ONE OF EVANSTON'S MOST ILLUSTRIOUS CITIZENS - William Henry Twiggs

When I was writing the article about former Evanston Mayor Thomas Bates, I found I needed some clarification on houses where the mayor had lived.  Whenever I run up against a brick wall, I immediately turn to my friend (and researcher nonpareil) Mike Kelly.  In a short time he (of course) got me all the information I needed and more.  When we discussed the information he gave me, he mentioned William Twiggs, who Mike said had been appointed Sealer of Weights and Measures by Mayor Bates in 1899.  He mentioned that Twiggs was so good at the job, that subsequent mayors kept him in this position.  Mike said that Twiggs' appointment by Mayor Bates was controversial at the time because Twiggs was African-American - or as they referred to him in those days - colored.  In fact, Twiggs was not appointed for the first time by Mayor Bates, he had actually been appointed Sealer of Weights and Measures by Mayor William A. Dyche in 1897 and reappointed by Mayor Bates.  

This sounded like an interesting subject for this blog and it is.  So, let me tell you the story of a multi-faceted man who contributed much to the success of Evanston but is virtually unknown today: William H. Twiggs.

William H. Twiggs

William Henry Twiggs was born on August 7, 1865 in Davenport, Iowa.  His parents were John Williamson (1835-1912) and Martha Twiggs (1838-1890).  It does not appear that John Williamson and Martha Twiggs were married when William was born.  Instead of using his father's surname "Williamson," he used his mother's surname "Twiggs."  Martha Twiggs did marry George Bremby in 1879 and stayed married to him until she died in 1890.  John Williamson was a meat-packer by trade.  William Twiggs also had a brother John R. Twiggs (1861-1911).

William makes his first appearance in the 1870 US Census.  The family is living in the 4th Ward of Davenport, Iowa.  The family consisted of:  John Williamson (32 years old), Magert (sic) Twiggs (34), John Twiggs (9), and William Twiggs (5) John indicated his Race as "Mulatto," Martha as "Black."  John and William were both listed as "Mulatto."  John listed his occupation as "Conductor," while Martha was "Keeping House."  John Williamson said he had Personal Property worth $200.00 ($5,100.00 in today's funds).  Martha indicated she could neither read nor write.

I was unable to find William H. Twiggs in the 1880 US Census.

In 1884 William Twiggs was invited to move to Evanston by the Rev. J. S. Woods, then pastor of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church.  Woods was interested in getting young people to Evanston because of its school advantages.  In those days, Evanston was known as "Athens of the West," due to its association with Northwestern University, which is known for its academic excellence and cultural contributions.  The nickname reflects the city's emphasis on education and intellectual pursuits. 

The first mention of William Twiggs in the newspapers was the Chicago Inter Ocean from February 11, 1886 that reported that Mr. William H. Twiggs was a Republican Election Judge for Chicago's Eighth Ward, Fifteenth Precinct.   

Twiggs' first appearance in the Evanston City Directory was also in 1886:

On November 4, 1887 Northwestern University listed William Henry Twiggs of Davenport, Iowa as a second-year student in the School of Pharmacy.  In the student-produced newspaper called "The North Western," it said, "The University is located at Evanston, Ill., the most beautiful suburb of Chicago.  It is unusually free from immoral influences.  The sale of intoxicating drinks is prohibited within four miles of the University."

During his time at Northwestern, William Twiggs roomed in Heck Hall.

Twiggs was listed in the Evanston City Directory for 1888:

Twiggs ran for elected office for the first time in the election of 1889.  The Evanston Index from April 13, 1889 contained the following:

Mr. J. J. Adams will certainly be elected clerk, although the colored people have put up one of their number, William H. Twiggs to test their strength.

The election results were reported in the Evanston Index from April 20, 1889:

For Village Clerk, J. J. Adams was elected, receiving 854 votes to 180 cast for William H. Twiggs.

Just twenty four years after the end of the Civil War, a Black man stood for office in Evanston.  

Here is Twiggs' listing from the Evanston City Directory of 1889:

His home address was 418 Benson Avenue in Evanston.

William Twiggs' mother, Martha Twiggs Bremby died April 3, 1890 in Davenport, Iowa.  She was fifty-seven years old.  Here is the notice of her death from the Davenport, Iowa Daily Times from April 4, 1890:

She was buried at Oakdale Memorial Gardens in Davenport, Section 28, Tier 1 S, Grave 84.  Her grave is not marked:

Photo Courtesy of Find a Grave Volunteer P. Brock

The 1892 Evanston City Directory showed that Twiggs had moved to 641 Orrington Avenue in Evanston:

On December 21, 1892, William H. Twiggs married Martha Elizabeth Jones (1872-1942) in Evanston.  The groom was twenty-seven; the bride was twenty.  Here is an article describing the wedding from the Evanston Index from December 24, 1892:

Martha Elizabeth Jones was born March 21, 1872 in Swan Pond, West Virginia to Robert E. and Gracy Jones.  Robert Jones was a farmer by trade.

