William’s cremated remains were never taken after his death and are still available at the Oregon State Hospital to anyone who is related. More information 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 was born in Oregon about 1862. His parents are believed to have been Joel Ware, a native of Ohio and Elizabeth Florence Cochran.

William’s father travel west to California in 1852 and settled in Eugene, Oregon in 1858. Joel was elected county clerk of Lane County continuously for 20 year.

At the time of the 1870 census William was 8 years old living in Eugene, Oregon with his father, mother and his sister, 6 year old Rachel.

During the 1880 census William was 19 and living in Eugene, Oregon with his parents and as well as siblings Nellie Rachel (17), Frank A (12), Fred E. (8 year old) and Mary (2).

His sister Rachel died in 1887 at the age of 23. In 1898 William’s father was the US Circuit Court Commissioner of Oregon.

In 1900 the census indicated he was born in October 1863. He was a single day laborer and had been employed about half of the year. He was living in Eugene with his mother and siblings Mary and brother Joel Benjamin (born in 1882 in Lane County, Oregon). William’s father was not in the home. Elizabeth indicated she was a “widow,” but her husband did not die until June of 1902. Elizabeth died in 1901.

In 1910 William was widowed, living alone in Eugene where he was a shirt maker in his own shop. At the time of the 1930 census William was widowed and living alone in Lane County. He worked as a laborer on a “dog farm.”

In December 1943 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. He died there on 10/19/1944 of “senile exhaustion.”

His brother Frank died in 1932 (FAG memorial #7704637). Brother Fred died in 1956 (FAG memorial # 47704663).