| Born during the Civil War
which was also a year of growth and opportunity
for America, Cora was born to Samuel &
Cornelia (Buck) on 07 Jul 1862 in Warren Co.,
Illinois. The week before she was born President
Lincoln had signed the Pacific Railroad Act which
provided Federal government support for the
building of the first transcontinental railroad;
and this was also the year the President signed
into law the Homestead Act which made 270 million
acres available for public domain to private
citizens. A homesteader simply had at least 21
years of age and head of their household to claim
a 160 acre parcel of land. The settlers had to
live on the land, build a home, make improvements
and farm for five years before being eligible to
"prove up". A total filing fee of $18
was the only money required, and was the start of
a new life for many Americans for all walks of
life. On 03 Mar 1880, Cora
married John Monroe Williams in Pettis Co.,
Missouri. Together they had seven children:
Mabel, Julia, Fred, Charlotte, Rachel and Mary
and Jennie Camilla Williams.
Cora and
her infant daughter Jennie died in Sedalia,
Pettis Co., Missouri on 13 Sep 1899. The
following year her widowed husband was listed as
a brakeman residing at 324 Summitt Street with
their six children.
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