A. N. Williams

As printed in 1914

A. N. WILLIAMS.

A. N. Williams is a retired farmer and real-estate dealer, now living in Ottumwa. He was born in Marion county, Indiana, April 14, 1842, and is a son of Jonas and Sarah (Woodcock) Williams, who were married at Rushville, Indiana. The father was a native of that state and the mother of New York. They began their domestic life in Marion county, Indiana, where the family resided until the spring of 1858, when removal was made to Louisa county, Iowa. The father had died in Marion county on the 20th of July, 1853, at the age of forty-six years, while the mother, who was born May 28, 1815, passed away in Agency, Iowa, on the lath of April, 1900, when in the eighty-fifth year of her age. They were the parents of seven children. Alvah, who died Julv 20, 1865, had served for three years as a member of Company D, Seventeenth Iowa Infantry. Caroline, now deceased, was the wife of William Rerald. A. N. is the next of the family. Cyrus died July 20, 1853. Ezra is living in Garnett, Kansas. Catherine Jane and Electa have both passed away.

A. N. Williams was a lad of eleven years at the time of his father's death. He remained with his mother in Indiana until 1858 and afterward resided with her on a farm in Louisa county, Iowa, up to the time of his enlistment for service in the Civil war. He watched with interest the progress of events that seemed to indicate that the country would become involved in hostilities and on the 13th of June, 1861, just two months after the first gun was fired, he enrolled as a member of Company K, Eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he remained until honorably discharged on account of physical disability on the 13th of March, 1862. As soon as he had sufficiently recovered he reenlisted August 11, 1862, joining Company G, Nineteenth Iowa Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war on the 141)1 of April, 1865. He participated in all of the engagements with his company and was frequently in the thickest of the fight. He never faltered in the performance of any duty assigned him and returned home with a most creditable military record.

When the war was over Mr. Williams resumed farming in Louisa county and there carried on general agricultural pursuits until November 3, 1869, when he made an overland trip to Missouri, Arkansas and Texas, driving over that part of the country in company with others. He continued upon the plains of the west and southwest for fifteen years and in the spring of 1884 returned to Iowa, establishing his home in Moravia. He afterward engaged in farming in Appanoose county until he came to Wapello county in 1890. For about eight years he resided in South Ottumwa.

Mr. Williams was married here on his fiftieth birthday and afterward engaged in farming on a place four miles southwest of the city, on Village creek. At length he sold that property and returned to South Ottumwa. For three years he leased a farm on Bear creek and afterward bought a farm near Agency, on which he lived for eight years, during which period he brought the fields to a high state of cultivation and derived therefrom splendid harvests. At length he sold out and returned to Ottumwa, where he has since been engaged in the real-estate business, handling city and farm properties and rentals. He has been accorded a good clientage, and his business is now extensive and gratifying..

On the 13th of March, 1872, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Jeanette Noe, who was born in Tennessee and died in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1874. He was not again married until the lath of April, 1892, when he wedded Miss Birdie Walker, a native of Iowa. They have one daughter, Leah, at home.,

Mr Williams exercises his right of franchise in support ot the men and measures of the republican part and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. but does not seek nor desire public office. He holds membership with the Grand Army of the Republic and thus maintains pleasant associations with those who wore the blue uniform as he did during the darkest hour in our country's history. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, and its teachings have been the motive force in his life. His experiences have been varied, but he has never lost sight of the high principles which have governed him, and that his has been a well spent life is indicated in the expressions of warm regard heard from his many friends when his name is mentioned.

As printed in History of Wapello County, Iowa (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.