William and Martha were blessed with five children:  Wilbur Jesse (1893-1949), Kathryn Elizabeth/Mrs. Samuel E. McDonald (1896-1985),  Mildred/Mrs. John L. Thomas/Mrs. Earl Andrews (1897-1963), Agnes Marguerite/Mrs. Franklin D. Smith (1899-????), and Martha Wilhelmine Henrietta/Mrs. Kenneth T. Walker, Sr. (1915-2009).  From the beginning the Twiggs were members of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in Evanston:

When William Dyche was elected mayor of Evanston in April of 1897, one of the first things he did was to appoint William H. Twiggs as Sealer and Superintendent of Weights and Measures.  Here is the notice of appointment from the Chicago Inter Ocean from May 13, 1897:

Why did Mayor Dyche appoint a Black man to a city office?  Dyche was known for a more inclusive (though still paternalistic) approach to the growing Black community in Evanston's west side.  The appointment shows that the political integration of Black professionals into the Evanston municipal structure began earlier than the "progressive" era of the 1900s, rooted instead in the mid-1890s.

Here is the notice of Twiggs' reappointment from the Chicago Inter Ocean of April 26, 1899:

Twiggs' reappointment was significant because Bates was often viewed as a "litigious traditionalist" who was purging the city's legal department.  Keeping Twiggs suggests that Twiggs had already established a level of professional indispensability that Bates respected.  By 1899, Twiggs wasn't just a political appointee; he was an experienced civil servant. The fact that a "law and order" mayor like Bates reappointed him confirms Twiggs' effectiveness in managing the city's commercial standards.

The 1900 US Census shows the Twiggs family living at 1619 Sherman Avenue in Evanston:

1619 Sherman Avenue, Evanston
Credit: Evanston History Center collection

A multi-story office building occupies that space today.  

The family consisted of:  William Twiggs (34 years old), wife Martha (28), children Wilbur (6), Catharine (4), Mildred (2), and Agnes (1), and Boarders Richard Dobson (19), Benjamin Arbuckle (15), John D. Carter (27) and Eliza Flint (65).  William and Martha said they had been married for seven years, and Martha said she had given birth to four children, all of whom were still alive in 1900.  William listed his occupation as "Printer," and they said they were renting their house.  All of the adults could read and write, and all spoke English.  The three male boarders were all "Students," and Eliza Flint did "House Work."
  

In April of 1901 William Twiggs was reappointed as Sealer and Superintendent of Weights and Measures by the newly elected mayor, James A. Patten.  Had Twiggs done a poor job under Dyche, Mayor Bates would have easily used it as a pretext to oust him in 1899. Had he faltered under Bates, the wealthy and powerful grain magnate Mayor James A. Patten would have replaced him instantly in 1901. His successive reappointments proved to a skeptical, white-dominated city council that Twiggs possessed flawless administrative competence and absolute integrity. He proved he could not be removed on merit.

Patten’s choice in 1901 signaled that William H. Twiggs was no longer just an experimental appointee—he was a permanent fixture of Evanston's civic leadership.

In July of 1901, William Twiggs put together the Twiggs Entertainment Company as reported in the Evanston Index on July 6, 1901:

In November of 1902 Evanston was struck with a smallpox epidemic.  It was part of a sweeping smallpox epidemic that hit the wider United States and the Great Lakes region between 1898 and 1902.  Among those diagnosed with the illness was Olive Vaughn who was staying with the Twiggs family on Sherman.  Evanston had imposed a strict quarantine of any house where smallpox was found.  Evanston newspapers reported that one of William Twiggs' daughters was also stricken, although they did not specify which one it was.  Mayor Patten recommended that everyone be vaccinated against smallpox and strongly recommended every member of the City Council be vaccinated without delay.

Their efforts were successful, and there was actually no recorded death from smallpox reported in Evanston, Illinois in 1902.

In 1903 and 1905, William H. Twiggs was reappointed as Sealer and Superintendent of Weights and Measures by Mayor John T. Barker.

In 1907 Twiggs was again reappointed, this time by Mayor Joseph E. Paden.  Ultimately Twiggs held the position of Sealer and Superintendent of Weights and Measures for twenty years, maintaining his appointment across successive mayoral administrations.

The 1910 US Census shows the Twiggs family living at 1726 Oak Avenue in Evanston.  A mixed use building occupies that spot today.  The family consisted of:  William H. Twiggs (44 years old), wife Martha (38), son Wilbur J. (17), and daughters Katherine (13), Mildred (12), and Agnes (11).    In addition there was a lodger, Arthur Brownlee (34).  Also living with the Twiggs family was Arthur D. Butler (34), his wife Isabel Garnett (33), brother Dowell DeRooch (21) and son Arthur G. Butler (1 3/12).  William and Martha said they had been married seventeen years.  Martha said she had given birth to four children, and all four were still alive in 1910.  William Twiggs listed his occupation as "Printer," and Martha as "Hair Dresser."

