The Hon. George Peters and family of Petersburg celebrated the 83rd anniversary of Mr. Peters’ birth on Saturday last. Mr. Peters’ father Richard Peters, was the first settler there, his family locating them in the wilderness. Every person residing in Petersburg and vicinity knows Uncle George and regard him and his family in the highest esteem. There were fifteen persons among the large number present, whose combined ages wee 1146 years averaging 76-85 each. It was a jolly party and reminiscences of the early days and pioneer stories interested the older ones and instructed the younger element.

These 15 old persons knocked out the Osler theory completely for there were all active workers and managed their homes and business affairs with vigor and success.

Mr. and Mrs. W.F. King, of this city were in attendance and report a pleasant time.

On Christmas eve will take place the wedding of John C. Trefts, ‘02, and Miss Hale P. Rea, ex-’04, in the church of Our Father, in Delaware avenue, Buffalo, N.Y. Mr. Trefts is a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, Miss Rea is a member of Alpha Phi.

John Trefts, '02, and Miss Hazel Rea, '03, were married at the Church of Our Father in Buffalo, Wednesday evening, December 28, in the presence of a large number of friends.

The ushers were Herbert McMahon, ‘02; Herman Seilbach, ‘03; Richard Adams and E. Lothard McClure, ‘02, while the bridesmaids were Miss Elizabeth McNeil, Miss Jean Sutherland, Miss Emily Hickman, ‘02, and Miss Muriel Smith, ‘02. Charles Trefts was best man. Miss Elizabeth Rea was maid of honor.

A reception at the home of the bride’s parents followed the ceremony. A buffet luncheon was served to the immediate families and a few close friends. Mr. and Mrs. Trefts will be at home after March 1st at No. 90 Bryant street, Buffalo.

Miss Drummer is a senior at Vassar college and will graduate this June. Mr. Rea leaves next week for three months instruction course for officers at Madison barracks.

Among those from out of town present at the obsequies were her daughter, Mrs. Helen Rea, and granddaughter, Mrs. Trefts of Buffalo, Hon. John Peters and daughter Mrs. Buck, and Mr. Robert Eoff of Toledo. Hon. W. F. King of Adair, Capt Irving Harrington of Monroe, [paper torn] … John Kirwin of [paper torn]

*Should read George P. Rea
Family notes indicate George & Doris were married 03 May 1917

At the residence of Mr. And Mrs. Horace Breningstall, at high noon last Wednesday, October 24, occurred the marriage of their daughter, Adelaide, to Edson E. Valrance.

The ceremony was performed by Rev. D. A. Curtis, in the presence of about fifty invited friends and relatives. Mr. Geo. Harris and Miss Nellie Slick acted in the capacity of groomsman and bridesmaid. After the ceremony a sumptuous wedding feast was partaken of.

The happy pair departed on the four o´clock east-bound train, amid a shower of rice and old shoes. Mr. Valrance is a highly respected young business man of Rockwood, and his wife is universally esteemed. She is a graduate of the Petersburg high school and for some time has been a successful teacher. The gratulations of the entire community are extended to them.

The blackened, distorted remains of a woman, the pain-racked body of a babe, the sorrowful face of a husband and father, and the sobs and cries of five motherless children tell the story of the desperate deed that has cast a pall over the home of J.M. Williams and left the blackness of darkness about his hearthstone.

It is a story of a mother’s restless spirit that would rend the bonds that make life sweet, and with her own hands unlock the door of the future to her wondering gaze.

By the flames that she herself had started was the body of the wife and mother almost consumed and her soul brought before its Creator, and her two-months-old babe almost burned to death, its little feet blistered and roasted in the cruel blaze.

At 6 o’clock Wednesday, Deputy Constable W.H. Mason, who lives at 22 North Engineer street, was notified by the Williams boy, aged about 10 years, that at 4 o’clock his mother, who lived with her husband and six children on Summit street near the Mason -- home had ---herself and gone out ---did not know.

