He was a grass-widower with five grown children.

Anderson took occasion to warn her against widowers.
"Why," he said, "they're jest like widders.

You know Dave Smith that runs the tavern down street, don't you?
Well, doggone ef he didn't turn in an' marry a widder with seven childern an' a husband, an' he's led a dog's life ever sence." "Seven children and a husband?
Daddy Crow!" "Yep.

Her derned husband wouldn't stay divorced when he found out Dave could support a fambly as big as that.

He figgered it would be jest as easy to take keer of eight as seven, so he perlitely attached hisself to Dave's kitchen an' started in to eat hisself to death.