Here is an ad that William Twiggs put into the 1910 yearbook for Evanston Academy:

William Twiggs' brother, John R. Twiggs died April 7, 1911 in Davenport, Iowa.  He was fifty years old.  Here is his obituary from the Davenport newspaper:

Cemetery records indicate he took his own life.  He is buried next to his mother in the Oakdale Memorial Gardens, Davenport, Iowa.  Like his mother's grave, John Twiggs' grave is not marked.

Photo Courtesy Find a Grave Volunteer P. Brock

In July of 1911, W. H. Twiggs had a grocer arrested for selling short weight potatoes, meaning that the store's scales were adjusted to make each item being weighed seem heavier than it actually was.  The heavier the item the higher the cost so the grocer was, in effect, stealing from his customers.  Here is the story from the Evanston Press from July 29, 1911:

The Evanston Index newspaper went into more detail:

Evanston Index - July 29, 1911

William Twiggs' father, John Williamson died April 28, 1912.  He is buried in the Danville National Cemetery in Danville, Illinois:

Photo Courtesy of Find a Grave Volunteer coan.net

In 1915 William Twiggs and family moved to 1315 Emerson Street in Evanston.  A municipal parking lot occupies that spot today.

In January of 1916, Mayor Harry P. Pearsons appointed William Twiggs to Head of the General Information Department of the City of Evanston: specifically, Twiggs took charge of the city's information desk at City Hall.  

The Chicago Defender - 15 Jan 1916

The appointment drew significant attention at the time due to racial pushback from white municipal clerks who objected to his placement.  It made the front page of the Evanston News-Index from January 8, 1916:

The Evanston News-Index reported that the opposition to Twiggs' appointment was not just from White workers, the Black community was opposed to Twiggs as well.  The newspaper accused Mayor Pearsons of awarding the job to Twiggs as a payback for support for Pearsons among African-Americans.  They said Twiggs was not competent to hold such an important job and that even if he were trained, he would not be able to learn the many things the holder of this position would have to know. 

A rebuttal to this was published in the News-Index four days later, on January 12, 1916 by "a colored resident of the City of Evanston":

Despite the friction, Mayor Pearsons stood his ground on hiring Twiggs.  Unfortunately Twiggs lost the job on February 29, 1916 because he couldn't pass the Civil Service Examination:

Chicago Tribune - March 1, 1916

Even though he no longer had his City job, William Twiggs still had his printing business and remained involved in civic affairs through his work as Chairman of the Management Committee of the Emerson Street Y.M.C.A. and holding several positions with the Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in Evanston.

In July of 1919, Twiggs was asked to temporarily take over the position of Permit Clerk for the City of Evanston.  Many positions were unfilled due to the war, coupled with the fact that Evanston City jobs paid very low salaries.

The 1920 US Census finds the Twiggs family still living at 1315 Emerson Street in Evanston.  The family consisted of:  William (56 years old), Martha (47), Agnes (20), and Martha (4).  William Twiggs indicated that he owned the property, and it had a mortgage.  Renting space from Twiggs were John and Laura Poston and James and Martha Jackson and their two sons.  For Occupation, William Twiggs said he owned a Printing Business.  Agnes reported that she worked for the printing business.  John Poston was an Undertaker and James Jackson was a Janitor.

In the 1920s, William Twiggs' wife Martha's name was in the newspaper much more than her husband's.  Mrs. Twiggs was instrumental in raising funds for a Colored Day Nursery in Evanston so that someone would be available to watch children if their mothers were at work.  The Nursery opened in February of 1926:

Evanston (IL) Review - February 4, 1926

Mrs. Twiggs was also on the Board of the newly established Evanston Community Hospital.

Race-related issues came to the fore again in 1927 when the Evanston Review ran an editorial "Evanston's Black Tide."  William Twiggs responded with a Letter to the Editor pointing out that he was particularly qualified to address the issue, having lived and worked in Evanston for (at that time) over forty years:

Evanston Review - April 28, 1927

The 1930 US Census shows the Twiggs family still at 1315 Emerson in Evanston.  The family consisted of:  William H. Twiggs (64 years old), wife Martha (58), and daughter Martha (14).  Also roomers Arthur Holman (35), Willie Holman (39), Emma Persing (60), and Lula Thorton (44).  The Census Enumerator mistakenly put a value for Twigg's home at $150,000, which would be $2.99 million in today's funds.  Based on the values of other homes in the immediate area, it is more likely that the home was worth $15,000 ($299,000 in today's funds).  The Twiggs family did own a radio.  William Twiggs listed his occupation as "Printer in a Print Shop," Martha was "Operator of a Beauty Shop."  Arthur Holman was  Mechanic, Willie Holman was a Maid, Emma Persing was a Waiter, and Lula Thorton was a Servant in a Private Home.

In the 1930s William Twiggs maintained his printing business.  He was also very active as a Mason and was elected Vice Grand Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias of Illinois.  He ran several times for alderman of the Fifth Ward against among others Edwin B. Jourdain, but was unsuccessful.  

