William Chance's cremated remains were not initially taken after death and were available at Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. In 2021 a relative received the ashes.
He was born in Jefferson County, in eastern Ohio. His birthdate was actually 5/13/1829 although his death certificate says 1833. His mother, Violet Stephens, was born in Ohio. His father, Curtis Chance, was born in Pennsylvania. They were married in Ohio on 3/11/1824. By 1830 they had 4 sons of whom William was the youngest. Several other siblings were to follow, but no other information about his siblings has been confirmed. His mother died in Putnam County, Illinois in 1845 and his father died in California in 1850. It appears all of William's siblings stayed in the midwest.
On 3/19/1850 William left Putnam County, Illinois on a prairie schooner (covered wagon) headed for Oregon without other family members. That year approximately 6,000 emigrants moved to Oregon. William arrived in Oregon City on 9/10/1850, long before Oregon became a state in 1859.
In 1850 from Oregon City William traveled by canoe along the Willamette and Columbia Rivers to Astoria, Clatsop County on the northern Oregon coast. It took two days and two nights. His goal was to pick up a letter from a young woman. At that time, Astoria was the only town in Oregon with a post office. The letter did not arrive so he headed home using his blankets as sails. The return trip took 3 days.
In the census of 1850, William was living in Marion County in the Oregon Territory with the John and Nancy Baker family. He and John Baker were farming.
For a time in the mid-1850s he was was the Indian agent for the Coquille district based in Port Orford on the southern Oregon coast. He "had charge" of 710 Indians. The US government engaged in frequent battles with the local tribes forcing them onto the Siletz Indian Reservation. In the process Indians were abused, severely mistreated and sometimes murdered by the military and local mobs. One would hope William left the agency on moral grounds. On 6/21/1856 he returned to Astoria from Port Orford traveling on the steamer "Columbia."
On 8/14/1859 William (age 30) married 16 year old Maria Jane Coffenbury in Clatsop County. She was born in Missouri 1843. In 1846 she had emigrated to Oregon with her parents, Sarah and G.W. Coffenbury. William & Maria were farming in Astoria next to Maria's family during the 1860 census. Their children were all born in Oregon and included: Hugh F. (born in 1860), Leonard N. (about 1862), Ladora Eleanor "Nellie" (in 1865), George C. (about 1867) and Thomas Franklin (in 1874).
From 1868 to 1870 William served as the sheriff of Clatsop County. At the time of the 1870 census, William was living with Maria and their first 4 children in Astoria where he was a carpenter. They were living next to Maria's brother, 30 year old Nathan Coffenbury, a sawyer. In the 1870s William & Mariah divorced.
As a young man William was well known and well liked in the community of Astoria. In 1873 he got 13 votes for sheriff although he was not running and indicated he would decline the honor.
On 11/5/1878 he married Martha Albina (Holdredge) Hannah in Clatsop County. She was born in Tazewell County, Illinois in 1839. She emigrated overland with her parents to Oregon in 1848. In 1857 she married William Hannah. She had 3 children with Mr. Hannah. She had 2 children with William Chance: Glenn Ingersoll Chance (Oregon in 1880) and Ivy "Pearl" Chance (in 1883).
In the census of 1880, William & Martha were living in Astoria with his sons Hugh and Leonard and Martha's three children by her previous marriage. William was serving as the local postmaster. Meanwhile William's daughter Nellie and his sons George and Thomas Franklin were living in Lane County Oregon with William's ex-wife Maria and her new husband John Alkire.
William's first-born son Hugh died on 7/7/1880 at the age of 19. He was buried at the Astoria Pioneer Cemetery. William's son Leonard was somewhat of a scrapper. In 1881 he was fined and jailed for fighting. In 1883 he was stabbed while drunk in a saloon. His assailant was sentenced to 2 years in the penitentiary. In 1884 Leonard plead guilty to assault and battery. It is not known what became of him after that.
In 1890 William was elected to the board of directors of the Pioneer and Historical Society of Oregon. Being one of the earliest white settlers in Astoria, William was seen as an authority on its history.
