Storytelling may be an endangered art form in our information age, and that’s a shame.  Attorney and former Douglas mayor Ben F. Williams, Jr. reminds us of the old-fashioned charm of a good story, well told . . . Williams captures the small moments – childhood pranks and human foibles – that bring smiles of recognition because they say something universal about the human condition.

Journal of Arizona History

Arizona Historical Society

Bruce J. Dinges, Editor

A strength of these books is their emphasis on how much of the Old West, insofar as southeastern Arizona was concerned, was carried forward into the early decades of the 20^th century. Regardless of Frederick Jackson Turner’s argument that the Old West pretty much drew to a close by 1890, Williams’ stories explore significant continuities between the 19^th and 20^th centuries. A lot of the Old West was still around.

The stories convey the ups and downs of life along the ranching and mining frontiers, of the flexible movement by Americans and Mexicans across the international border, of the place of time-honored traditions – from special foods to gifts – in the warp and woof of daily life. If there is a nostalgic cast to the book, it is because much of Williams’ presentation evokes a different time when most westerners were closer to the land, and, perhaps, to each other.

Frederick Schoemehl

Editor, Tombstone Epitaph

In Ben’s new book, “Pancho Villa Rides Into Our Lives ; An Historic Memoir Of The Mexican Revolutions”, proclaims the infamous revolutionary Pancho Villa,  who weaves his evil heart in and out of an American family tapestry. The author spins tales of his own boyhood years growing up in the southeastern corner of Arizona and Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico. Through fact and memorable reality from his parents and lifelong friends, Williams’ stories follow the crazed Pancho Villa from his earliest days of life, war, and survival along the borderlands.  Williams includes horrific tales of Villa’s famous battles, and his growing eccentric and violent behavior, as personal cruelty and murders increase.  This well-researched book culminates with little-known truths about the disappearance of Pancho Villa’s skull . . . from his grave in Parral, Mexico.

In “Pancho Villa Rides Into Our Lives ; An Historic Memoir Of The Mexican Revolutions”, his third book, Ben discloses a wealth of information about what it was like for a boy and his family to ranch, mine, and survive during Mexican revolutionary times.

Against this background, he not only tackles stories about Pancho Villa’s battles and the man accused of stealing Villa’s skull from his grave in Parral, Mexico, but he baits the reader with the most curious story of all:

Who was the accused thief of the skull, Emil Holmdahl?  And what was his connection to Ben F. Williams, Sr.–Ben’s father?

Pancho Villa Came to Dinner will be available for purchase by November 1st.  The book is being published in a hardbound limited edition.

Storytelling may be an endangered art form in our information age, and that’s a shame.  Attorney and former Douglas mayor Ben F. Williams, Jr. reminds us of the old-fashioned charm of a good story, well told . . . Williams captures the small moments – childhood pranks and human foibles – that bring smiles of recognition because they say something universal about the human condition.

Journal of Arizona History

Arizona Historical Society

Bruce J. Dinges, Editor

A strength of these books is their emphasis on how much of the Old West, insofar as southeastern Arizona was concerned, was carried forward into the early decades of the 20^th century. Regardless of Frederick Jackson Turner’s argument that the Old West pretty much drew to a close by 1890, Williams’ stories explore significant continuities between the 19^th and 20^th centuries. A lot of the Old West was still around.

The stories convey the ups and downs of life along the ranching and mining frontiers, of the flexible movement by Americans and Mexicans across the international border, of the place of time-honored traditions – from special foods to gifts – in the warp and woof of daily life. If there is a nostalgic cast to the book, it is because much of Williams’ presentation evokes a different time when most westerners were closer to the land, and, perhaps, to each other.

Frederick Schoemehl

Editor, Tombstone Epitaph

More Tales of My Southwest

A charming collection of vignettes.  The writing is clear and accessible, and Ben’s passion for his subjects comes through clearly.  The photographs are well-chosen to underscore the subject of each story.

ABOUT BEN’S NEW BOOK, PANCHO VILLA CAME TO DINNER

In Ben’s new book, Pancho Villa Came to Dinner, the infamous revolutionary Pancho Villa weaves his evil heart in and out of an American family tapestry, in which the author spins tales of his own boyhood years growing up in the southeastern corner of Arizona and Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico.

Through fact and memorable reality from his parents and lifelong friends, Williams’ stories follow the crazed Pancho Villa from his earliest days of life, war, and survival along the borderlands.  Williams includes horrific tales of Villa’s famous battles, and his growing eccentric and violent behavior, as personal cruelty and murders increase.  This well-researched book culminates with little-known truths about the disappearance of Pancho Villa’s skull . . . from his grave in Parral, Mexico.

In Pancho Villa Came to Dinner, his third book, Ben discloses a wealth of information about what it was like for a boy and his family to ranch, mine, and survive during Mexican revolutionary times.

Against this background, he not only tackles stories about Pancho Villa’s battles and the man accused of stealing Villa’s skull from his grave in Parral, Mexico, but he baits the reader with the most curious story of all:

Who was the accused thief of the skull, Emil Holmdahl?  And what was his connection to Ben F. Williams, Sr.–Ben’s father?

Pancho Villa Came to Dinner will be available for purchase by November 1^st.  The book is being published in a hardbound limited edition.

In 1894, my grandfather, Marion Williams, was living on a ranch at Jenoverachi, Sonora, Mexico, ten miles east of Cananea and eighty-four miles south of Naco in the Arizona Territory.  His beloved sister, Frances, and brother-in-law, Charlie Holbrook, lived nearby.  They made a meager living farming, had two children and were expecting their third child when Charlie “up and died.”

Frances asked my grandfather to find a way to take Charlie’s body to Tombstone for burial.  “Please,” she begged.  “You know Charlie didn’t want to be buried in Mexico.  He wanted to go home.”

“I’ll find a way.  Don’t worry, dear sister.  Just bring me Charlie’s best clothes and a hat.”

Marion dressed Charlie in his very best clothes and put the hat on his head.  He then wrapped Charlie’s fully-clothed body in a serape (a colorful, handwoven Mexican blanket).  With Frances’ help, he lifted Charlie onto the front seat of the buckboard.

As Granddad and his upright, but deceased, traveling companion approached the international border at Naco, he was greeted by the Mexican customs officials.  They knew him well because he crossed the border frequently.

“Good morning, Don Mariano.  Where are you going in such a hurry?”

“I am going to Tombstone with my brother-in-law.  He’s very sick.”

“What’s the matter with him?” they asked.

“He has smallpox.”

The palaver ceased and they waved him through.  “Pass.  Don’t stop.  Go quickly.  Get him out of here!”

Granddad popped his whip, and the horses and buckboard and his silent partner vanished in a cloud of dust on their way to Tombstone.  Arrangements were made, and Charlie Holbrook was laid to rest in Plot 3, Row 25, Section A, of the Tombstone Cemetery, where he “remains” to this day.