The 1940 US Census shows the Twiggs family still living at 1315 Emerson Street in Evanston,  The family now just consisted of William Twiggs (74 years old), and his wife Martha (68).  Living with them were boarders Conrad Nolosco (22), and George (29) and Anna (29) Dickerson.  William reported that he had completed four years of high school (nothing about his time at Northwestern); Martha had completed one year of high school.  William reported that he was "Proprietor of a Print Shop," Martha no longer reported an occupation.

Martha Jones Twiggs died April 5, 1942 in Elgin, Illinois.  She was seventy years old.  An obituary of Mrs. Twiggs was front-page news of the Evanston Newsette newspaper from April 9, 1942:

She was buried at Sunset Memorial Lawns in Northbrook, Illinois:

                                                                        Photo Courtesy of Find a Grave Volunteer L. Winslow

The Chicago Defender newspaper published an article extremely critical of Edwin Jourdain in its issue of April 19, 1943.  Among other issues, they reported how Twiggs had been treated by Jourdain when Twiggs had run for alderman:

On a more positive note, the Defender published an article on April 9, 1949 about Twiggs' life and career,  It was part of the "Salute to Oldtimers" series:

The 1950 US Census finds William H. Twiggs (84 years old) still living at 1315 Emerson Street.  The Census Enumerator (Wilma Langford) broke 1315 Emerson into sections.  1315 (1st) was occupied by James C. Jenkins (24) and his wife Lillie (20).  1315 (2nd) was occupied by William Twiggs, his daughter Mildred Andrews (51) and her husband Earl Andrews (57).  1315 (Rear) was occupied by William's daughter Martha Walker (34), Martha's husband Kenneth Walker (39), and their children Kenneth T. (15), Carole J. (12), Yvonne M. (10), Cheryl A. (4), and Kathryn (1).   There was a myriad of occupations of the people living at 1315 Emerson:  James C. Jenkins "Makes Paint in a Paint Factory," Lillie Jenkins was a "Mangel Worker in a Laundry," William Twiggs was a "Printer," Mildred Andrews was an "Upholsterer," Earl Andrews was a "Porter," Martha Walker was an "Upholsterer of Slip Covers," and Kenneth Walker was an "Upholsterer." 

The 1950s were a time of remembrance for William H. Twiggs.  He turned 90 on August 7, 1955 and was feted in several local publications.  The accolades started in 1953 when Twiggs was honored for being in business in Evanston for fifty years:

Evanston (IL) Review - 01 Oct 1953

 

On April 14, 1955 Twiggs was featured in a column entitled "The Evanston Revue:"

This is from the Evanston Review from August 4, 1955:

Also from the Evanston Review from August 11, 1955:

Twiggs was also feted in the Chicago Defender from October 1, 1955:

Unfortunately 1955 ended on a sour note for William H. Twiggs.  On Christmas Day, 1955, a devastating fire tore through his property at 1315 Emerson Street.  The fire completely destroyed his "Historical Den" office, his extensive records, and his photographic collection documenting the accomplishments of Evanston's African American community. The only item to miraculously survive the blaze was his printing press itself. Following the fire, the press was salvaged and for years was preserved as a historical artifact housed in the Evanston History Center until 2025 when it was donated to Evanston Township High School.  Luckily Twiggs was celebrating Christmas with friends and was not home when the fire struck.

The fire made the first news page of the Evanston Review of December 29, 1955:

For a time in the late 1950s into 1960, William H, Twiggs was the oldest Evanston citizen.  This is from the Evanston Review from October 13, 1960:

After the fire, Twiggs moved in with his daughter Mildred and family at 1923 Asbury Avenue in Evanston:

1923 Asbury Avenue, Evanston

William H,. Twiggs died November 10, 1960 in Chicago.  He was ninety-five years old.  Here is an Obituary from the Evanston Review from November 10, 1960:

He was buried next to his wife at Sunset Memorial Lawns in Northbrook:

                                                                      Photo Courtesy of Find a Grave Volunteer L. Winslow

William H. Twiggs was remembered in the CCC Newsette from March 9, 1978:

Twiggs Park in Evanston was dedicated in October 1986.  The nine-acre parcel along the North Shore Channel was named to honor William H. Twiggs' extensive civic and journalistic contributions to the Evanston community. 

One of the main purposes of this blog is so that the people I feature will not be forgotten.  Evanston has always been full of interesting people.  One of the articles I read about William Twiggs called him "One of Evanston's Most Illustrious Citizens."  I would certainly agree.

William H. Twiggs - a living example of Evanston's early history - may he rest in peace.

THE REST OF THE STORY:

Wilbur Jesse Twiggs (1893-1949)  was a mechanic and general contractor and remained in the Evanston area his entire life.  He died March 7, 1949 in Evanston.  He married twice:  Sarah Berger (1896-????) in 1917.  They divorced in 1937.  He then married Beatrice Robertson (1906-????) in 1937.  Wilbur Twiggs did not have any children.  He is buried in Sunset Memorial Lawns in Northbrook - his grave is not marked.