His ex-wife Maria Alkire died in 1895. In 1896 William & Martha were sued by the Astoria Saving Bank because they were in default of a loan. They divorced in 1900. She was living with her children Glenn and Pearl in Portland during the 1900 census. William was living in Astoria where he was employed as a court bailiff. Court did not convene everyday so he was paid by the day. For several years, around the turn of the century, William was selected to help with coroner's inquests when the cause of a death in the community was questionable.
About 1900 at 70, he married 63 year old Myra (Waggoner) Henry. She was born in Ohio about 1837. At the age of 20 his daughter Pearl died of typhoid fever in 1903 in Portland. William was notified by telegram.
In 1903 William was using the title Reverend and was said to be the "chief high priest" at the Seaside Church of Latter Day Saints. This may have been somewhat of an exaggeration because in 1905 he said he was just studying for the ministry. In his later years his truthfulness was called into question. In February 1905 he was sued for prevarication (lying) to or about P B Sovey, a newspaper reporter. The case was dealt with in the judge's chambers. Although the evidence against William was strong, and he had a history of lying, the judge was inclined to treat him with leniency because of William's role as a bailiff and because William presented records showing he was studying to be a minister. In addition to being a court bailiff he raised chickens and was called "the poultry king of Seaside." At times he was also called "The Sage of Clatsop County."
In February 1909, at the age of 79, his health began to suffer. Until that point he had been very active in the community and his name appeared frequently in the Astoria newspaper, but in 1909 that stopped. In the 1910 census he and his wife Myra were listed in Seaside, Oregon a coastal town south of Astoria where they were retired. William's wife Myra died in Portland on 6/5/1911. In 1912 William was placed under legal guardianship. On 1/30/1913 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. After being a patient at the institution 15 months William died there on 5/8/1914. The cause of death was "senile exhaustion," an antiquated term for old age. He was almost 85 years old. William was survived by several of his children.
During the 1910 census his second wife Martha was living in Portland working as a seamstress. She died in Portland, Oregon on 3/13/1922. His son George died in 1934 in Linn County, Oregon. Daughter Ladora "Nellie" married Albert Ramsay and she died in 1936. Son Glenn married Sarah Smith in 1924 and died in Seattle on 5/20/1940. Son Thomas Franklin Chance died in 1959.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
He was born in Jefferson County, in eastern Ohio. His birthdate was actually 5/13/1829 although his death certificate says 1833. His mother, Violet Stephens, was born in Ohio. His father, Curtis Chance, was born in Pennsylvania. They were married in Ohio on 3/11/1824. By 1830 they had 4 sons of whom William was the youngest. Several other siblings were to follow, but no other information about his siblings has been confirmed. His mother died in Putnam County, Illinois in 1845 and his father died in California in 1850. It appears all of William's siblings stayed in the midwest.
On 3/19/1850 William left Putnam County, Illinois on a prairie schooner (covered wagon) headed for Oregon without other family members. That year approximately 6,000 emigrants moved to Oregon. William arrived in Oregon City on 9/10/1850, long before Oregon became a state in 1859.
In 1850 from Oregon City William traveled by canoe along the Willamette and Columbia Rivers to Astoria, Clatsop County on the northern Oregon coast. It took two days and two nights. His goal was to pick up a letter from a young woman. At that time, Astoria was the only town in Oregon with a post office. The letter did not arrive so he headed home using his blankets as sails. The return trip took 3 days.
In the census of 1850, William was living in Marion County in the Oregon Territory with the John and Nancy Baker family. He and John Baker were farming.
For a time in the mid-1850s he was was the Indian agent for the Coquille district based in Port Orford on the southern Oregon coast. He "had charge" of 710 Indians. The US government engaged in frequent battles with the local tribes forcing them onto the Siletz Indian Reservation. In the process Indians were abused, severely mistreated and sometimes murdered by the military and local mobs. One would hope William left the agency on moral grounds. On 6/21/1856 he returned to Astoria from Port Orford traveling on the steamer "Columbia."
On 8/14/1859 William (age 30) married 16 year old Maria Jane Coffenbury in Clatsop County. She was born in Missouri 1843. In 1846 she had emigrated to Oregon with her parents, Sarah and G.W. Coffenbury. William & Maria were farming in Astoria next to Maria's family during the 1860 census. Their children were all born in Oregon and included: Hugh F. (born in 1860), Leonard N. (about 1862), Ladora Eleanor "Nellie" (in 1865), George C. (about 1867) and Thomas Franklin (in 1874).
