The Williams Families of Greene County, Missouri

JOHN W. WILLIAMS.

The most elaborate history is perforce a merciless abridgment, the historian being obliged to select his facts and materials from manifold details and marshal them in concise and logical order. This applies to specific as well as generic history, and in the former category is included the interesting and important department of biography. In every life of honor and usefulness there is no death of interesting situations and incidents, and yet in summing up such a career as that of John W. Williams, for many years one of the leading merchants of Springfield, now living in honorable retirement after a successful, useful and praiseworthy career, the writer must need touch only on the more salient facts, giving the keynote of the character and eliminating all that is superfluous to the continuity of the narrative. The gentleman whose name appears above has led somewhat of a strenuous life, yet void of the exciting, and the more prominent have been so identified with the useful and practical that it is to them almost entirely that the writer refers in the following paragraphs.

Mr. Williams was born in Lewisburg, Marshall county, Tennessee, April i8, 1851. He is a son of John and Hannah (Wood) Williams, the father born in Tennessee in 1823, spent his life in that state and died there in 1850 when a young man; the mother was born in England in 1826, and her death occurred January 27, 1912 at the advanced age of eighty-six years, having thus survived her husband sixty-two years. Our subject was two years old when, in 1853, he was brought to Greene county, Missouri, by his mother and maternal grandfather, John Wood, a capitalist of considerable means and one of the early important pioneers of Greene county. A full and interesting sketch of this great man appears elsewhere in these volumes. The family located on a farm five miles from Springfield. In 1855 our subject’s mother married Joseph Farrier, who had one son, Joseph W. Farrier by a former marriage to Roxanna Weaver. The elder Farrier was a money lender and was connected with the old Missouri State Bank, also was a pioneer hat manufacturer and merchant. He was a native of Kentucky and he crossed the western plains in the early fifties to the California gold fields, and from that time was a very successful business man. One child, besides our subject, was born to Hannah Wood by her first marriage, a daughter who died at four years of age, and her second union was without issue.

John W. Williams grew to manhood in Greene county and was educated here, having attended the first high school in Springfield, which was taught by Prof J. Fairbanks. Mr. Williams was young in years when he began his business career as a retail merchant in Springfield, under the firm name of Wea'er, Wood & Company; later the firm was W'ood & dlliams and in 1886 he organized the John W. Whlliams Hardware & Stove Company, which existed for some fifteen years. He prospered from the first and enjoyed an ever-increasing business with the advancing years, building up a very extensive trade with the town and surrounding country, remaining in the same line for a period of thirty years, during which time he had the reputation of maintaining the best equipped and most up-to-date store of its kind in the cit) and he ranked with the leading merchants of southwest missouri. Having accumulated a handsome competency through his able management, wise foresight, straightforward and honest dealings with the public he retired from active life ten years ago, since wliich time he has devoted his attention to his personal business affairs, looking after his various properties, -which include a beautiful residence on Vest A\"walnut street, and some three hundred acres of fine improved farm land all in Campbell township. He built and owns the Bank of Commerce building and owns several important business houses in the city.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

J. N. WILLIAMS.

Mr. Williams is the son of John R. Wiilliams, who came to this county about 1883, and was born here in October, 1840. He lived in Dade county, Missouri, from 1852 to 1856, and then removed to Barry county. He returned to Greene county in 1860, and in 1861 enlisted in the 8th Missouri volunteers, U. S. A., under Col. W. F. Geiger, and served about one year. He was a non-commissioned officer of company K. He was disabled and discharged. Since coming to Springfield, he has been actively engaged in business, and for the last twelve years has been in the produce business, most of the time with J. M. Garrett, and still remains at the old stand with A. Koenigsbruck. Mr. Williams was married March 19, 1865, to Miss Matilda P., daughter of Junius M. Rountree, one of the most prominent citizens of this county. Their union is blessed with five children, three boys and two girls.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN T. WILLIAMS.

Mr. Williams was born in Marion, Ohio, March 25, 1845. At sixteen years old he was appointed ticket and freight agent on the Missouri Pacific R. R. at AUenton, Mo., and has been in the employ of same road ever since, the St. L. & S. F. R. R. being then under same management as Mo. Pacific. He remained at Allenton two years, when he was transferred to the general freight office at St. Louis. In 1876 he came to North Springfield and his present engagement is that of book-keeper for the bridge-building, and fuel departments of the road. He is also city clerk of North Springfield, and has held that position ever since the city received its charter. November-5, 1866, he married Miss Elomise Desmoulin of St. Louis. They have three living children — Maud B., Walter J., and an unnamed infant.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM J. WILLIAMS, M. D.