Kathryn Elizabeth Twiggs (1896-1985)  She married Dr. Samuel Ernest McDonald (1884-1976) in 1919.  They had three children. She died September 4, 1985 in Chicago and is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie.  Memorial Park has no record of Kathryn McDonald.  

Mildred Twiggs (1897-1963)  She married John L. Thomas (1891-1942) August 14, 1921.  They were subsequently divorced.  She then married Earl Andrews (????-????)  Mildred Twiggs died in 1963 in Evanston.  She is buried with her parents in Sunset Memorial Lawns in Northbrook.  She shares their tombstone:

Photo Courtesy of Find a Grave Volunteer L. Winslow

Agnes Marguerite Twiggs (1899-1969) She married Franklin D. Smith-sometimes known as David F. Smith or Frank D. Smith (1897-????) in Evanston in 1920.  They were subsequently divorced and she married Joseph E. Reid (1898-1959) in 1952.  She died May 22, 1969 in Chicago.  She is buried in Sunset Memorial Lawns in Northbrook.  Here is her tombstone:

            Photo Courtesy of Find a Grave Volunteer L. Winslow

Martha Wilhelmena Henrietta Twiggs (1915-2009) She married Kenneth T. Walker (1910-1989) in 1936.  They had four children.  She died in 2009 in Fredericksburg, Virginia.  I was not able to find out where she is buried.

PS - I know there are still members of the Twiggs family around.  If any of them would like to contact me to correct anything I have written, or fill in any of the missing pieces, it would be greatly appreciated.

FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD - Jean June Myall

 

Jean June Williamson Myall

I have mentioned in the past that I check ebay periodically for items from Evanston, Illinois.  A while back I came upon this beautiful drawing:

It is the interior of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Evanston.  St. Luke's is one of the most magnificent churches I have ever been in.  If you look in the lower right corner, the artist has indicated her name: Jean June Myall. 

This is an artist I knew nothing about.  Was she an Evanstonian?  A St. Luke's parishioner?  Was this her only work or had she done other drawings?  I did some preliminary research and found that she would be a good subject for this blog, so here is her story:

Jean June Williamson was born June 1, 1883 in Hinsdale, Illinois to Joseph Gilben Williamson (1839-1913) and Christina Ann "Christy" Norman Williamson (1840-1918).  Joseph and Christina had married April 5, 1865 in Caldwell, New York.  They were blessed with ten children:  Katherine Thurman "Katy" Williamson/Mrs. George E. Parker  (1866-1941), Ida Rollo Williamson (1868-1916), Mary "May" Williamson (1870-1942), Minnie Williamson (1870-1889), Jessie Williamson/Mrs. John J. Parker (1872-1945), Douw Ditmars Williamson (1873-1874), Norman E. Williamson (1875-1965), Joseph G. Williamson, Jr. (1877-1889), Bertha B. Williamson (1880-1929) and Jeannie June Williamson/Mrs. Percival Myall (1883-1962).  Joseph Williamson was a renowned physician.

Jean makes her first appearance in the 1900 US Census.  She was living with her mother in Montague Village, Muskegon, Michigan.  The family consisted of:  Christine (60 years old), and daughters Catherine (33), May (30), Jessie (27) and Jean (16).  Christine said she had been married for thirty-five years and had given birth to ten children, seven of which were still living in 1900.  None of the Williamsons listed an occupation.  

Jean's father Dr. Williamson was living in LaGrange Village, Illinois with daughters Ida and Bertha.  His wife is listed on both census forms, living in both Michigan and Illinois.  (Does that mean she has to pay Income Tax twice???)

On January 21, 1905 Jean June Williamson married Percival James Myall (1879-1943) in Chicago.  The bride was twenty-one years old; the groom was twenty-five.  Percy Myall was a chemist by trade,

Percival James Myall was born June 17, 1879 in Lowestoft, Suffolk, England to Charles Edward Myall (1843-1910) and Amelia Scales (1842-1913).  In  England, Charles Myall was a "Drapery Assistant" by trade.  In America he gave his occupation as "Merchant." Charles and Amelia were blessed with four children:  Sarah Amelia "Millie" Myall/Mrs. John F. Graham (1871-1948), Charles Arthur Myall (1874-1930), Percival James Myall (1879-1943), and Arthur Leonard Myall (1888-1966).  The Myall family emigrated to the United States in 1883.

Jean and Percy Myall were blessed with three children:  Alice Myall (1905-????), Mary L.  Myall (1909-????), and an adopted son, Albert Roer Myall (1913-1989).  Sometimes Albert's middle name was reported as "Russell."  There is a mystery surrounding both of Percy and Jean's daughters.  Even though both were born before 1910, neither is listed on the 1910 census form.  They are however both listed on the 1920 census form.  After that they disappear.  There is a record in the 1930 Census for a Mary Louise Myall as a Inmate at the Dixon State Mental Hospital but she listed her mother as born in Indiana and her father in Ohio.  Jean was born in Illinois and Percy in England, so that does not line up.  Other than that, there are no records for Alice or Mary - no marriage records, no death records, no nothing.  Neither daughter is mentioned in Percy's Death Notice, nor Jean's.  Very frustrating indeed.

