Mr Guillaume Joseph DeMessemaeker was born on 31 December, 1875 in Wilsele, Belgium.

He and his brothers Emmanuel and Jacques decided to emigrate to the United States in 1901. They were lured to Montana by tales of much unclaimed farm and ranch land being available. Bill and his brothers homesteaded land between Tampico and Vandalia, near the Milk River. After clearing many acres of land for farming and building a log cabin on his land, Bill decided to return to Belgium to visit family and to marry. He returned in 1911, and married his wife Anna¹ in early 1912.

They were returning to the United States aboard the Titanic as third class passengers (ticket number 345572, £17 8s).

On the night of the sinking, the couple managed to get on the boat deck following the collision. Bill's comprehension of the English language undoubtedly enabled him and his wife to adhear to the regulations and orders - a hindrance to his fellow countrymen. When ordered into the lifeboat, Anna became hysterical and would not leave her husband's side. Bill forcibly picked her up and handed her to an officer in lifeboat 13, and then, thinking they would never see one another again, prepared to meet his fate. At that time, the officers asked for experienced crew to man lifeboat 15 and Bill quickly responded to the call. He jumped into the crowded boat and helped to row for the remainder of the night.

The couple was later reunited on the Carpathia.

After their rescue, the couple headed westward. However, Anna never recovered from the ordeal, and the anxiety of having thought she lost her husband. She entered a Rochester, Minnesota mental hospital and died there on 30th April, 1918.

Bill continued to live on his lonely ranch near Tampico for a short time following Anna's death but then returned to Belgium for a family visit. On this trip, he met and married Marie Van Hamme (born 4 June, 1896). The couple were married in Paris in 1920 and soon after came back to Montana. They became the parents of four children - three girls and a boy. The growing family had a large successful ranch, tending sheep and raising crops, a few cattle, and later, goats. Eventually, the sheep and goats were sold and they became horse ranchers exclusively. After raising their family, Bill and Marie sold their ranch and bought a small home in Glasgow, Montana. Bill died soon afterward on 5 June, 1955 following a lengthy illness. He was buried next to his first wife Anna in Glasgow's Highland Cemetery.

His second wife Marie met and married John Heckner in 1959. He died in 1962. Marie lived a long life and enjoyed her ever- growing family. Marie Heckner died on 22nd May, 1983 at the age of 86. She was buried next to William and Anna at Highland Cemetery, City of Glasgow.