William A. Pharoah

When CPL William A. Pharoah of the 376th Motor Transport Company returned home to Michigan from World War I in July 1919, he was ... thirsty.

Mrs. Meta Ware was ready for him. She, too, had something she wanted.

Born in 1885, Meta had been through a lot with her first two marriages. She married Charles C. Doty in 1904, but they divorced in 1910. They had no children.

She then married John Otto Butts in 1913. John was a full five years younger than Meta, but she still outlived him – John died in October 1918, during the influenza pandemic. They also had no children.

Thus, it evokes a measure of sympathy to see the divorced, widowed, childless, and unenviably-named Meta Butts – at age 34 – living with her parents during the January 1920 census.
But there’s a fact that’s not reflected on the census paper – her son Harold Pharoah would be born two months later. Apparently, Meta had gone full cougar on the veteran corporal soon after his arrival.

Now, William was not exactly some naïve youth – he was 26 when he and Mrs. Ware … quenched their thirst – but he was still eight years younger than her.

Regardless, they spent the rest of their lives together, and Harold would grow up to provide Meta a grandchild. Today, the graves of William and Meta can be found together at the Riverside Cemetery in St. Joseph County, Michigan.

Apparently, she got what she wanted.