From 1868 to 1870 William served as the sheriff of Clatsop County. At the time of the 1870 census, William was living with Maria and their first 4 children in Astoria where he was a carpenter. They were living next to Maria's brother, 30 year old Nathan Coffenbury, a sawyer. In the 1870s William & Mariah divorced.
As a young man William was well known and well liked in the community of Astoria. In 1873 he got 13 votes for sheriff although he was not running and indicated he would decline the honor.
On 11/5/1878 he married Martha Albina (Holdredge) Hannah in Clatsop County. She was born in Tazewell County, Illinois in 1839. She emigrated overland with her parents to Oregon in 1848. In 1857 she married William Hannah. She had 3 children with Mr. Hannah. She had 2 children with William Chance: Glenn Ingersoll Chance (Oregon in 1880) and Ivy "Pearl" Chance (in 1883).
In the census of 1880, William & Martha were living in Astoria with his sons Hugh and Leonard and Martha's three children by her previous marriage. William was serving as the local postmaster. Meanwhile William's daughter Nellie and his sons George and Thomas Franklin were living in Lane County Oregon with William's ex-wife Maria and her new husband John Alkire.
William's first-born son Hugh died on 7/7/1880 at the age of 19. He was buried at the Astoria Pioneer Cemetery. William's son Leonard was somewhat of a scrapper. In 1881 he was fined and jailed for fighting. In 1883 he was stabbed while drunk in a saloon. His assailant was sentenced to 2 years in the penitentiary. In 1884 Leonard plead guilty to assault and battery. It is not known what became of him after that.
In 1890 William was elected to the board of directors of the Pioneer and Historical Society of Oregon. Being one of the earliest white settlers in Astoria, William was seen as an authority on its history.
His ex-wife Maria Alkire died in 1895. In 1896 William & Martha were sued by the Astoria Saving Bank because they were in default of a loan. They divorced in 1900. She was living with her children Glenn and Pearl in Portland during the 1900 census. William was living in Astoria where he was employed as a court bailiff. Court did not convene everyday so he was paid by the day. For several years, around the turn of the century, William was selected to help with coroner's inquests when the cause of a death in the community was questionable.
About 1900 at 70, he married 63 year old Myra (Waggoner) Henry. She was born in Ohio about 1837. At the age of 20 his daughter Pearl died of typhoid fever in 1903 in Portland. William was notified by telegram.
In 1903 William was using the title Reverend and was said to be the "chief high priest" at the Seaside Church of Latter Day Saints. This may have been somewhat of an exaggeration because in 1905 he said he was just studying for the ministry. In his later years his truthfulness was called into question. In February 1905 he was sued for prevarication (lying) to or about P B Sovey, a newspaper reporter. The case was dealt with in the judge's chambers. Although the evidence against William was strong, and he had a history of lying, the judge was inclined to treat him with leniency because of William's role as a bailiff and because William presented records showing he was studying to be a minister. In addition to being a court bailiff he raised chickens and was called "the poultry king of Seaside." At times he was also called "The Sage of Clatsop County."
In February 1909, at the age of 79, his health began to suffer. Until that point he had been very active in the community and his name appeared frequently in the Astoria newspaper, but in 1909 that stopped. In the 1910 census he and his wife Myra were listed in Seaside, Oregon a coastal town south of Astoria where they were retired. William's wife Myra died in Portland on 6/5/1911. In 1912 William was placed under legal guardianship. On 1/30/1913 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. After being a patient at the institution 15 months William died there on 5/8/1914. The cause of death was "senile exhaustion," an antiquated term for old age. He was almost 85 years old. William was survived by several of his children.
During the 1910 census his second wife Martha was living in Portland working as a seamstress. She died in Portland, Oregon on 3/13/1922. His son George died in 1934 in Linn County, Oregon. Daughter Ladora "Nellie" married Albert Ramsay and she died in 1936. Son Glenn married Sarah Smith in 1924 and died in Seattle on 5/20/1940. Son Thomas Franklin Chance died in 1959.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
William Chance's cremated remains were not initially taken after death and were available at Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. In 2021 a relative received the ashes.