Dr, Williams is the son of William and Mary (Hicks) Williams, and was born in Roane county, Tennessee, May 11th, 1849. William was brought by his parents to Missouri, when he was about one year old. They settled in Webster county, where he grew to manhood and received his elementary education. When he was about twenty-one years of age he began reading medicine under the preceptorship of his brother. Dr. J. H. Williams, who is the present representative of Webster county in the Legislature. William began the practice while a student, in 1875, and in 1876-7-8 attended lectures at Missouri Medical College, St. Louis, graduating in March, 1878, with degree of M. D. He then resumed practice in Webster county, but in June, 1881, he moved to Straflord, Greene county, where he began the practice, and also engaged in the drug and grocery business. In the spring of 1882 B. W. Dillard bought one-half interest in the store, and so continued till 1888. Dr. Williams was married October 31st, 1879, to Miss Mary, daughter of John Barnard, of Webster county. Their union has been best with one child, Oran, born August 21st, 1880. The doctor is a member of StraflFord Lodge, No. 497, A. P. and A. M. He has built up a good practice since coming to Strafford, and enjoys the confidence of all.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

To have the human name preserved has ever been, not only the desire, but one of the ill-ustions of the race and will doubtless always he. Mausoleums are built and the tablets hewn — "A graven stone to plead for tears with alien eyes," for the purpose of binding in memory the fact of a life. In the very earliest of the Hindoo mythology the milk of the sea was mystically churned to make the amerita which gave immortality; and, all literature since bears trace of similar fancies. This desire to be remembered, that our dust shall retain the tender regard of those whom we leave behind; that the spot where it shall lie will be remembered with a kind and soothing reverence; that our children will visit it in the midst of their sorrows; and our kindred in after times will feel that a local inspiration hovers round it, has been one of the most potent forces in the history of man. Hence the value and importance of biography and a volume of the nature of the one in hand, embracing as it does the leading characters in the drama of civilization as staged in Greene county, one of the well known and deserving actors in it of the present generation being the successful physician of Springheld, whose name forms the caption of this article.

Dr. Nandy C. Williams was born in Warren county, Iowa, February 25, 1860. He is a son of Uriah F. and Jane (Graham) Williams. The father was born near Indianapolis, Indiana, and there spent his earlier years, finally emigrating to Warren county, Iowa, where he established the family home. He devoted his life to general farming, and his death occurred in. 1878. His wife preceded him to the grave in 1871. William Williams, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the Mexican war and was killed in battle.

Doctor Williams grew up on the home farm and much hard work fell to his lot when he was a boy; however, he was ambitious and forged ahead despite obstacles. He received his early education in the public schools of his native community and also spent three years in the Simpson Seminary College at Indianola, Iowa, and in 1884 he entered the Iowa State University at Iowa City, where he remained two years. In order to defray the expenses of a college course, having to depend entirely upon his own resources, he engaged in any kind of honorable work he could get to do during vacations, and taught school seven years. His undaunted determination brought success. Making up his mind to enter the medical profession at an early age he began the study of medicine while still in school and began practicing under a preceptor in [888, and in 1894 received his degree from Barnes.Medical College, St. Louis. Missouri. In 1895 he came to Springfield, Missouri, and began the practice of his profession, which he has continued to the present time with much success, and has long since ranked with the best and most popular general practitioners in Greene county.

On June 17, 1885, Doctor Williams was married to Etta A. Lyman, who was born near Bloomington, Wisconsin, March 9, 1862. She is of Welsh ancestry. To the doctor and wife one son was born. Leslie E., born at Clifton Hill, Randolph county, Missouri, December 0, 1891; he was educated in public and high schools at Springfield, this state, later spending three years in the Fine Arts Academy at Chicago; he taught one year in the Art Institute of Chicago, in 1913, and is now engaged in commercial art work; he lives in Xew York City, and is unmarried; he was evidently born with the artistic temperament, which has been well developed and he gives promise of a brilliant career in his chosen field of endeavor.

The parents of our subject's wife are both deceased, George Lyman, the father, who devoted his life successfully to farming, died in 1898, but was living retired at the time of his death. His wife bad preceded him to the grave in 1890.

Doctor Williams is a member of the Greene County Medical Society, the Southwest.Missouri Medical Society, the Missouri State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order, including the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and the Order of Eastern Star; he also belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Politically he is a Democrat, and in religious matters belongs to the Presbyterian church which he faithfully supports.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FRANK BOYDEX WILLIAMS.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Frank B. Williams received his education at Sparta, Wisconsin, and Watertown, South Dakota, attending the common schools there, later was a student at Yankton College, Yankton, South Dakota, then entered the law department of Washington University, St. Louis,.Missouri, where he made a good record and from which institution he was graduated, June 20, 1895. lie was admitted to the bar at Searcy, #kansas, soon after his graduation, and in 1896 he located for the practice of his profession at Springfield, Missouri, enrolling as an attorney-at-law, Greene county bar. March 9th of that year, and here he has remained to the present time, enjoying a good practice. He was elected a member of the Springfield city council in April. [898, and was re-elected in [900, and during that period he looked well to the interests of the city in every way. He was elected probate judge of Greene county, in November, ik/>_\ and served one term of four years, after which he re-entered practice of the law, January 1, 1007, and in December, mu, he formed a partnership for the practice of his profession with Matthew 11. Gait, under the firm name of Williams & Gait, which still continues, with offices in the Woodruff building.

