#151--James Willey--A Cold and Lonely Death

Most people die of an illness, usually at home or in the hospital.  So when someone dies in a different way that that kind of stands out.  That was the case with my great, great uncle, James Willey, at least that was the way he was in the census records when he was a child.  It seems that after serving the in Civil War, James changed his name to Signoir Montanio and became involved in the circus.  According to the newspaper articles, James or Sig. Montanio performed as an acrobat, trapeze artist and high wire walker.  And from looking at the newspaper articles, he was very good.  Performing was a family affair.  His wife had a musical act and played the banjo while his two sons also performed, sometimes as clowns and other times as acrobats.  It appears that James and his family were involved in the circus world until 1898. The 1900 census lists him as living in Graham, Arizona Territory and working as a painter.  However, by 1910 James was living in Crook National Forest, Gila, Arizona and working as a ranch hand.

James died on November 8, 1918 in Pinal County, Arizona.  According to the local newspaper, he was camping, became sick and froze to death while returning to town, probably to seek treatment for his illness.