William B. Brittain, born December 28, 1869, was the son of William Brittain (died: January 1870) and Mary Jane Markitt, born June 11, 1846/died-November 19, 1896. After his father's death, Mary Jane married William Henry Hunter. (November 11, 1850-June 16, 1909)
The family left Champaign County, Illinois in early spring of 1882 and settled in the St. Clair valley southeast of Oakdale. William B. was the oldest and longest living child of the Hunter-Brittain family, dying June 19, 1968 at 991/2 years. In his younger days, he was locally noted as a musician, playing the violin, cornet and piano to the delight of many. William and his step-father were caught in the Blizzard of 1888 while they were delivering shelled corn to Tilden. Sometime in the 1890's, William attended Gates Academy in Neligh. He clearly recalled the day Nick Foley was hung from the Cedar Creek bridge. Foley had shot a man and woman for unknown reasons and the woman died. Although he was not an attendant at the hanging, Bill said “it was a case of justified justice”. Bill married Mabel Heckman, born April 29, 1872, on July 31, 1892. Three children were born to this marriage. Clarence, born December 24, 1894 in Neligh, Rollie F, born August 19, 1897 in Neligh and Beaulah, born May 2, 1899, before divorce ended the marriage. Clarence married Emma Allyson (b: February 14, 1896) on June 19, 1919. They had two children, Dwane (b: April 11, 1920) and Robert E (b: March 29, 1928). Clarence later married Lucille Baker (b: February 7, 1910). He served in the US Army during WWI. Clarence died in January 1981. Rollie F married Blanche Walmer (b: July 22, 1896) of South Dakota on May 31, 1915 and moved to Rapid City. They had two children A. J. (1916) and R. W. (1928). Rollie died June 11, 1964 and Blanche on August 20, 1967. Beaulah married Charles Porter, December 18, 1916, and moved to St. Louis. Children were: Corliss (October 13, 1917), Joice (September 28, 1919), and Devon (July 31, 1921). William spent most of his life in Antelope County. On November 1, 1913 he married Elizabeth Shull and lived in Neligh until 1916. They moved to Gordon, Nebraska for a period of time and then to a ranch near Chambers before returning to Oakdale in about 1933. Elizabeth died in 1975.
Source Unknown: Originally submitted for this website in June 2007