George Williams

As printed in 1910

GEORGE W. WILLIAMS.

George W. Williams, who since 1901 has acted as manager for the Galva Grain Elevator Company of Galva, was born in London, England, on the 2d of January, 1837. His parents were Thomas and Emma (Bentley) Williams, the former a native of Mortlake, Surrey county, England, while the latter's birth occurred at Stanstead, Hertfordshire, England. The paternal grandfather, George Williams, who was a native of England and a potter by trade, passed away in 1840. His wife, Mrs. Sarah Williams, also died in England. They reared a family of six children, five sons and one daughter, William Bentley, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was likewise a native of the Merrie isle. Unto him and his wife were born five children.

Thomas Williams, the father of George W. Williams, was a market gardener and salesman in his native country. In December, 1851, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, taking up his above on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Aictoria. Knox county, Illinois, and in August, 1852, was joined by his wife and children. His demise occurred in November, 1873, at the age of sixty years, while his wife passed away in February, 1878, when sixty-eight years of age. They were both devoted members of the Church of England. Their union was blessed with eight children, six of whom still survive, namely: George W., of this review; Mary Ann, the wife of J. B. Freed, of California; Thomas E., a resident of Lathrop, Missouri; Walter H., living in Victoria, Illinois;. Emily, the wife of L. D. Blackwood, of Lathrop, Missouri; and Alfred Charles, who also makes his home in Victoria, Illinois.

George W. Williams remained a resident of England until his sixteenth year, obtaining a good practical education in the common schools of that country. In 1852 he came to the United States in company with his mother and the other children of the family and continued to reside on his father's farm near Victoria, Illinois, until twenty years of age. He then made his way to what was then Calhoun county, now Jackson county, Kansas, and preempted a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of government land. After residing thereon for three years he returned to Knox county, Illinois, in November, 1860, and there made his home until 1864. Subsequently he spent two years in Kentucky in the telegraph department of the government service and after returning to this state followed farming in Knox county for two years. The year 1869 witnessed his arrival in Galva, Henry county, where he was successfully engaged in the grain business until 1878. Subsequently he was engaged in the grain trade at Aledo, Mercer county, for ten years, on the expiration of which period he returned to Galva and here carried on his interests as a grain merchant until 1892. In that year he again went to Aledo but in October, 1901, returned to Galva and has since been identified with the business interests of this place as manager for the Galva Grain Elevator Company, He is widely recognized as a man of keen discrimination, sound judgment and excellent executive ability and is numbered among the most substantial and respected citizens of the community. In early manhood, during the years 1859, 1861 and 1862, he was engaged in teaching school, imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired.

On the loth of December, 1866, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Azelia Helen Annis, a native of Knox county and a daughter of Eleson and Catharine (Meroe) Annis, both of whom were born in Maine and became early settlers of Knox county, this state. The father followed farming as a life work. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Annis were born eleven children, five of whom still survive, as follows: Mrs. Mary Bonar; Mrs. Julia Ann Starboard; J. K.; Ellen Collinson; and Mrs. Williams. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are the parents of seven children, three sons and four daughters: Minnie, living in Alberta, Canada, who is the wife of Robert B. Holmes, by whom she has two children — Vera Pauline and Robert I.; Thomas E., who is a resident of Riverside, California, and wedded Miss Robertina Mills on the loth of June, 1909; Kate, who resides near LaFayette and is the wife of Fred L. Keim, by whom she has four sons — Forrest, Fred, Rolland and Harold; Fred, living in Lushton, Nebraska, who married Miss Katie Strater and has two children — Grace and John Frederick; Ruth, who is at home; George, who is an electrical engineer residing at Muskogee, Oklahoma; and Grace, also at home. The last named has been a student in the Illinois University at Champaign for three years and won a scholarship in a contest.

Politically Mr. Williams is a stalwart advocate of the principles of the democracy. He was on the school board for a number of years and also capable served his fellow townsmen as a member of the city council. He was made a Mason in Kansas in November, 1858 and now belongs to Galva Lodge, No. 243, A. F. & A. M., and Cyrus Chapter, No. 211, R. A. M., of Aledo. Both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. They have a commodious and attractive residence in the western part of town which is a favorite resort with their many friends.

As printed in History of Henry County, Illinois (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.