn't want anything to do with him it's unclear. I tend to lean towards the later due to the fact that George and Minnie never really welcomed Bill back into the home. Bill moved in with George and Minnie when he turned 18 years old and was no longer able to stay in foster care. He stayed with his mom and step-dad in their home on Case Ave. in St. Paul in an unfinished room on the second floor of their house.

I haven't mentioned Bill's real father yet because, well, nobody knows who he is. Bill's birth certificate lists no father and his mom, to her grave, would never tell him who he was. The rumor was that she had been with a gentleman at the local church and this is who got her pregnant but those rumors have never been substantiated. This picture is said to possibly be the gentleman but again that's just a rumor and could be anyone within the family.

Williams father?

My great-grandmother Minnie wasn't the only person who knew who his father was however. Minnie's sister, Hulda Konkler (nee: Anderson) knew who he was as well and she told Bill she would tell him who he was when he got older. Saldy Hulda got sick unexpectedly and died rather quickly, also taking the secret of his father to the grave. At this point, it's safe to assume I will never know who my great grandfather is and that branch of the family tree won't grow any further.

In the 1930 United States Census Bill is listed again, this time living at 1413 Como Avenue, St. Paul. He's living with a William F. Tasker and his wife Louise M. Tasker and he's 12 years old. His position in the household is that of Roomer. It's safe to say that this is one of the many foster homes he was in as he grew up.

Jumping ahead 4 years, my grandmother has this picture taking in March 18, 1934 of Bill with someone she claims was one of his friends, he was about 16 years old.

William Anderson & "a friend"

Due to his age and when he was born I can find no indication from records or from talking with the family that Bill ever had to enlist with the armed forces at any point. He was born just before WWI ended and WWII ended when he was 27 and was not of age for that event either.

On February 29, 1940 at the age of 20, Bill married Doris Viola Tingquist in Hudson Wisconsin. My grandmother says that Bill's future father-in-law forced Doris and him to go to Wisconsin to marry because Doris was pregnant with their son and Doris was only 17 years old at the time. On September 16 of that year William and Doris gave birth to their only son William Gary Anderson. It's funny that on Bill and and Dori's Certificate of Marriage, he is listed as his own father "Wm. Anderson". Seeing as Minnie's last name was Anderson this is obviously not a give away to who his father may have been. Another interesting notation off of this record is his occupation, Box Maker.

The marriage between Doris and my grandfather did not last too long. On April 26, 1946 they divorced; according to the divorce records Doris had been going out at later hours, drinking at local bars constantly, treating him in a cruel and inhuman manner, and had been seen with other men. Also according to the record she is quoted as saying she only seeing him as a friend and loving another man.

On November 13, 1948 Bill married my grandmother LIVING Anderson (need: Levine). According to my grandmother they were married in the home of her parents Arnold and Lola Levine on Jordan Ave in Hazlepark in the St Paul area of Minnesota. My grandmothers late brother-in-law and sister Harold and Shirley Taylor were best man and maid of honor.

Grandparents wedding photo.

With my grandmother they had four children, two boys and two girls, one being my mom the other Sandra "Sandy" Kay Anderson who was only 17 days old when she passed from pneumonia, and a few loyal dogs thrown in the mix as well; Missy and Jo Jo stand out as the top two.

For work my grandmother said my grandfather worked for Baumeister Construction.

Bill loved wood working and could craft anything out of wood if you wanted him to. His workshop and garage were meticulous and well kept, patterns here and there and unfinished projects just waiting for that last nail, spot of glue or a little paint job.  My mom told me once that when my parents were rebuilding their cabin, my grandfather, not long before he passed was up North with them and despite him not being in the best of shape health wise wanted to help tear down and work on the new cabin, that's how much he enjoyed doing that type of work. He wasn't allowed to participate much due to his health and them not wanting him to fall and get hurt.

For quite a few years of his life Bill and my grandmother were heavy smokers; I suppose it was the thing to do back then.  As a result however my grandfather developed lung cancer; he battled it for a few years.  One day when my grandmother was driving him to pick up some medicine at St. Joseph's Hospital another car blew through an intersection and t-boned their car, hitting them on Bill's side of the car.

Bill passed away in 1994 from complications due to the lung cancer but he was never really the same after that car accident as the road to full recovery at that age was not an easy one.  Bill now rests at Elmhurst Cemetery in St. Paul, Minnesota where his cremated remains were interred, the same cemetery where his daughter Sandy is buried.