He was born in Jefferson County, in eastern Ohio. His birthdate was actually 5/13/1829 although his death certificate says 1833. His mother, Violet Stephens, was born in Ohio. His father, Curtis Chance, was born in Pennsylvania. They were married in Ohio on 3/11/1824. By 1830 they had 4 sons of whom William was the youngest. Several other siblings were to follow, but no other information about his siblings has been confirmed. His mother died in Putnam County, Illinois in 1845 and his father died in California in 1850. It appears all of William's siblings stayed in the midwest.
On 3/19/1850 William left Putnam County, Illinois on a prairie schooner (covered wagon) headed for Oregon without other family members. That year approximately 6,000 emigrants moved to Oregon. William arrived in Oregon City on 9/10/1850, long before Oregon became a state in 1859.
In 1850 from Oregon City William traveled by canoe along the Willamette and Columbia Rivers to Astoria, Clatsop County on the northern Oregon coast. It took two days and two nights. His goal was to pick up a letter from a young woman. At that time, Astoria was the only town in Oregon with a post office. The letter did not arrive so he headed home using his blankets as sails. The return trip took 3 days.
In the census of 1850, William was living in Marion County in the Oregon Territory with the John and Nancy Baker family. He and John Baker were farming.
For a time in the mid-1850s he was was the Indian agent for the Coquille district based in Port Orford on the southern Oregon coast. He "had charge" of 710 Indians. The US government engaged in frequent battles with the local tribes forcing them onto the Siletz Indian Reservation. In the process Indians were abused, severely mistreated and sometimes murdered by the military and local mobs. One would hope William left the agency on moral grounds. On 6/21/1856 he returned to Astoria from Port Orford traveling on the steamer "Columbia."
On 8/14/1859 William (age 30) married 16 year old Maria Jane Coffenbury in Clatsop County. She was born in Missouri 1843. In 1846 she had emigrated to Oregon with her parents, Sarah and G.W. Coffenbury. William & Maria were farming in Astoria next to Maria's family during the 1860 census. Their children were all born in Oregon and included: Hugh F. (born in 1860), Leonard N. (about 1862), Ladora Eleanor "Nellie" (in 1865), George C. (about 1867) and Thomas Franklin (in 1874).
From 1868 to 1870 William served as the sheriff of Clatsop County. At the time of the 1870 census, William was living with Maria and their first 4 children in Astoria where he was a carpenter. They were living next to Maria's brother, 30 year old Nathan Coffenbury, a sawyer. In the 1870s William & Mariah divorced.
As a young man William was well known and well liked in the community of Astoria. In 1873 he got 13 votes for sheriff although he was not running and indicated he would decline the honor.
On 11/5/1878 he married Martha Albina (Holdredge) Hannah in Clatsop County. She was born in Tazewell County, Illinois in 1839. She emigrated overland with her parents to Oregon in 1848. In 1857 she married William Hannah. She had 3 children with Mr. Hannah. She had 2 children with William Chance: Glenn Ingersoll Chance (Oregon in 1880) and Ivy "Pearl" Chance (in 1883).
In the census of 1880, William & Martha were living in Astoria with his sons Hugh and Leonard and Martha's three children by her previous marriage. William was serving as the local postmaster. Meanwhile William's daughter Nellie and his sons George and Thomas Franklin were living in Lane County Oregon with William's ex-wife Maria and her new husband John Alkire.
William's first-born son Hugh died on 7/7/1880 at the age of 19. He was buried at the Astoria Pioneer Cemetery. William's son Leonard was somewhat of a scrapper. In 1881 he was fined and jailed for fighting. In 1883 he was stabbed while drunk in a saloon. His assailant was sentenced to 2 years in the penitentiary. In 1884 Leonard plead guilty to assault and battery. It is not known what became of him after that.
In 1890 William was elected to the board of directors of the Pioneer and Historical Society of Oregon. Being one of the earliest white settlers in Astoria, William was seen as an authority on its history.