The 1910 US Census finds the Myall family living at 3814 Gladys Avenue in Chicago.  A parking lot occupies that space today.  The family consists of:  Percy Myall (30 years old) and Jean J. (26).  Also living with them was Louis C. Davis (20), a Boarder.  Jean says she has given birth to 0 children, and 0 children are alive in 1910.  The 1930 Census lists Albert as an "adopted son."  If Alice and Mary were also adopted that would explain how Jean could say she had given birth to "0" children but since neither daughter is listed, they were not living with Percy and Jean in 1910.

The Muskegon Chronicle newspaper reported on November 4, 1913 that Jean's father, Dr. Joseph Gilben Williamson was seriously ill and not expected to recover:

Dr. Williamson died November 5, 1913 in Montague, Michigan.  He was seventy-four years old.  He was buried in the Bronswood Cemetery (aka Hinsdale Cemetery, Oak Forest Cemetery) in Oakbrook, Illinois.  

In their edition of May 15, 1916 the Evanston News-Index reported that "Mr. and Mrs. Percival Myall have moved from Oak Park to 726 Seward avenue." 

726 Seward Street, Evanston

Jean's mother Christina Ann Norman Williamson died July 7, 1918 in La Grange, Illinois, five years after the death of her husband.  She was seventy-eight years old.  Here is her Death Notice from the Chicago Tribune of July 8, 1918:

She is buried next to her husband at Bronswood Cemetery (aka Hinsdale Cemetery, Oak Forest Cemetery) in Oakbrook, Illinois:

________________________________________________________________

It would not be possible to tell the story of Jean June Myall and her legacy without also talking about her mentor, client and friend, the great George Craig Stewart.  Here is a short synopsis of Stewart and his career:

George Craig Stewart (1879–1940) was one of the most influential religious figures in Evanston’s history, serving as the Rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church for 26 years before becoming the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago.

The Rt. Rev. George Craig Stewart

He was the quintessential "High Church" leader of the early 20th century, blending a sophisticated aesthetic sense with a relentless drive for institutional growth.

When Stewart arrived at St. Luke’s in 1904, it was a modest parish. By the time he left in 1930, he had transformed it into a "Cathedral of the North Shore."  He worked closely with architects Tallmadge & Watson to create the grand Gothic Revival structure on Hinman Avenue.

He was the primary patron of Jean June Myall.  Stewart believed that "beauty was a bridge to the divine," and he oversaw every detail of the church's iconography, from the stained glass to the polychromed beams.

Stewart was not just a priest; he was a master communicator and fundraiser who fit perfectly into the "Booster" culture of Evanston.  He was widely considered one of the finest preachers in the Anglican world. His sermons were frequently reprinted in newspapers, and he was a sought-after speaker for civic events.

During World War I, he served as a chaplain with the Evacuation Hospital No. 6 in France. This experience deepened his national profile and added a "soldier-priest" aura to his leadership when he returned to Evanston.

In 1930, Stewart was elected Bishop of Chicago. His tenure was defined by the struggle to keep the Diocese afloat during the Great Depression. He was known for his "Radio Sermons" and his effort to modernize the church’s administration, mirroring the professionalization of city government.

________________________________________________________

Numerous times in 1918 and 1919 Evanston newspapers pointed out the success of Jean Myall selling War Savings Stamps in the Oakton School District.  

History does not record when Jean first met then-Father Stewart, but we do know that the Myalls were members of St. Luke's as far back as 1919.  No matter when they met, it did not take long before Jean and Stewart realized they were kindred spirits - especially in their taste with regard to liturgical art.  Once Stewart realized that he had a talented artist in his midst he decided to make the most of it.  

In February of 1920 it was reported that Mrs. Percival Myall was one of the hosts of the Suffrage Card Party to be held at the Woman's Club of Evanston.  

The 1920 US Census shows the Myalls living at 720 Seward Street in Evanston:

720 Seward Street, Evanston

The family consisted of:  James Myall (40), wife Jean (36), daughters Alice (15), and Mary L. (11) and son Albert (6).  They were renting their home.  James said he immigrated in 1883 and became a Naturalized Citizen in 1890.  James reported his occupation as "Salesman for a Steel Company."

The Evanston News Index of November 11, 1920 reported that Mrs. Percival Myall was meeting with the Dorcas Auxiliary.  The Dorcas Auxiliary was a philanthropic organization, primarily active during the early-to-mid 20th century.  In Evanston, they were primarily responsible for the funding of the Community Hospital, which served Evanston’s African American community.

In their edition of September 1, 1922 the Evanston News Index published a drawing of St. Luke's Church as it was at that time.  The lower right corner shows the artist as "J. J. Myall."

