G. Washington Williams

As printed in 1902

G. WASHINGTON WILLIAMS.

Among the residents of Crestline who are identified with the railroad service is Mr. Williams, who is an engineer on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad. Numbered among Ohio's native sons, his life record began in Richland county on the 4th of August, 1843. His father, Joseph Williams, was also a native of Ohio and became one of the honored pioneers of Richland county, where his last days were spent. He married Rebecca Chew, who was born in Richland county, and there her demise also occurred. They were the parents of six children, but only three are now living.

G. W. Williams pursued his education in his native county, attending the district school near his home, and after he had become old enough to handle the plow he assisted in the work of the fields, becoming familiar with every department of farm labor. His time was thus occupied until he attained the age of eighteen years, when, the country having become involved in Civil war, he donned the blue as a defender of the Union, enlisting on the teth of October, 1861, as a member of Company E, Sixty-fourth Ohio Volunteers. The regiment was assigned to Sherman's brigade, and he served for three years, two months and nineteen days, during which time he participated in many hotly contested engagements, including the battles of Shiloh or Pittsburg- Landing, Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. I lis division, under command of General Thomas Wood, was the first to land on the top of the ridge. After the engagement at that place Mr. Williams was with the pioneer corps until mustered out of the service in 1864. On many a field of battle he had displayed marked bravery and loyalty, and with a most creditable military record he returned to his home in Lucas, Richland county, Ohio.

Not long afterward he assumed the position of brakeman on the Pennsylvania Railroad, and was thus employed for three years, after which he worked for a short time in the machine shops in Crestline. He next became fireman on the same road, devoting his energies to that task for thirteen months, when he became hostler in the roundhouse. After fifteen months he was promoted to the position of engineer, on the 23d of March, 1883, and since that date has been a regular engineer on the road. His service in the employ of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad has continued through thirty-five years, during which time he has met with but one accident, and that of a very unimportant character. Fidelity to duty, promptness and close application are qualities which are absolutely demanded by railroad corporations on the part of their employes, and that Mr. Williams is lacking in none of these particulars is plainly indicated by the fact that through more than a third of a century he has been retained in the service of one company.

On the 4th of June, 1866, was celebrated the marriage of our subject and Miss S. E. Travis, who was born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Her father was a native of this country, but her mother was born in England. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have become the parents of three children, of whom two are living, — Charles A. and Mrs. E. Moores. In his political affiliations Mr. Williams is a stanch Republican, giving an inflexible support to the principles of the party. Fie belongs to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and to the Grand Army of the Republic. In an analyzation of his character it is not difficult to determine that fidelity is one of his salient characteristics. It was manifest upon the held of battle, and has been continuously shown forth in his business career. Although he has lived a quiet and uneventful life, his history is one which has ever commanded respect and confidence, and as one of the reliable and representative citizens of Crawford county he well deserves mention in this volume.

As printed in A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio .. (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.