Willie is seated in the back of the wagon and his father Julius Adam is holding the reins.
While catching up on some genealogy reading, I discovered Amy Johnson Crow’s blog No Story Too Small: Life is Made of Stories. In January she challenged everyone to take the 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks challenge. I’m a little late but have taken the challenge!
In 1911 at the age of 18, Willie purchased 240 acres from his father, Julius Adam. He bought the land for $3000.00 with $500.00 down and a balance of $2500.00 to be paid in fifteen years with 6 percent interest. The land was just “across the field” from his parents on the San Antonio-Fredericksburg Road, old Highway Number 9. The back side of the property ended at the Balcones Creek. According to family stories, the property included a two-story house which needed repairs. Julius purchased this property from George N. Lytle and his wife in 1909.
Willie raised on his parent’s farm was a hard worker. My guess is he wanted his own place but that is a lot of land and debt for an 18-year-old. His experience working on his parent’s farm to market farm must have helped him. Willie pursued farming until he was drafted in 1918 and was sent to France. Upon his return, he married Lillie Katherine Schuetz from Kendalia on 7 June 1919. Willie repaired the house, removed the top story and made it ready for his new bride. Together Willie and Lillie operated a farm-to-market and dairy farm until 1955. They had two children, Chester Will and Jimmie Charles.
Deed excerpt: “All those certain two tracts of land on Balcones Creek, in Kendall County, Texas, being parts of the San Antonio Cruz League and Labor of land. Original Survey No. 170. And described as follows: First, Seventy (70) acres of land of said survey sold by Geo. N. Lytle and wife to Julius Adam by deed dated 12 February 1909 and recorded in Vol. 25, page 5 of the Kendall County Deed records and which Deed contains the field notes…Second, One hundred and seventy (170) acres of said Survey comprising lots and parts of lots numbered Twenty three (23) Twenty six (26) Twenty Seven (27) Thirty (30) Thirty one (31 thirty four (34) and Thirty Five (35) according to plat made by James S. Trueheart and being the same land sold to Julius Adam by Geo. N. Lytle and his wife by deed dated 2nd April 1909. Total 240 acres of land.”
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Kendall County, Texas, Deed Book 27 p: 48-49, Willie Adam and Julius Adam, 21 December 1911; County Clerk’s Office, Boerne.
Kendall County, Texas. Deed Book 27: 48-49, Julius Adam and Willie Adam, 11 December 1918; County Clerk’s Office, Boerne.
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