Willis La Forrest Williams ²

   Cause of his death was pulmonary emphysema.⁴

  Things to check:

1900 US census says his father was born in Massachusetts, his mother in Maine.
1910 US census says he was born in Maine, as were both parents.

  Birth Notes:

Moved to Minnesota in 1870.

  Notes on his death:

He died at Ancker Hospital.

  Burial Notes:

Section: Beech 18 5 14.

  In his life:

• In 1870 he lived in New Hartford, Winona, Minnesota. ⁶

• He was counted in the 1870 US census for New Hartford, Winona, Minnesota. ⁶ Page 15.

• In 1880 he lived in New Hartford, Winona, Minnesota. ⁷ In the household of Z. W. Nutting. This is an educated guess. The name given in the census data is "Wm", aged 11, adopted.

• Willis was counted in the 1880 US census for New Hartford, Winona, Minnesota. ⁷ ED 270, SD 1, Sheet 17A.
This is an educated guess. The name given in the census data is "Wm", aged 11, adopted.

• He worked, from 1890 to 1891, as a printer for Harrison & Smith in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota. ⁸

• From 1890 to 1891 Willis lived at 214 South 4th Street in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota. ⁸

• In 1895 he lived at 221 E. Congress in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ⁹

• Willis worked, in 1895, as a reporter for the Pioneer Press in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ⁹

• He worked, in 1898, as a reporter for the Pioneer Press in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ¹⁰

• In 1898 Willis lived at 221 East Congress in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ¹⁰

• In 1900 he lived at 221 East Congress in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ³

• Willis worked, in 1900, as an advertising agent in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ³

• He was counted in the 1900 US census for St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ³ ED 114, SD 4, Sheet 4A, ward 6.

• Willis worked, in 1904, as an editor of the St. Paul Trade Journal in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ¹¹ "611-612 Pioneer Press Bldg. Established 1892. Published Saturdays by Williams & Rouleau. $2 per year. Represents Northwestern Retails and St Paul Jobbers union."

• In 1904 he lived at 80 East Dearborn in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ¹²

• In 1905 Willis lived at 80 Dearborn in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ¹³

• He worked, in 1905, as a newspaper man in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ¹³

• Willis was counted in the 1905 Minnesota census for St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ¹³ ED 27, Ward 6, Sub-division 6, Precinct 11, Sheet 39. Enumerated as W. L.

• In 1909 he lived at 140 East Winifred Street in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ¹⁴

• Willis worked, in 1909, as a city editor for the St. Paul Dispatch in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ¹⁴ The business section listing for the St. Paul Dispatch, however, names someone else as city editor.

• In 1910 he lived at 140 East Winifred Street in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ¹⁵

• Willis worked, in 1910, as a daily paper editor in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ¹⁵

• He was counted in the 1910 US census for St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ¹⁵ ED 81, SD 4, Sheet 15A, ward 6, precinct 7.

• In 1917 Willis lived at 140 East Winifred Street in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ²

• He was a member of the St. Paul Athletic Club, the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, 1917, St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ²

• In 1920 he lived at 2082 Goodrich Avenue in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ¹⁶

• Willis worked, in 1920, as a newspaper correspondent in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ¹⁶

• He was counted in the 1920 US census for St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ¹⁶ ED 136, SD 4, Sheet 10B, ward 11, precinct 10.

• In 1930 Willis lived at 2215 Selby Avenue in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ¹⁷

• He worked, in 1930, as a magazine editor in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ¹⁷

• Willis was counted in the 1930 US census for St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ¹⁷ ED 62-153, SD 8, Sheet 4B, ward 11, block 22.

• In 1954 he lived at 2215 Selby in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ⁴

Willis married Rose D. Rouleau, daughter of Charles T. Rouleau, Jr. and Exilda Dufour, on 28 March 1894 in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota.^{1 2} (Rose D. Rouleau was born on 15 May 1873 in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota,^{3 18} died on 24 June 1952 in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota ^{19 20} and was buried on 27 June 1952 in Acacia Park Cemetery, Mendota Heights, Dakota, Minnesota ¹⁸.) The cause of her death was cerebral hemorrhage.⁴

  About his marriage to Rose:

• They were married at 471 Ada Street. ²¹ The home of the bride's parents.

  Marriage Notes:

"HAPPY WEDDING.

W. L. Williams, Newspaper Man and Miss Rose Rouleau.

Miss Rose Rouleau, daughter of Capt. Charles Rouleau, of the West side, and William L. Williams, police reporter of the Pioneer Press, were married at 8 o'clock last evening at the residence of the bride's parents, No. 471 Ada street, relatives of the bride and groom only being present. The bridesmaids were Miss Louise Rouleau, the bride's sister, and Miss Angie Valley, her cousin. Witt K. Cochran, court reporter of the Pioneer staff, was best man.
There is an interesting vein of romance connected with the marriage of Miss Rouleau and Mr. Williams. Miss
Rouleau is one of the proverbially pretty "hello" girls at the central telephone exchange, or was until a short
time ago, when she resigned her position. She had charge of the "300" board, and when Mr. Williams was put
on the "police run" for the Pioneer some two years ago it was she who answered his telephone calls from the
central police station. They became quite friendly over "the wire," and when some few months later they met
at a party the frieudship begun by telephone ripened into affection more deep, and now there is a new voice on the "300" board.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams will reside at No. 490 Ada street, where they will be at home after April15."

...St. Paul Daily Globe, 29 March 1894, page 8. ²¹