Rufus C "Suds" WILLIAMS

Arizona
Sergeant 304th Engineers
79th Division
Born June 2, 1879 in Sheridan, New York
Died June 1, 1937 in Fort Bayard, New Mexico
He was the son of Newton S Williams and Cornelia S Cockburn Williams. While serving in France during World War I he suffered an attack of mustard gas and survived. After the war he wandered around somewhat before finally settling in Apache County, Arizona. On his 49th birthday he was shot and he survived again. He had an old Model T Ford and he traded it to Hiram Floyd Rogers for 20 acres of land near Nutrioso. Suds never married, but he was noted for having many guns which were never found after his death. He went to Fort Bayard, New Mexico for medical treatment before he died. Before leaving, he went out into the woods and dug a grave where he wished to be buried. He covered the grave with boards and brush. Rumors are that he also placed his guns in the grave. While at Fort Bayard he passed away and his body was shipped back to Nutrioso. When his friends took his body to the forest the grave could not be found. So they dug a new grave and buried him. Years later the VFW placed his military marker on the lonely grave. Mr George Miller who now owns and lives on the old homesite thinks he may have fallen into the grave one day many years ago. But by then it was so full of brush that he did not recognize it as such and saw no guns. The old home burned down years ago and the only thing that now stands there is the old chimney standing guard over the home site.

Contributed on 6/10/09 by goldwing.traveler
Email This Contributor

Suggest a Correction

Record #: 67526

Don't Follow