Bill Tasker (1906 - 1932)

William, often called 'Willie' by his two sisters, was the first born child of William Tasker and Mary Ann Jones.
Per his birth certificate, Willie was born March 24, 1906 and his parents were living at #50 Upham Park Rd., Chiswick. His father's occupation on the birth certificate is listed as a 'Rigger, and he signed the cert on April 14, 1906.

1911 English Census:
Name: William Tasker
Birth Place: Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Wales
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England
Street Address: No. 170 Mortimer Road, Itchen, Hants
Occupation: Sailmaker Journeyman (works in a ship yard)
Registration district: South Stoneham
Registration District Number: 100
Sub-registration district: St Mary Extra
Household Members:
Name Age
William Tasker 31
Mary Tasker 28
William H Tasker 5
Eileen C Tasker 3
Ethel R Tasker 1


In April 1913, William, Sr., traveled to South Dakota to start work in the mines there. A few months later, Mary Ann Jones Tasker, her mother-in-law Ellen Tasker, and Mary Ann's 3 children boarded a ship to join William in South Dakota. The couple's daughter, Connie, later in life said that they had 'tickets' and didn't have to travel in steerage...Connie was very proud of that. They traveled on the shiip, St. Paul.

1915 South Dakota Census: Card #127
NAME: William Tasker
AGE: 36
BIRTH YEAR: 1879
GENDER: Male
RACE: White
BIRTH PLACE: Wales
NATIONALITY: Welch
MARITAL STATUS: Married
MARRIAGE YEAR: 1905
Occupation: fireman
Can read and write
ARRIVAL YEAR IN COUNTRY: 1913
ARRIVAL YEAR IN STATE: 1913
ARRIVAL STATE: South Dakota
ARRIVAL COUNTRY: USA
RELIGION: Congregationalist
FATHER'S BIRTH PLACE: Wales
MOTHER'S BIRTH PLACE: Wales
FHL FILM NUMBER: 2283942
SHEET NUMBER: 127
RESIDENCE IN 1915: South Dakota, United States

Naturalization records for the family were started in Grant Co., SD..date of intent: 3/3/1915, Page 94, Location 6118 per South Dakota Historical Society. Tasker, William Grant 03/03/1915 South Wales 6118 94

The Tasker children were bright, and Willie was also a very kid child.

Lead Daily Call Newspaper, Lead SD:
February 5,1916: Willie is noted as an honor student

Lead Daily Call Newspaper, Lead SD:
Willie is mention October 18, 1916 as an honor student in grade 4B...

January 10, 1918 "Lead Daily Call" (newspaper in Lead, SD)
Willie names was mention along with other children as members of the Red Cross, and noted for the amount they raised and donated to the Red Cross

Per his sister Ethel: "I called him Willie. He died so young- 28 - of asthma - suffered so terribly. Could hardly walk up the slight sidewalk hill to our house. I used to come home on the same trolley from the city of Seattle to West Seattle and he'd walk up backwards to help him breathe. He'd get blue in the face from coughing. Those days - the 20's - there were no meds for asthma. He worked at Heiden's Mailing Bureau - the only job he ever had. Willie and I used to sit on our back porch - I was about 12 or so - and he'd point to the stars and name them." Ethel Rosina Tasker Allen 4/93

Per his death certificate, Willie died of plural-pneumonia, with the onset date of 10/1/1934. He was a "mailing clerk" at Heidens Mailing Bureau, and died at 28 yrs., 7 months and 19 days (unmarried). The "contributing cause" to his death is listed as possible endocarditis (with a question mark).

Willie died 9 months after his father. The were both cremated and their ashes are stored together at the crematorium on Queen Anne Hill, Seattle.

Connie was quite close to her older brother. She said he was so smart and loved astronomy. Towards the last two years of her life Connie said she dreamt about Willie often, and she really missed him. I like to think that they are where ever they are, laughing and looking at the stars up close.