Mr. Mason sent the boy to the home a neighbor, with whom Mrs. Williams was intimate, he himself going to the Williams home to make an investigation.

Arriving there he found the oldest Williams child, a girl aged about 16 running from the woodshed, screaming and wringing her hands, with the half-cremated babe in her arms. The girl took Mr. Mason to the shed where he found the mother, the body of the woman being nude and burned to a crisp. An examination revealed that the babe’s burns were extremely serious and recovery is not thought possible.

Hastily summoning help, the corpse of Mrs. Williams was taken to the house, and the body of the babe placed in the arms of the sympathetic neighbor women, who rendered all the assistance possible to relieve the terrible pain and render the little one’s condition as easy as might be.

It would seem from the surroundings that Mrs. Williams had taken a lighted lamp to the shed about 4 o’clock in the morning. Then she unscrewed the burner, saturated her own clothes and those of the babe with oil and set them afire, lying face downward on the floor of the shed, her babe beside her.

The wonder is that the shed did not burn as the body of the woman lay against one wall, the boards being scorched from the flames of her burning clothing. A stick of wood had taken fire and was still burning when Constable Mason reached the scene, but the flames had left the bodies for want of other fuel. Mrs. Williams’ legs were drawn up at the knees and her body was black from head to foot, except her breast and face.

Mr. Williams is a railroad brakeman, and went west with Conductor Staples on the Kansas City division of the Missouri Pacific on train No. 131 at 3 o’clock Tuesday afternoon. He was notified of the fate of his wife and reached Sedalia on train No. 6 at 10:03 a.m. the message reaching him at Pleasant Hill.

He is a quiet, industrious hardworking man, a good citizen, and has many friends among the railroad and businessmen of the city.

About four months ago Mrs. Williams dreamed that her husband had been killed in a wreck. She told her friends that she had seen his mangled corpse in the wreck, and would hardly be convinced when he returned and tried to comfort her. So great an impression had the dream made upon her that her mind became unbalance, and for some time she was under the constant and watchful care of a friend.

Mr. Williams and his wife are said to be Christian Scientists, and a woman of that faith was called in to apply the methods of her people in relieving Mrs. Williams of her hallucinations. The woman failing, a man was summoned from St. Louis, who prayed for her, and her condition seemed to improve.

Two months ago her child was born, the accouchement being attended with no serious results, and her healthy being good, she seemed to be doing as well as anyone could do under such circumstances.

Mr. Williams continued his occupation as a brakeman, running regularly and doing his full duty. He is an old-time brakeman, and formerly ran on the M. K. & T On one occasion, some years ago, he prevented a serious wreck on that road by display of shrewd discernment and cool judgment.

Riding on the top of a fright car one day, he noticed a column of smoke some distance away, which he knew to be from an approaching locomotive. Quickly giving the signal and beginning at once to set the brakes on the cars, the train was brought to a stop at the foot of a steep hill in time to avoid collision that might have been fearful in its results.

Coroner Cowan was notified of the finding of the body [blurred] fortunate lady and had it removed to Keck & Ramsey’s undertaking establishment, where he viewed it deeming an inquest unnecessary, as the evidence of intentional self-destruction was so plain that an inquiry could not develop otherwise.

At the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Spier, on Goshen Avenue, Robert Board Jr. and Miss Ethel Spier were united in marriage at 10:00 o'clock yesterday morning. Reverand W. AIden of M. E. Church, South officiating.

The announcement will come as a surprise to many friends, who while aware that the nuptials were to take place, were not apprised that an earlier date had been set. The wedding was a quiet affair with only the immediate relatives being in attendance. The newly married couple will make their home, for the present, at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Spier.

The bride is well known in Visalia where she resided for a number of years. She has a wide circle of friends. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Board Sr. He has made Visalia his home for some time and he likewise has many friends.

Note: Marriage recorded in Book J, p.338 (Tulare County Offices, Visalia, California 93277) 06 August 1905, Visalia, Tulare, CA

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Updated 01 Jan 2009
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