Jean June Myall studied at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1926 but does not seem to have had any other formal artistic training. 

In 1927 Jean was asked by Chicago architect Thomas Tallmadge to provide art for the sanctuary of the new First Presbyterian Church that was being built at 64th and Kimbark in Chicago.  Tallmadge was one of the architects of St. Luke's and was very familiar with Jean's work.  She produced a piece entitled "Three Archangels" which was part of the reredos of the church.

The sanctuary of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Chicago

Three Archangels

 

George Craig Stewart traveled to Spain in the Summer of 1927.  By 1927, Stewart had been the rector of St. Luke’s for over 20 years and had just completed the intense decade of building the new Gothic sanctuary. The trip was a sabbatical of sorts, allowing him to immerse himself in the art, architecture, and religious atmosphere of Spain.  Upon his return to Evanston, he compiled his travel essays into a book titled Spanish Summer. The book wasn't just a travelogue; it was a poetic reflection on faith and history.

He asked Jean June Myall to produce the illustrations for the book.  She produced twelve original etchings that were printed in Intaglio from the original copper plates, steel faced on imported Japanese vellum.  Here are Myall's illustrations for Spanish Summer:

Here is a review of the book from the October 1, 1928 edition of the Dixon (IL) Evening Telegraph:

In the October 11, 1928 issue of the Evanston Review, Lord's Department Store featured a large ad for 'Spanish Summer':

 

In 1929 Jean created a triptych for the St. Mary's Chapel of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Berwyn, Illinois.  Here is the story from the Chicago Tribune of  December 1, 1929:

Here is a photo of the triptych, still in use today:

At about this time, Fr. Stewart had Jean design his personal bookplate:

You have to look very closely but it does have Jean June Myall's name on it:

The three panels on the bookplate represent the three phases of Stewart's life.  The first is Northwestern University:

The second panel represents the completed St. Luke's - bell tower and all:

I am not exactly sure what the third panel is supposed to represent:

Perhaps Chicago - a cabin on the Chicago River or the shores of Lake Michigan?

Jean often exhibited her works, individually or with other artists, as indicated by this article from the January 24, 1929 issue of the Evanston Review:

In 1929, Stewart had Jean design his personal Christmas card, which also had the 1929 Holiday Schedule for St. Luke's inside:

Again, you really have to look for it, but Jean's name is on the card:

Father Stewart's Christmas Card for 1929 was mentioned in an article from the December 26, 1929 edition of the Evanston Review:

In late 1929 George Craig Stewart wrote another book:  Six Altars - Studies in Sacrifice.  Unlike Spanish Summer, Stewart only used one of June's illustrations for the book - the High Altar at St. Luke's - first covered with a tissue:

Then uncovered:

The 1930 US Census shows the Myalls still living at  720 Seward Street in Evanston.  The family consisted of:  Percival J. Myall (50 years old), wife Jean Mayall (46) and "adopted son" Albert Russell Myall (16).  They now reported that they owned their home, and it was worth $15,000 ($300,000 in today's funds).  Percival said he was twenty-five when he married Jean, she said she had been twenty-one.  Refreshingly, these ages were correct.  Percival listed his occupation as "Salesman of Industrial Furnaces."  Neither Jean nor Albert reported an occupation.

In May of 1931 June was elected Vice President of the Evanston Art Center.  In those days the Evanston Art Center had dedicated rooms on the lower level of the Evanston Public Library.

Evanston Public Library

Even though in the 1930s Jean's talent spread beyond Evanston's borders, she did not give up producing art for St. Luke's.  In late 1931 the Evanston Review reported that Jean would be producing murals for the Bethlehem Chamber, the working sacristy of the church.

She often exhibited copies of her work at the Evanston Art Center.  In 1932 she exhibited a copy of "Three Archangels," which she had produced for the reredos of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago.  Along with this she exhibited a copy of the mural she had produced for the Jerusalem Chamber of St. Luke's as well as the panel of Queen Bertha of Kent that hung on the west wall of St. Luke's.

In 1933 Jean became President of the Art Center.  What, exactly did the Art Center do?  Jean answered with an article in the March 2, 1933 edition of the Evanston Review:

In April of 1933 both Jean and her husband allowed their names to be added to the eight page ad of Evanston citizens (including George Craig Stewart) who endorsed Mayor Charles H. Bartlett for reelection - (five columns of names and addresses on each page - literally hundreds of supporters).

Charles Bartlett defeated challenger Henry Penfield by a margin of approx. 2,300 votes.

In 1933 Jean was involved in the Hall of Religions exhibit at the Century of Progress world's fair in Chicago.  The Evanston Review described what she would be doing in their edition of August 3, 1933:

Here is a February, 1936 announcement of a talk to be given by Jean called "The Allegory Tree" that also featured a photo of her by noted Evanston photographer J.D. Toloff:

The Evanston Review - February 13, 1936

In 1938 Jean was director of a project to redecorate the interior of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Evanston.

