6th generation: William C(harles?) or Albert (?) Faulkner (my ggg paternal grandpa; Cleora Allred's maternal grandpa)

Taken after the death of his wife, Rebecca Cato

On son William's death certificate it lists William's middle name as Albert: 

William Charles Faulkner History

Contributed 31 May 2013 · on Familysearch.org.  It is mainly about his son William Charles Faulkner, but has valuable information about his parents/siblings lives, too. 

William Charles Faulkner was born December 15, 1869 in Willard, Box Elder, Utah. His parents are William Faulkner and Rebecca Cato. He was the first child and only boy. He had five sisters, two being twins. 

The family moved to Brigham City, then to Nephi. From Nephi the family moved to Central, Graham, Arizona. It took two months by wagon to make the trip. While living in Central his mother and two sisters, Emmeline and Laura, became ill. They died in 1885. Before his mother died she gave him a mother’s talk, with instructions on how to live, and what to do to become a good man and loyal citizen.  His father was left a widower at 44 years with four children to raise, the youngest being four. William was sixteen years old.  

While living in Thatcher, Graham, Arizona, his father died on January 19, 1892. This left William, at age 22, to take care of his three sisters, Edith 16, Minnie 14, and Silvia Mae, 11.  Nothing is known about the time between his father’s death and his marriage.

At the time of his marriage, Arizona was a territory.  He was married by a minister of the gospel in Thatcher, Graham, County, Arizona to Mary Ellen Elmer on the fifteenth of June, 1893. They settled in Thatcher, where he built a cabin with the help of his father in-law, Ira Bartlett Elmer. They used mud and sand to fill the seams between the logs. The cabin consisted of a kitchen /dining area, a living area, the parent’s bedroom, bunk beds for the children, and an upstairs room which was used by Edith, William’s oldest sister. Lillie Mae was born on16 May 1895 and William Albert was born on 9 Sep 1897. They lived in this cabin for six years. 

William’s main occupation was as a painter and a carpenter. He also had a basic knowledge of how to repair things. He was paid with money, food, or other items the family needed. He later operated the first gristmill in Arizona. 

In 1902 the family moved to Safford, which is about 1 ½ miles south of Thatcher. William and Ira also built the second house which was made of wood. This house was a one story building with an outside porch. Their sons were born during the time they lived in this house. Charles Cato was born in 1901, Edward in 1904, and Clyde in 1907.  William Albert died on 7 Nov 1903.

The grist mill was taken apart and transported to Safford by covered wagon where William continued his business. In 1908 he sold the grist mill and went into a partnership and opened a lumberyard where they made and sold furniture.  

In 1909 they moved again to an area away from the railroad to a less crowded place. This house was modern with horizontal hardwood siding. Shortly after they moved there sewer lines were connected to the house. It was while living in this house that two daughters were born, Mary Ellen on 22 Jun 1910, and Beatrice on 25 Aug 1917. The entire family got the flu in the 1918 flu epidemic but no member of the family died from it. William’s health was never the same after he had the flu because he developed asthma. 

William was an accomplished musician and could play many instruments. He led the Safford Band for many years. He also played music for dances in Fort Thomas. Music was a large part of the family. Quite often they would have a family hour and the entire family would play their instruments.He went into contracting and building houses. One building he worked on was the Thatcher LDS chapel. His interest in building led him to start his own planing mill to plane rough lumber. In 1899 the family moved to Safford where he went into the lumber business. The lumber yard was known as the W. C. Faulkner Lumber Company. At one time he owned two lumber companies with lumber yards in Safford and Pima. The business involved into selling paint, hardware, doors, and sashes for windows as well as lumber. Cato, Edward, and Clyde always helped in the lumber yard from the time they were small until it was sold.  He sold the family home and business in 1925, and they moved to Los Angeles, where they resided for four years.  

In 1929 William and Mary Ellen moved to Las Vegas and he built the Lincoln Auto Court (motel), which was sold in 1939. In 1940 William built a modern auto court on the Las Vegas strip, The Royal Autel Auto Court. He later sold this because the hotels took all his business.

On June 15, 1943 William and Mary Ellen observed their Golden Wedding Anniversary with a party held at their auto court.

On May 30, 1944 Mary Ellen passed away in Pasadena, Los Angeles, California.   He moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1945 where he lived with his sister Edith. He passed away on July 25, 1947. He is buried in the Thatcher Cemetery.  

Sources:

Lillie Mae Faulkner Nelson Stillman’s biography

Edward Faulkner’s biography

Family letter

Certificate of Marriage

Newspaper article

Certificate of Death

Obituary

William Charles standing, William C. seated, Edith Priscilla

top right, Minnie Louise bottom left, and Silva Mae bottom right.