Flynn and Related Families

In the 1850 census, William is not present in the home of his father, Thomas, nor in the home of his mother, Ann. The census record for the Town of Pewaukee, Waukesha County, shows Wm. Ralph living in the home of Timothy & Sarah Clark, working as a laborer.
The 1860 U.S. Census for the Town of Lisbon, Waukesha County, Wisconsin shows William (age 26) and Ruth (age 19) Ralph living in the home of her parents, Edward and Elena Boots.
The 1870 U.S. Census for the Town of Oak Grove, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, shows William, Ruth, Olive, and Martha Ralph. Also living with them are Thomas and Caroline Ralph, half-siblings to William. They are living on the farm that had been owned by their father, Thomas Ralph, Sr. That would indicate that William had moved his family to the Eau Claire area sometime during the 1860's.
The 1880 census shows William, Ruth, Olive, and Martha Ralph liiving on Wqter Street in Eau Claire. Based on information from their divorce documents, William may not have actually been living in the home at that time. (See divorce information below.)

Army muster rolls show that William Ralph enlisted in Company "I" of the 30th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, also known as the "Eau Claire Stars," on August 15, 1862, at Oak Grove [now within the Town of Union]. The record shows that he was married, a farmer, born in New York, and 26 years old. He is described as 5 ft. 9 in,. dark complexion, black hair, and hazel eyes. He signed up for 3 years of service, and was designated as a "wagoner." The unit mustered in at Madison, WI on October 21, 1862. Records show that he served until September 20, 1865 when he was discharged at Louisville, KY. Histories of the 30th Wisconsin Regiment show that the unit first served in eastern Wisconsin to enforce the draft. On May 2, 1863, the unit was ordered to St. Louis, Mo., where they were to serve as guards for shipments of supplies to support General Sully's Indian Expedition. On August 10, 1863, Company "I" and others were ordered to Camp Washburn, Milwaukee, where they arrived on September 12. They were charged with supporting the draft until, March, 1864, when they were sent to Dakota Territory to take part in General Sully's campaign against the Indians. In April, 1864, the units left St. Louis aboard steamers (William is shown aboard the steamer "Welcome") and proceeded up river to Fort Rice, which they reached on July 15. Company "I" was then assigned to Fort Union, Dakota Territory, where they remained until they were relieved in June, 1865; they rejoined the other units of the 30th Wisconsin Regiment at Louisville, KY, on June 22, 1865. The entire regiment was mustered out of service on September 20, arrived at Madison on September 25, and there disbanded. Unit statistics show that the Wisconsin 30th Infantry Regiment suffered only 2 casualties as a result of battle, but that 67 men died of disease or accident; most of those during their service in the Dakota Territory. The unit is reported to have been in battles at New Lisbon, Wisconsin, on 10 September, 1863, and at Fort Union, Dakota Territory, on 27 April, 1865.

There is a reference in the Probate file for Thomas Ralph Sr. that mentions a sum of money having been paid by Thomas Jr. to William soon after William returned to Eau Claire from Texas. There is no indication of when that event occurred, nor any mention of where William had been in Texas, what he was doing there, or how long he was there. Based on information from his divorce file, this may be a mistake: it might actually refer to his return from Kansas. (see below)

Documents filed in the divorce of Ruth and William Ralph in 1881 tell an interesting story. According to her complaint, in September, 1877, William took his team of horses and a wagon, and told Ruth that he was going to the pine woods on the Chippewa River to find work. Instead of going to the woods, William sold the team and wagon and went instead to Kansas, leaving her with only about $50.00 to support herself and their children. He stayed in Kansas for one to two years, and after his return to Wisconsin he did not contribute to the support of Ruth or their children. She further claimed that William "has been in the habit for a long time past of spending his time and means in drunkenness and debauchery." She said in her statement that after he returned to Eau Claire he would only come to see her when he was drunk, and that he "got drunk quite often and was always ugly and abusive when drunk." Also "Before he went away he was spending a great deal of his time and money drinking and running after lewd women." A witness, Mr. William Mooney, testified that he boarded with the Ralph family and that he agreed with Ruth's statements regarding William's behavior and character. Their daughter, Martha Jane Ralph, provided similar testimony.

A report of William's death was published in the Eau Claire Free Press on June 22, 1893: Wm. Ralph, who was kicked in the abdomen by a horse at Cernaghan's barn, died on Sunday morning [June 18] from injuries thereby received. The deceased was about 50 years of age. He had no family. He was well known to a large number of people, as he had resided here many years. He enlisted from Eau Claire in Company I, Thirtieth Wisconsin Volunteers (of which E. M. Bartlett was lieutenant-colonel) and was a member of Eagle Post, G.A.R. The funeral took place on Monday from Thos. Cernaghan's residence, the Rev. J.B. Reynolds conducting the ceremonies, and interment took place at Lakeview cemetery. The funeral was attended by members of Eagle Post. [William M Ralph's grave is located in Block 99, Lot 1 at Lakeview cemetery; this lot also contains the graves of several other G.A.R members.]