William Carter Jolley

"W. C. Jolley Succumbs At Home In Napa Death of Well Known Resident Follows Several Months' Illness William Carter Jolley, for 14 years a highly respected resident of Napa, succumbed at the family residence at 1247 Eggleston street early Sunday morning. Mr. Jolley's death occurred less than three months after he and his beloved wife had celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.For nearly three years his health had been failing and of recent weeks his condition was of a critical nature. The deceased was born 72 years ago near Newcastle, England, observing his last birthday on December 11, 1931. Although a native of Great Britain, he had lived in the United States since young boyhood. On May 24, 1882, Mr. Jolley was united in marriage to Emma Roberts in the parsonage of the Methodist Episcopal church in a small Montana town. The couple lived in Idaho for a number of years. Unable to enlist in the late war because of his age, Mr. Jolley accepted a position in the shipyards at Everett, Washington, where he remained until the signing of the Armistice. He and his wife came to California from Marshfield, Oregon, in 1916 and shortly afterward established their home in this community. As a resident of Napa Mr. Jolley made many friends who today were mourning his passing. His remains are at the Treadway Undertaking Parlors from where services will be held at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning with interment following in the family plot In the Yountville cemetery. Besides his wife, Mrs. Emma Jolley, the deceased is survived by three children: Lee Jolley of Napa, Mrs. Essie Lambert of El Cerrito and Mrs. Lellah Morden of San Francisco. He also leaves 14 grandchildren, among whom is William Jolley, staff artist on the Fresno Bee, and one great-grandchild. An only sister, Mrs. Mary Oldroyd, resides at Fountain Green, Utah." - The Napa Daily Register (August 15 1932) From Dorthy Morden, William's granddaughter: William was two years old when his family emigrated to the US. He married Emma in Utah in 1882. William and Emma lived in rural Idaho. Once or twice a year they would go to town for supplies. In 1987 they homesteaded on 40 acres in Blackfoot, Idaho, near Idaho Falls. They sold this land for "One dollar and other valuable considerations" in 1908. In 1910 they bought a piece of property for $230.00 in Eagle Rock, Idaho. Two years later they sold the lot for $2,250.00 That year they moved to Everett, WA where William worked for the railroad. They then moved to Ione, CA, and then to Coos Bay, OR, where William built ships during WWI. William later built a home in Napa where they retired. Dorothy recalls that William has painful varicose veins. She accompanied him to the hospital by street car in San Francisco for treatment. His veins were burned, but this led to gangrene and one leg had to be amputated. William suffered from alcohol addiction. Emma took William to a Methodist church. He went to the alter, knelt down and promised that he would never drink again. He never did.