His ex-wife Maria Alkire died in 1895. In 1896 William & Martha were sued by the Astoria Saving Bank because they were in default of a loan. They divorced in 1900. She was living with her children Glenn and Pearl in Portland during the 1900 census. William was living in Astoria where he was employed as a court bailiff. Court did not convene everyday so he was paid by the day. For several years, around the turn of the century, William was selected to help with coroner's inquests when the cause of a death in the community was questionable.
About 1900 at 70, he married 63 year old Myra (Waggoner) Henry. She was born in Ohio about 1837. At the age of 20 his daughter Pearl died of typhoid fever in 1903 in Portland. William was notified by telegram.
In 1903 William was using the title Reverend and was said to be the "chief high priest" at the Seaside Church of Latter Day Saints. This may have been somewhat of an exaggeration because in 1905 he said he was just studying for the ministry. In his later years his truthfulness was called into question. In February 1905 he was sued for prevarication (lying) to or about P B Sovey, a newspaper reporter. The case was dealt with in the judge's chambers. Although the evidence against William was strong, and he had a history of lying, the judge was inclined to treat him with leniency because of William's role as a bailiff and because William presented records showing he was studying to be a minister. In addition to being a court bailiff he raised chickens and was called "the poultry king of Seaside." At times he was also called "The Sage of Clatsop County."
In February 1909, at the age of 79, his health began to suffer. Until that point he had been very active in the community and his name appeared frequently in the Astoria newspaper, but in 1909 that stopped. In the 1910 census he and his wife Myra were listed in Seaside, Oregon a coastal town south of Astoria where they were retired. William's wife Myra died in Portland on 6/5/1911. In 1912 William was placed under legal guardianship. On 1/30/1913 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. After being a patient at the institution 15 months William died there on 5/8/1914. The cause of death was "senile exhaustion," an antiquated term for old age. He was almost 85 years old. William was survived by several of his children.
During the 1910 census his second wife Martha was living in Portland working as a seamstress. She died in Portland, Oregon on 3/13/1922. His son George died in 1934 in Linn County, Oregon. Daughter Ladora "Nellie" married Albert Ramsay and she died in 1936. Son Glenn married Sarah Smith in 1924 and died in Seattle on 5/20/1940. Son Thomas Franklin Chance died in 1959.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
He was born in Jefferson County, in eastern Ohio. His birthdate was actually 5/13/1829 although his death certificate says 1833. His mother, Violet Stephens, was born in Ohio. His father, Curtis Chance, was born in Pennsylvania. They were married in Ohio on 3/11/1824. By 1830 they had 4 sons of whom William was the youngest. Several other siblings were to follow, but no other information about his siblings has been confirmed. His mother died in Putnam County, Illinois in 1845 and his father died in California in 1850. It appears all of William's siblings stayed in the midwest.
On 3/19/1850 William left Putnam County, Illinois on a prairie schooner (covered wagon) headed for Oregon without other family members. That year approximately 6,000 emigrants moved to Oregon. William arrived in Oregon City on 9/10/1850, long before Oregon became a state in 1859.
In 1850 from Oregon City William traveled by canoe along the Willamette and Columbia Rivers to Astoria, Clatsop County on the northern Oregon coast. It took two days and two nights. His goal was to pick up a letter from a young woman. At that time, Astoria was the only town in Oregon with a post office. The letter did not arrive so he headed home using his blankets as sails. The return trip took 3 days.
In the census of 1850, William was living in Marion County in the Oregon Territory with the John and Nancy Baker family. He and John Baker were farming.
For a time in the mid-1850s he was was the Indian agent for the Coquille district based in Port Orford on the southern Oregon coast. He "had charge" of 710 Indians. The US government engaged in frequent battles with the local tribes forcing them onto the Siletz Indian Reservation. In the process Indians were abused, severely mistreated and sometimes murdered by the military and local mobs. One would hope William left the agency on moral grounds. On 6/21/1856 he returned to Astoria from Port Orford traveling on the steamer "Columbia."
On 8/14/1859 William (age 30) married 16 year old Maria Jane Coffenbury in Clatsop County. She was born in Missouri 1843. In 1846 she had emigrated to Oregon with her parents, Sarah and G.W. Coffenbury. William & Maria were farming in Astoria next to Maria's family during the 1860 census. Their children were all born in Oregon and included: Hugh F. (born in 1860), Leonard N. (about 1862), Ladora Eleanor "Nellie" (in 1865), George C. (about 1867) and Thomas Franklin (in 1874).