On June 27, 11)05. he united in marriage with Harriett E. Kellond, daughter of William A. and Fanny J. Kellond, a highly respected family ot Springfield, and to tin's union three children have been born, namely: Frances Kellond Williams. Harriett Morgan Williams, and (Catherine Selfridge Williams.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ELWOOD ALAMANDO WILLIAMS.

It was Charles Kingsley, the noted English author, who said that every morning we should remember to be thankful that we have something to do during the coming day, whether we like it or not. Being forced to work, and forced to do our best, will breed in you temperance and self-control, diligence and strength of will, cheerfulness and content, and a hundred virtues the idle will never know. Elwood Alamando Williams, a farmer near Ash Grove, is one of the citizens of Greene county who takes delight in his work and is therefore happy and prospering.

Mr. Williams was born on a farm in Carroll county, Missouri, September 23, 1860. He is a son of Mortimer H. and Jennie S. (Gale) Williams. The father was born in Monroe county, Ohio, June 20, 1837. and was a son of William and Martha (Hurd) Williams. William Williams was born near Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1809, and followed farming until. 1848, when he began running a boat down the Ohio river to the Mississippi, then up that stream and up the Missouri river to Boonville and later to Carroll county, Missouri, carrying freight and passengers, each trip requiring several weeks. He was a cooper and cabinet maker by trade and was also a physician of the old school. After locating in Missouri he made a professional trip to Ohio. He was a learned man and remained a close student all his life, one of his favorite studies being astronomy and he became an amateur astronomer of no mean ability. He entered eighty acres of land in Carroll county, this state on which he spent the rest of his life, dying there in 1887. Politically, he was first a Whig, later a Republican. He was an ardent worker in the cause of education and helped in the matter of establishing schools. Fraternally, he was a member of the Masonic order, and he was a free thinker and broad-minded man. His wife was also born near Wheeling, West Virginia, the year of her birth being 1812, and her death occurred in 1859.

Mortimer H. Williams had only such educational advantages as the frontier schools could furnish in his day, but his father taught him much and furnished him many books, so he became a well-informed man, and he taught school in Carroll county, this state, for a number of years, and, learning the blacksmith's trade, followed that for some time. In 1873 he moved to Chillicothe, Missouri, where he followed his trade for about ten years, then went to South Dakota, continuing blacksmithing there about six years, then engaged in mining in the Black Hills a few years, after which he made three trips to Alaska, finally locating in Rapid City, South Dakota, where his death occurred in 1909. Politically, he was a Republican; religiously, a Universalist, and fraternally a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His wife, Jennie S. Gale, whom he married in 1859, was born in Chautauqua county, New York, on farm where the first chautauqua in the United States was held. Mr-. Jennie Williams was burn January [3, 1840, and her death occurred in [883, To these parents five children were born.

Elwood A. Williams received a fairly good education up to the tenth grade in the Chillicothe schools. When seventeen years old he went to Deadwood, South Dakota, where he worked aa freight driver, having charge of a nine-yoke team hitched to three wagons, and this work he continued about a year, then went to a lumber camp for a year, then was superintendent ami bookkeeper for a lumber camp for several years, after which he came to Rapid City, South Dakota, and was head of the lumber yards there for three year-. During this time he filed on one hundred and sixty acres and proved up on the same, -old out and filed mi a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, and proved up on it, and lived on the same for seven years or until 1900, when he sold out and came to Greene county, Missouri, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres in Boone township, and has since resided here. He owned over one thousand acres of land in Dakota, which he finally sold. He is making a specialty of live stock, raising a fine grade of mules, horses, sheep, cattle and hogs for the market, and no small portion of his annual income is derived from this source. He is one of the substantial men of Boone township, and has made what he has solely by his own efforts.

Mr. Williams was married on November 29, 1888, to Maggie M. Trimmer, who was born in South Dakota, October 1, 1872. She was born near Chamberlain, that state, and there reared to womanhood and was educated, She is a daughter of George M. and Mary 1 Boyua ) Trimmer. Mr. Trimmer was born near Cheona, Illinois, November 8, [844, and was a son of Nicholas and Mary Trimmer, who lived and died on a farm in Illinois. George M. Trimmer received a common school education, working on the home farm during the summer months, and when a young man lie went to the eastern part of South Dakota and began wood contracting for steamboats on the Missouri river. In 1876 he went to the Black Hills, and there engaged in mining and farming. He was a sterling pioneer, and helped establish trails, towns, did freighting and was incidentally a renowned hunter. He was a stanch friend of the Sioux Indians, who liked him. He was the first settler in Hot Springs, South Dakota, and he did much toward making it one of the best towns in that state, and at this writing he owns a tine orchard of one hundred and sixty acres near there, which was the first orchard set out in that region. He is one of the prominent and influential men of eastern South Dakota and has been offered many political positions of importance in the state, but has refused them all. Politically, he is a Democrat, and fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is an enthusiastic worker in the same. On November 8, 1871, he married Mary Boyua, who was born March 4. 1847. Grandfather Boyua was an early French trade on the Missouri river.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.