In 1937 the Myalls left Evanston and moved to 8130 Kenneth Avenue in Skokie:

8130 Kenneth Avenue, Skokie

The 1940 US Census shows the Myalls living at 8130 Kenneth Avenue in Skokie.  The family consisted of  Percival J. Myall (61 years old), wife Jean J. (59), and son Albert (27).  They reported that they were renting their home.  The 1940 US Census asked each person listed the highest grade of school completed.  Percival indicated that he had completed four years of high school, Jean had completed two years and Albert had completed one year of high school.  Percival listed his occupation as "Salesman for a Forge Furnace Manufacturer, Jean did not report an occupation and Albert said he was a "Candy Maker in a Candy Factory."  (Of course right away in your mind you saw Lucy and Ethel at the assembly line in the candy factory.  "Speed it up!")  Actually Albert worked for the Mars Candy Company in Chicago.

In 1941 the Myalls moved again - this time to 603 Elmdale Road in Glenview:

603 Elmdale Road, Glenview - razed in 2024

Jean's husband, Percival J. Myall died at home on April 4, 1943.  He was sixty-three years old.  At the time of his death he had been working for the Fisher Furnace Company in Chicago.  Here is his Death Notice from the Chicago Tribune of April 6, 1943:

He was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Skokie, Illinois:

Photo courtesy of Find as Grave volunteer Patty G.

In June of 1944, Jean designed and dedicated a clergy choir stall at St. Luke's as a memorial to her husband:

Evanston Review - June 15, 1944

In 1948 Jean accepted a position as Office Secretary at St. Luke's.  She would not be working with her mentor George Craig Stewart - he died suddenly in 1940.  About this time Jean relocated to 424 Lee Street in Evanston - an apartment at St. Luke's.

In 1949 Jean had moved to King-Bruwaert House, a senior living community in Hinsdale/Burr Ridge, Illinois.  King-Bruwaert offered Independent Living, Managed Care and Nursing Home options as needed.  

When I was doing the research for this article, I was unable to locate Jean in the 1950 US Census.  However, Mike Kelly, the finder of lost records, was able to locate her for me.  Due to a transcription error she was listed as Jean June Montgomery instead of Myall.  The census shows her living at the King-Bruwaert House but the census shows the location as "Lyons" and indicates that the King-Bruwaert House was "a Charity Home for Elderly Women."  The King-Bruwaert House is not by any stretch of the imagination a charity home.  Jean reported that she was sixty-six years old, a widow, and was born in Illinois.  

Jean's son Albert had moved to Texas and there was no sign of the mysterious "daughters" so Jean was truly on her own.

Jean June Williamson Myall died May 13, 1962 in Hinsdale.  She was seventy-nine years old.  Here is her Death Notice from the Chicago Tribune of May 15, 1962:

Here is her obituary from the Evanston Review of May 17, 1962:

She was buried next to her husband in Memorial Park Cemetery, Skokie.  As noted above, Percy Myall's grave is marked.  Unfortunately Jean's is not:

If you want to know more about the life and work of Jean June Myall you can check out a You Tube video produced in March of 2026 by St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Evanston:  

"The Art of Jean June Myall – Art Talk with Curator Juanita Dugdale" 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg_gXMAvb1w&t=862s

I am glad that Jean has not been forgotten at St. Luke's, although she is virtually unknown today.  Luckily for us Jean left us many examples of her tremendous talents.

Jean June Williamson Myall - All for the Greater Glory of God - may she rest in peace.

The Rest of the Story:

As mentioned above, I was never able to find any trace of the two daughters, Alice and Mary living with June and her husband in 1920.

Albert Myall (1913-1989) - In 1940 Albert married Margaret Mary Alexander (1920-2009) in Evanston.  The groom was twenty-seven; the bride was twenty.  The had one daughter, Jeannie June Myall/Mrs. Maurice L. Pittman (1942-1978).  In the late 1940s Albert Myall  moved to Dallas Texas where he worked as a truck driver for the Laughing Water Laundry in Dallas.  When he registered for the draft during World War II he said he was 6 feet tall and weighed 159 lbs with red hair and blue eyes.

Albert Myall married six times to five different women.

In 1940 Albert married Margaret Mary Alexander (1920-2009)

In the mid 1940s Albert married Evaline (Evelyn) Bassham (1919–1948)

Evelyn Basham died August 25, 1948 from leukemia.

One month later, on September 28, 1948, Albert remarried Margaret Mary Alexander Myall (1920-2009).

In 1958 Albert married LaVerne Roper Gray (1916-2005)

In 1966 Albert married Geraldine Roberson (1924–2010)

Albert Myall died September 1, 1989 in Grayson County, Texas.  He was seventy-six years old.  He was buried in the Locust Cemetery in Pottsboro, Texas.  Here is his tombstone:

Photo Courtesy of Find a Grave Volunteers Cathy & Thomas

All photos not labelled otherwise are from the author's collection.