From 1868 to 1870 William served as the sheriff of Clatsop County. At the time of the 1870 census, William was living with Maria and their first 4 children in Astoria where he was a carpenter. They were living next to Maria's brother, 30 year old Nathan Coffenbury, a sawyer. In the 1870s William & Mariah divorced.
As a young man William was well known and well liked in the community of Astoria. In 1873 he got 13 votes for sheriff although he was not running and indicated he would decline the honor.
On 11/5/1878 he married Martha Albina (Holdredge) Hannah in Clatsop County. She was born in Tazewell County, Illinois in 1839. She emigrated overland with her parents to Oregon in 1848. In 1857 she married William Hannah. She had 3 children with Mr. Hannah. She had 2 children with William Chance: Glenn Ingersoll Chance (Oregon in 1880) and Ivy "Pearl" Chance (in 1883).
In the census of 1880, William & Martha were living in Astoria with his sons Hugh and Leonard and Martha's three children by her previous marriage. William was serving as the local postmaster. Meanwhile William's daughter Nellie and his sons George and Thomas Franklin were living in Lane County Oregon with William's ex-wife Maria and her new husband John Alkire.
William's first-born son Hugh died on 7/7/1880 at the age of 19. He was buried at the Astoria Pioneer Cemetery. William's son Leonard was somewhat of a scrapper. In 1881 he was fined and jailed for fighting. In 1883 he was stabbed while drunk in a saloon. His assailant was sentenced to 2 years in the penitentiary. In 1884 Leonard plead guilty to assault and battery. It is not known what became of him after that.
In 1890 William was elected to the board of directors of the Pioneer and Historical Society of Oregon. Being one of the earliest white settlers in Astoria, William was seen as an authority on its history.
His ex-wife Maria Alkire died in 1895. In 1896 William & Martha were sued by the Astoria Saving Bank because they were in default of a loan. They divorced in 1900. She was living with her children Glenn and Pearl in Portland during the 1900 census. William was living in Astoria where he was employed as a court bailiff. Court did not convene everyday so he was paid by the day. For several years, around the turn of the century, William was selected to help with coroner's inquests when the cause of a death in the community was questionable.
About 1900 at 70, he married 63 year old Myra (Waggoner) Henry. She was born in Ohio about 1837. At the age of 20 his daughter Pearl died of typhoid fever in 1903 in Portland. William was notified by telegram.
In 1903 William was using the title Reverend and was said to be the "chief high priest" at the Seaside Church of Latter Day Saints. This may have been somewhat of an exaggeration because in 1905 he said he was just studying for the ministry. In his later years his truthfulness was called into question. In February 1905 he was sued for prevarication (lying) to or about P B Sovey, a newspaper reporter. The case was dealt with in the judge's chambers. Although the evidence against William was strong, and he had a history of lying, the judge was inclined to treat him with leniency because of William's role as a bailiff and because William presented records showing he was studying to be a minister. In addition to being a court bailiff he raised chickens and was called "the poultry king of Seaside." At times he was also called "The Sage of Clatsop County."
In February 1909, at the age of 79, his health began to suffer. Until that point he had been very active in the community and his name appeared frequently in the Astoria newspaper, but in 1909 that stopped. In the 1910 census he and his wife Myra were listed in Seaside, Oregon a coastal town south of Astoria where they were retired. William's wife Myra died in Portland on 6/5/1911. In 1912 William was placed under legal guardianship. On 1/30/1913 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. After being a patient at the institution 15 months William died there on 5/8/1914. The cause of death was "senile exhaustion," an antiquated term for old age. He was almost 85 years old. William was survived by several of his children.
During the 1910 census his second wife Martha was living in Portland working as a seamstress. She died in Portland, Oregon on 3/13/1922. His son George died in 1934 in Linn County, Oregon. Daughter Ladora "Nellie" married Albert Ramsay and she died in 1936. Son Glenn married Sarah Smith in 1924 and died in Seattle on 5/20/1940. Son Thomas Franklin Chance died in 1959.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
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